In a recent live performance to a Good Morning America audience, Whitney launched her comeback tour.   Unfortunately, Whitney made some choices that have some wondering if the tour can live up to the hype.  So as much as I’d love to announce the comeback of Whitney Houston as a boon to singers everywhere, but I’m afraid this one will have to serve as a cautionary tale.

(Note: the video showing the items described in this post has been removed by GMA.  We’re looking for it elsewhere for the sections noted and will repost as soon as we can find it.)

Whitney’s less than divalicious appearance and vocal excuses serve as a great ‘how not to’.  So what mistakes did Whitney make that you can avoid?

Mistake #1:  Banking on Your Past Instead of Your Present

Whitney has access to the greatest vocal instructors and vocal doctors  (I just met with one of them this week) so it’s so disappointing that instead of preparing her voice for the demands of interviews and touring that she knows to expect she ‘faked’ her way out of it by pretending to let her audience sing for her.  If her vocal fatigue was really due to ‘too much talking to Oprah’, she knows how to fix that.  That’s pretty lame.

Don’t just assume that because you had some great performances or have built up a following that you can just bank on that.  You are only as good as your last performance.  After all, the goal is to get an audience beyond the people who love you whether you sing in tune or not!

Mistake #2:  Using Cheesy Gimmicks to Cover Mistakes

Whitney is known for her soaring high notes; it’s her trademark.  Sometimes you just can’t deliver your trademark, whether due to illness or fatigue, but there are many ways to still deliver a quality experience to your audience (blowing kisses to them is not among them).

Instead, make a backup plan.  If you can’t read the high note, go for a lower one with a fancier trill.  Your audience will think you prepared something special for them, unique to what they’ve maybe heard you do before, and will appreciate you for not taking the cheesy route and lip syncing into the air.

Mistake #3:  Turning Your Back on the People Who Put You on that Stage

In an what can only be described as rude gesture by someone who knows better, Whitney literally walks off the stage before finishing her song.   I’m guessing she was pretty embarrassed about her performance too and was more than ready to have it over with.  We’ve all had those moments, BUT….

Your performance is not over until the music stops.  Unless you have some grand choreographed disappearing act planned in your performance, to walk out before the music ends is basically telling the audience you could care less that they took the time to listen to you.  Whether you were at your best or your worst, they came and they stayed through it.  So should you.   Never forget to honor your audience.  They are the ones that allow you to be on the stage, and they can take you back down.

Whitney’s performance was sad.  And my guess is that even her loyal audiences won’t shell out big bucks for many more of those.   No matter who you are, there is no excuse for a performance like this.  That said, Whitney is a great talent.  Hopefully this was an isolated incident and not a picture of things to come.  And we can all learn important lessons and avoid having it happen to us.

How have you recovered from a bad performance? Click ‘comments’ on the top of this post and leave a text, audio, or webcam comment.  Let everyone know your experience.  Love to hear it!