How much to lower volume just before chorus

I don't typically raise everything. I raise surrounding areas.
for example: Vocals. I jack them up a notch 0.3db to help increase dynamics.
I find when you start cranking up the whole mix in spots, your limiting in the mastering stages becomes a more difficult job.
 
so instead, I play those guitar a little harder in chorus, bring up the vocals a bit.
this also largely depends on what kind of music you are doing.
if its a chorus that is slow and has a low dynamic range, this effect wont sound correct.
 
each engineer, producer uses a tool for a job.
similar to side changing. you wouldn't side chain a bass guitar to a piano. unless it was some odd effect.
just like using dynamics to raise things in mixes.
 
use it sparingly. raise your chorus up between 0.2 and 0.3db. that's not much but its enough to know their is something larger happening, what you don't want is someone noticing you turned up the volume knob.
you want it be heard and have someone simply say "that sounds good right there.
that's what subtle means.as soon as the Chorus ends, find a spot on the last measure to zip out.
begin the diminuendo 
(getting smaller, diminishing). Do Not drag it out. similar to a dress..lift it up, then put it back down.
find spots where the music breaks or hangs to lower / increase.
 
Work by these 2 methods:
Crescendo = gradually increasing in force, volume, or loudness
Diminuendo = gradually reducing in force or loudness
 
Experiment.

Just say NO to using a cheap trick like that to cover for a deficiency in the song.
 
The verse should be strong on it's own...and when the chorus comes in the chorus should have a higher energy level so that no tricks are needed to make the chorus stand out.
 
The chorus itself should make a bigger impact. If it doesn't, rewrite it until it does.  The chorus should deliver the goods, bring home the bacon, be the big payoff. Get the idea?
 
You might even want to incorporate a prechorus to start BUILDING as you come into the chorus.  Yes.... I will add more or perhaps use different instruments in the chorus that I use nowhere else in the song. Then I drop them out at the end of the chorus, but the volumes for the vocals and such remain the same. Let the song do the work for you.
 
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12024980  this is an example that hits all of the points I mentioned above.
 
There's no need to reduce volume at the end of the verse when the song does it's job properly.  If you wish to bump the levels half a dB or so IN THE CHORUS, that's up to you. Mostly I leave things at the same level and use the addition of instruments and BGV plus the "natural lifting action" of a well written chorus to make the chorus bigger than the verses.....
 
but that's just me.....

Guitarhacker
Just say NO to using a cheap trick like that to cover for a deficiency in the song.

 
a Cheap trick ?
I learned that from reading Jack Douglas (The Producer of Aerosmith)
 
I understand there are different types of music and some may not benefit from different methods, 
But one can always become more informed by trying new ideas. 
Giving a small boost on certain parts can make things jump out. it can leave the listener saying "i don't know why...but this sounds great.
 
those are the magic tools. the ones when a listener hears it, he doesn't realize it, he just thinks...it sounds great.
 

My approach to gentle level rms shifting is not about making something weak better. It is actually adding dynamics to an otherwise great sounding track.  I have found that sometimes when more things suddenly come into a chorus if you keep the rms level of the chorus the same as the verse then the chorus can sound a touch quieter. 
 
It is a bit like the concept of when you are mastering an album of tracks that have big band tracks in it and quiet one or two instrument and vocal acoustic tracks.  If you keep the band tracks and the acoustic tracks the same rms level, the acoustic tracks sound louder.  So you have drop them by about 2 dB to make them sit nice with the band tracks. The band tracks then sound a little stronger and have more power as they should.
 
In this situation you can also lift sections of a song.  Sometimes it is nice to come the other way as well, when there is so much added a chorus might jump 4 dB rms all by itself so pulling something like that down 2 dB makes it sound better and it still has a little boost upwards at the choruses.  Only 2 dB now like it should be.
 
So slightly changing the rms level can be creative and really enhance the entry of sections that suddenly contain a lot of things going on.  It is actually adding dynamics in.  You can apply it in two places.  Mixing and mastering.  You can also leave it all alone in mixing and only apply some dynamic mastering in the mastering phase.  Doing it in both areas could be over doing it too.  You can also do it in the mix and just not tamper with the mastering as the verses transition into choruses and in most cases it will sound right too.  It can be as simple as automating the master fader.
 
When you work at K-20 in mixing you have got tons of room to also make rms level shifts like this without any side effects.  In live situations if the PA is cruising as it should be, a little level jump like this can and does sound great. 
 
I intend to control the SPL level in the audiences over the duration of the gig to quite a precise degree in my upcoming proposed live electronic music ensemble. It is easy to do and imagine the concept of sitting at one volume for most things but having other levels in reserve. Just pop to them at some dramatic times etc and jump to quieter levels for more intimate expression.  It will only make the gig sound better. The same concept can be applied to a recorded production.
 
It's time to make use of the enormous dynamic range we have available with such low noise floor now in digital.  It’s fun and can make the music sound way better.
 
Dave Steve Wilson sounds amazing. I wish everything sounded this good.  Another good trick too by the way not mentioned here I think is time signature changes. They can add great impact in a very subtle way.

How much to lower volume just before chorus
 
 
OK, I'll do it for $120 (plus airfare)... tho honestly I don't see why you couldn't do it yourself.
 

OK... so in response to Chuck.... yeah, using the word "cheap" was probably a bit over the top..... the word "trick" would have sufficed.
 
As far as the rest.... yeah, I stand by that.  Use dynamics and whatever you need to use to get the desired result.
 
Remember, in this business, nothing is ever wrong unless it clearly is wrong. But as long as it works and appears right, it probably is right.  In other words... Doeth whatever thou wilt as long as it sounds good.
 
As evidenced by other folks likewise worthy commentary, there are many ways to get the desired results.