A cappella group performing on stage
The A Cappella Blog

The Use of Costumes and Props

Measure for Measure

In Measure for Measure, an A Cappella Blog contributor takes a look at both sides of a controversial issue in collegiate a cappella.

In performing, groups should embrace the use of props and costumes on stage.

True: One of the fatal flaws of a lot of collegiate a cappella groups is that they take themselves too seriously. I’m all for careful preparation and a disciplined musical performance, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t also take the time to have fun with what you are doing. Props and costumes are a great way of giving the audience a laugh and demonstrating that the group, itself, is having fun with a performance. What’s more, such items lend a visual element to the performance that just isn’t there otherwise. Sometimes, it’s a fun surprise for those who are watching closely—raising a random item to match up with the lyrics of a various part of a song. Otherwise, if, for example, you’re using signs, the sight of the group carrying out sheets of oak tag lets the audience know something interesting is on its way, creating a sense of anticipation and a wonderful pay off when the signs are revealed. All in all, props and costume are a fun and exciting piece of a cappella performance.

False: While there are a small handful of exceptions, by and large, the use of props—everything from posters to sunglasses to multi-colored scarves—does not enhance a cappella performance. On the contrary the appearance of these items looks unprofessional and silly and more often than not distracts both the audience and the performers from the music itself. If performers are worried about how and when to use their props, the odds are they are not concentrating as much as they should on pitch and rhythm. Similarly, when it comes to a cappella, I consider the visual presentation to be an extension of the sound—all created naturally by the human body. Under this rationale, facial expressions are good, choreography is fine, stage positioning is an important consideration. But props and costumes? This is the visual equivalent of instrumentation, which is contradictory to what a cappella is about.

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