singers with earplugs

[jools88]

what are those earplugs for that singers/musicians wear when they are singing live?

[robbieh]

Its so they can hear themselves singing and make sure they're in tune etc. This is hard to do when they have loud speakers pounding out their voice and music all around them

[andy hughes]

They are a more efficient rreplacement for the monitor speakers that singers used to ( a lot still do) have placed in front of them, so they can hear the band, and themselves, singing. The near earphones also allow for selected sounds only to be filtered into the singer's ears - helpful if the music is complex and they want a simple guide tune so they can stay in key.