Determine your best talent and polish it to perfection. If you’ve had years of music or dance training, compose or choreograph a piece that is challenging and interesting. Get the audience laughing with a hilarious comedy routine or swell their emotion with a dramatic reading. Read original poetry or demonstrate a unique skill.
Listen to many musical selections before making your final choice. Pick one that suits your personality and is in keeping with the tone of the routine. Use mood music for effect during comedy routines and dramatic or poetry readings.
Block the routine to music, which means to walk it through with movement and music, as suggested by performance coach Bill Wolfe. Check the talent competition time limit in the pageant guidelines. Walk through the routine so that it is within the stated time limit. Time the routine periodically, double checking it against the time limit.
Imagine how your routine will be perceived from the audience perspective. Pull the routine together by synergizing costumes, props, music and stage presence. Ask a pageant coach or trusted friend for feedback.