How can I have more "active" stage presence?

[Insomnia_Junkie]

I have been playing bass for 3 years now, so I'm no stranger to the instrument, however I've never been in a serious band before, so I've never needed to give much thought about stage presence. The past few months I have been trying to be a more "lively" bass player (since I usually don't move much when playing) I've read articles and taken other posters advice but it seems no matter how well I know a song note for note, I always seem to get thrown off or miss a string when I get wild. Since I'm usually playing rock, it gets pretty frusturating to have a fast paced song you know by heart and when you start to move around you totally **** it up. I was just wondering if ANYONE has ANY advice for me, it would be most appreciated

OH and how can I use my WHOLE arm more when I'm strumming with a pick? I've always had my wrist planted and just strum like that, but I wanna more rockish kinda arm thrash but I always miss or hit all the strings lol

-thanks

[matito]

i personally hate seeing bands performed and seeing guys go out of their way to be more active. u can tell and they can look like tools.

don't try to be more active. just let yourself go, start off by just tapping your foot to keep in time, and soon after you will gain more confidence and your body should start moving about naturally to the music without you realising.

thats my little tip to try out, good luck.

[DaftCat]

I do agree with matito on the tool thing completely.

But..

Some people in the audience are more interested in the stage dynamics(and antics) more than the band. I've seen crowds care less the band screwed up an easy cover tune but they were so much fun to watch. I'm sure some reading this thread have seen this too.

Anyway, just practice it but don't over do it and don't do anything silly that can make your rig fall over or cause you an injury.

Hope this helps,

[Edwcdc]

Originally Posted by DaftCat

I do agree with matito on the tool thing completely.

But..

Some people in the audience are more interested in the stage dynamics(and antics) more than the band. I've seen crowds care less the band screwed up an easy cover tune but they were so much fun to watch. I'm sure some reading this thread have seen this too.

Anyway, just practice it but don't over do it and don't do anything silly that can make your rig fall over or cause you an injury.

Hope this helps,

These are pretty much my thoughts too. I used to worry about being more active on stage but I also found that it really screwed with my playing mechanics. It's funny but there are some songs that I really get into and get stupid on stage and the rest of the night I am just mildly active.
I always feel that if I am forcing myself to move around that the crowd will detect that. It will come off lame so I just go with what I am feeling.
Just remember 2 things.
1. There is no shame to rocking out in front of a mirror by yourself in your bedroom or garage or whatever in an effort to work on your stage image.

2. If it doesn't feel natural then it probably doesn't look natural.

Rock on!


2.

[IanStephenson]

The main thing I've worked on over the last few months in this respect is LOOKING AT THE AUDIENCE. I don't really go nuts or leap around, but I've made a conscious effort to put myself "at the gig" rather than "in the music" if that makes sense. I know I can play the stuff so I'm putting some of my spare capacity towards the crowd rather than inwards.

I'm making eye contact with people on the audience, and working with them. I think this is more productive than "going nuts" in your own world. When the audience is dancing, and I connect to a few people in the audience then I start dancing and messing about more.

Ian

[SnoMan]

Just don't force anything.

Just enjoy yourself and get comfortable and then go whereever the music takes you.

[drjojo42]

+1 on looking at the crowd,i take the approach when i gig that its like the band is throwing a party,its our job to invite the audiance.make eye contact,let them know there invited.i play a wireless so some times i will go out and grab some one and dance,or what ever it takes.have fun,no one likes a party where the host isnt having fun

[Sagaris]

I suppose I don't move much at all either, but, I'm going to play in my first serious and dedicated Jazz band soon where the previous bass was pretty interesting to watch. I try and just at least walk around a bit to free myself up and not keep my whole body in one position.

Basically, what everyone else has said is good advice but don't go over the top.

[hartke20g]

Originally Posted by drjojo42

i play a wireless so some times i will go out and grab some one and dance,or what ever it takes.

+1. it's also pretty cool if you're playing at one of those gigs where there are kids who do those skanking circles (popular with ska) and then you get in there and skank while you play. that should get the crowd, and you motivated even more.

