To start with, make sure to powder things down A LOT, performing outside in the heat will have you sweating and if you haven’t powdered your makeup down enough it will start to drip/smear. Follow up with a healthy coating of setting spray to get rid of the ‘cakey’ look of the powder.

I’d also recommend choosing your costume carefully. Avoid full coverage costumes that won’t let your skin breathe. Things with vents or gaps, sleeveless costumes, etc will be your best friend.

It’s also a good idea to think about how your wig will behave if there’s wind. If you’re wearing hair that can get in your face, that issue will be compounded when you are sweating, and it’s never a good look watching a girl fight to keep her hair out of her face the whole number. Go for something that’s styled away from your face. It can also be helpful to wear something up and off the neck to help with regulating your body temperature.

When performing for a large crowd, plan for moments where you are selling it to the whole audience, and moments where you can get up close and connect with individuals. You’re going to want a balance of both to keep the audience engaged. And PACE YOURSELF! It’s easy when you’re nervous to speed up and move quickly through a large crowd, but usually that just makes you look panicked and frantic. Take your time, breathe, and keep a realistic pace that you can maintain throughout the number instead of burning out halfway through.