How to Sing with Confidence | Find Your Authentic Voice and Command the Stage
- Joseph Stanek
- Nov 13, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 30
You know how some words get tossed around so much they lose their meaning? Like “authentic.” It’s everywhere these days. “Be your authentic self!” gets shouted from every self-help corner of the internet, and at this point, it feels like one of those phrases we nod along to without really acknowledging what it really means anymore.
I mean, sure, we get the general idea: don’t be someone you’re not. But when we gloss over it, we miss the real point—what it actually means to celebrate what makes us different and unique in a world where identity is so reliant upon how many of us can replicate the latest TikTok challenge.
For the longest time, I thought I had a pretty solid handle on living authenticity. For as long as I can remember, I've been unapologetically myself, loud and proud, no filter. But then in December of 2016, I suddenly found myself surrounded by the cast of NBC's Hairspray Live and realized there was an entirely new realm of "being authentic" I hadn't ever thought was possible.
I remember looking at Harvey Fierstein, who was there, larger than life... He’s got a voice so gravelly that, by all conventional standards, he should’ve never written himself into a musical—let alone won a TONY® Award for it. But there he was, an icon, his authenticity breaking all the rules in the best possible way.
And then there was Kristin Chenoweth, who’s four-foot-eleven and has a speaking voice so high and squeaky that you’d never peg her as one of the world’s most celebrated sopranos. But she leaned into her unique color of voice, made it her signature, and now she’s got a career that most singers only dream of. Her authenticity wasn’t something she tried to cover up; it was her golden ticket.
Oh, and let’s not forget Jennifer Hudson. I mean, talk about a powerhouse. She was born with an instrument so incredible that her first major film role won her an Academy Award. And the thing is, she didn’t downplay her gifts or try to mold herself into what people expected. She fully embraced that voice, that presence, and leaned in with everything she had.
It hit me hard that day...
Authenticity isn’t just about not pretending to be someone else; it’s about finding what makes you extraordinary, and letting that shine, even when (especially when) the world tells you it won’t work, or it shouldn't work.
But before you can even think about authenticity as a singer, you've got to come to terms with the confidence it takes to embrace that authenticity. Confidence isn’t about delivering the perfect performance; it’s about believing, truly believing, that your voice deserves to be heard just the way it is without copying someone else.
In this post, I’ll show you how to summon some bravery and how to sing with confidence; how to strengthen your stage presence; and how to reveal the authentic voice your audiences will remember long after you step off stage.
The Confidence Equation
Look, I hate math, too... but this equation will serve you for life.
Confidence = Authenticity + Preparation + Presence
Most beginner singers focus way too much on perfection when they should really be concerned about connection. Even the biggest Broadway stars experience performance anxiety, but they rehearse through it until courage becomes second nature.
Authenticity: Sing from truth, not imitation.
Preparation: Train your voice so thoroughly that your body takes over when nerves try to interrupt.
Presence: Stay rooted in the moment; audiences mirror your energy (good and bad!).
Stop Sounding Polite; Start Sounding Fierce
OMG, there is nothing more boring than a polite singer. GROSS! Politeness keeps singers insufferably forgettable. Fierceness makes them legendary.
Micro-Managing Kills Magic
Over-thinking pitch, breath, and placement drains all kinds of energy that could be used to support your performance instead of bringing it down. Prepare, then trust your preparation. Let instinct take the wheel once the spotlight hits and enjoy cruise control for a change!
Mimicking Is for Cover Bands
Copying another artist may feel safe, but you're doing yourself a huge disservice if you do it. Copying someone else's singing robs you of your individuality. Plus, there's already one of them, the world is ready to hear you now.
Hiding Is for Prey
Look, it may feel like you're standing in front of a pack of hungry lions when you get in front of people to sing, but that's just your brain playing a trick on you that it hasn't grown out of since we were animals in the wild. (Seriously.) When fear creeps in, the temptation is to shrink and run. Instead, enlarge and plant yourself. Use open posture, breathe deeply, and make deliberate eye contact. Confidence looks bigger than fear. You'll thank me, I promise.
Stage Presence Coaching: The Art of Stillness and Spark
Stage presence coaching isn’t pre-planned choreography; it’s energy alignment. Confidence begins in your breath and radiates outward.
Focus on intention, not motion.
Let silence work for you; stillness can be electric.
Channel nerves into kinetic energy rather than suppression.
Practice delivering a single lyric as though it’s the last thing that will ever come out of your mouth. When your body and breath agree on that truth, you’ve experienced what it's like to have presence.
How to Book Online Vocal Coaching Worldwide
You don’t have to live in New York to train like a Broadway star anymore. Tour de Fierce® Voice Lessons Online bring world-class vocal coaching directly to you—wherever you are.
Are you local to NYC or are planning on being in New York City sometime soon? Let's book in-person voice lessons and show the Big Apple what you're made of!
If stage fright is part of your story, explore my guide on how to deal with stage fright for immediate relief strategies.
Your Opening Act
Contrary to what most people think, confidence isn’t a personality trait you're born with; it’s a practice. The more you exercise it, the stronger it grows. You don’t need to sound like anyone else—you need to sound like you, fully amplified.
Find your voice. Find your confidence. Then sing like the world’s been waiting for you, because they have been.
Book your private session today and let’s turn self-doubt into spotlight power.
FAQ — How to Sing with Confidence
1. How can I sing with confidence?
Start small: record yourself daily, practice mindful breathing, and work with a coach who blends mindset with vocal technique.
2. How to improve singing performance techniques?
Master alignment, breath control, and phrasing. Performance mastery happens when technique and emotional storytelling merge seamlessly.
3. What is stage presence coaching?
Stage presence coaching trains you to project energy, confidence, and charisma. You’ll learn to communicate before you even sing a word.
4. Where to book online vocal coaching worldwide?
Schedule sessions directly through Tour de Fierce® Online Voice Lessons—available anywhere in the globe.
5. What’s the difference between confidence and authenticity in singing?
Confidence is the energy you project; authenticity is the truth you express. Together, they make the voice unforgettable.
Comments