Show me your best moves

  • Thread starter Thread starter skim
  • Start date Start date
S

skim

New member
My friends have suggested I improve my on-stage antics during performances. I do lead vocals and sometimes will pick up a guitar so I have an excuse to not move around the stage and stand still.

I was watching a video tape of a performance, and although it's always awkward to see yourself on film, I thought I totally looked like a dork. It took me long enough to get comfortable with listening to my own voice - now this.

What do you do on stage? Do you reach out to the crowd? Do you sing up close to your backup vocalists? Any suggestions? I can't afford to bash gear, no matter how emotional I get.

If Michael Stipe can do that funny arm thing and be called cool; if Axel Rose can do the dolphin dance and be praised; if Bono can rip off his shirt with the build he's got, and still be called sexy; I must conclude that it's the music and not the moves.

Whatever.
 
I don't perform live for anyone that can't fit into my basement, but I do enjoy going out to small rock clubs (or used to), so I think I have a valid opinion from a fan's perspective. The question really has no answer, but just don't fake it. I hate watching someone act like they're...well... ACTING. If you like your music enough, you won't need to. Get into it and do whatever comes natural. If it feels good to you but someone doesn't like your presence, fuck 'em. Tell them to to pick up the mic if they think they can do better. There's nothing worse than watching some guy with a sock in his pants thrust and maneuver himself straight into the faghouse.
 
The biggest thing to do about stage presence is to make it natural with confidence and authority. The crowd will smell hesitation, intimidation, and fear. Although I can hide behind my guitar, I was always complimented on my stage "presence". As dorky as it may seem, when I was in HS, when I would practice licks, riffs, and tunes in general, I would dance around in front of the mirror. This helped with fret board work because I would watch my hands, but it also got me comfortable with my body in motion... errr.... that could be taken totally wrong... I also tried to emulate guitar players whom I thought had good stage presence. For me it was jake e lee.... (ok, i just aged myself...) Of course I got busted a few times by the fam and friends, but so what... I kicked ass on stage.
 
unlike vurt i think you should put a sock down your pants.... where a mask or make up or a funny hat or sunglasses or something which can be your on stage security blanket character cue etc... have a couple of shots of tequilla (not too many).... during boring guitar solos snort spaghetti up your nose and pull it out your mouth...

remember the stage you and the real you are two different people... anything goes on stage as long as its done with a sense of humilty and doesn't stem from arrogance.. do the mick jagger chicken thing...

the hardest thing of all be completely aware of the audience, dont pretend they aren't there... as the front man your the guy the crowd relates to, you cant pretend they arent there... dont get frustrated on stage no matter what, that is a most unnapealing character trait...
 
I've included a link of a tiny clip of me on stage, I always got complimented on my stage presence.

I spent many childhood years and later teen years standing in from of a mirror imagining I was John Lennon and then later people like Nikki Sixx....lol

Now I just move naturally to the music. Basically, I love to show off!

Here's a link for what it's worth of me on stage 2 weeks ago. (I play the Vox Teardrop guitar).

http://indianapolismusic.net/pics2/5_4_02_IMN4.htm


PS. We're the first video up (The Shivers)
 
There is a band in the Twin Cities called Janis Figure who do all kinds of cheesy stage cliches. It looks like it's bad acting, but when you realize that they are doing it as a joke it's damn funny. He'd do all kinds of micrphones/microphone stand tricks, point at the croud, and take off his belt and whip it around. They put on a good show by exploiting their cheesiness.

-Sal
 
The best way to approach a performance is to find one or two people in different areas of the crowd who seem to like the band. Direct most of your performance to them - this makes it seem (in your mind) more like a private party, rather than a performance to a crowd. This will help you to relax.

Get some subtle 'moves" such as raising your fist, picking up the mic stand, jumping up and down. Even holding the mic with two hands can eliminate thinking about what to do with one hand. Unless your band is a bigger than life act - it is best to keep moves more subtle - so it does not look too staged.

Practising moves in front of a mirror can be helpful to learn what you are or arn't doing well (just don't get caught in the act. When I was 16 three of my friends walked in while I was playing guitar in front of a mirror - I was the bad end of a joke for months). But I get the last laugh since 32 years later I'm still gigging.

The key is to feel confident and comfortable on stage. All performers have rehearsed stage moves, but if your moves looked "relaxed" they appear less "rehearsed".

I've gigged for over 30 years as a drummer, guitarist, keyboard player and on occasion a singer/frontman. I'm considered a "good showman" - I've been on stages in fornt of several thousand people (and in clubs in front of almost nowone) but it took me a few years to get completely comfortable with my "rehearsed moves. Hang in there - you'll get better.
 
The first guys you mentioned can get away with it because their talent is the main reason you're there watching them in the first place. You didn't mention your talent, if you are an amazing singer then you do NOT look bad on stage. If you are a sub par singer or basically suck, then you will need to look good and act cool on stage in order to pull in the audience. Nothing worse then listening to someone with just "ok" vocals act larger than life on stage, it's a joke. I think the on stage presence is directly related to the talent on stage. Remember, you don't have to do anything at all to have a comanding stage presence if your vocals do the "antics" for you, look at "stained". :)
 
look em straight in the eye and then get a bunch of girls from the crowd on stage to dance then steal their moves
 
I once mixed a band in a big concert hall, with on one side the stage with the band and on the other side a big tv screen with football. The audience was all toghether facing the football screen while the singer of the band did everything to attrack their attention. Finally somebody of the audience ripped the mic from his hands and ask him to f*cking shut up so they could watch football.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top