To sing backup, you must learn to serve the music, not yourself. The meaning of singing backup is to sing behind someone, not compete with them. If you can control your need to be the center of attention, you can learn backup singing.
To sing backup is much harder than it looks. Backup singing requires a great amount of listening and being very responsive to the main singer, much as an instrumental accompanist would. Listening and reacting to the main singers phrasing, you must begin and end as they do. It may well be good to think of yourself as the singers shadow, never noticed but always present.
Hopefully you have some input or control over where you sit or stand on stage. See to it that you can see the singer at all times. If you cannot see the face of the singer your job will be difficult indeed. Watch the singer to learn where they are going. If you are watching the singer you can see when they make a mistake or intentionally take another repeat etc. Watch the singer intently and always. The singer may use a hand gesture to indicate a repeat from the top or even a modulation so be aware.
You must blend your melody to the singers line. If you are watching the singer you can start your melody slightly after they start in order to blend properly. If you are not sure of how loud they are going to be, start your melody quietly and raise your level as the melody develops. Do not pronounce consonants too hard at the start of a phrase. It may be advisable not to pronounce a hard consonant at all as it may produce a disagreeable conflict with the main line.
The end of melodies are just as important as the beginning. As the singer approaches the end of a line, gradually decrease your volume so you can avoid the embarrassment of ending after they do. Listen, watch, blend lines and you can be a professional backup singer every band would love to have.
Tags: Backup Singing, music, sing, sing backup, singer, singing