[stu FORD]

make the bass face and shake your ass. you can't lose

[seanm]

Looking at the crowd is very important. Look at people and smile, they will usually smile back. You have to make them feel the band acknowledges them.

And, going against the majority view, if I screw up bad enough for it to be noticable I do my "Sean Screwed Up" face. If the audience smiles back, you have them where you want them

[JimmyM]

I'm gratified to see that there hasn't been any of those stupid "just move around" replies. When I first started, that's what people would say..."Just move around." Well what if you move around like a big dork? What if you're in a band that would look ridiculous to flail around like a spaz with a hotfoot?

The best way to inject yourself into the show aspect of your band is to actually care about the audience you're playing for. Too many people stand up there and act like they're above the audience or they ignore the audience, etc. Develop a real connection with the audience and that goes a long way.

As for the picking technique you want to do, although I think it's the absolute worst thing you can do for your wrists and you will cause yourself crippling pain on down the road (happened to me, happened to others I know), I know a lot of rock bassists like to do it. But you have to realize that it's not an accurate way to play and bassists who do that compromise accuracy for looking cool.

[cassanova]

Youre a bassist, all ya gotta do is just chill by the drummer, be cool, and hang loose.

If you feel the need to move around and if room permits, you can just causally walk around across the stage , or up to the front of the stage look out at the audience and nonchalantly play your line.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by cassanova

Youre a bassist, all ya gotta do is just chill by the drummer, be cool, and hang loose.

If you feel the need to move around and if room permits, you can just causally walk around across the stage , or up to the front of the stage look out at the audience and nonchalantly play your line.

Ewwwww! I think that's even worse than flailing around aimlessly! For some reason, some bandleaders think I want to stand next to the drummer in the back of the stage. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I not only don't want to be in the back of the stage because I sing a lot of leads, but I want to be as far away from the drummer as possible. F-ers will make you deaf!

[badstonebass]

Here are a few helpful hints from one who was once Gene Simmons.

Learn to play sightless. If you can't, that is the first step. If your playing sightless you can take your mind off playing and set it towards rocking.

First rock out in points of the tune that are easy. Long passages during guitar solos for example

Hold the bass at unusual angles....point it like a gun, play a line with your thumb, pointing at the ceiling, at the ground, across your body pointing to the right.

Swing the bass during accents points in the song and on endings.

Move into the guitarist and do the rock "meeting" onstage. Go to the drummer and "rock out" with them.

Stare down audience members. Always laugh when they look umcomfortable, look mean when they raise their fists.

During difficult passages put your foot on a monitor in a dominating pose OR move back to your amp and close your eyes giving the "concentration" pose.

Always sing the lines of a song to some chick(unless your a female). I tend to change on every line. That way I don't send out a unwanted "come see me later" vibe AND I don't get my ass kicked by a jealous boyfriend. Girls really like this for some reason. Don't just sing to hot girls either.....everyone deserves a little love.

These are only examples of things to do. Do only what comes naturally to you. people will spot a faker.

If you are in a jazz or country band ignore all this advice.

BASS IS POWER. Wield it with authority.

[tadrex]

First of all, IJ, do you really enjoy what you're playing? If yes, then be yourself. Do what comes natural to you. There is nothing written in stone that says a bass player has to look or act in any particular manner. It should show in your face. My favorite players to listen to and see perform are the ones that have written all over their faces, "Dear God, I love what I'm doing right now! You don't have to be a gymnast either to prove it.
Contrary to what some might say, there's no drug that can duplicate that feeling.

[All_¥our_Bass]

I have the opposite problem, I can't NOT dance when playing. It's like I just become one with the music and let it move me however it wishes.

[tzadik]

Some tips...

1. Whatever you do, do it 1,000%.

2. Do not make any motion unless you MEAN it.

3. PLANT your feet unless you are going to move. Shuffling arounds makes you look insecure.

4. If you decide to move, do it on a down beat. Make it BIG. Let the music help guide your movements.

5. Don't move without a reason. Literally ask yourself "Do I have a reson?". If there's a rhythmic gesture in the music that you can move with, let that be your reason. Otherwise stay put.

6. Don't stare at the neck. Don't stare at the floor.

7. Have fun, and look like it...smile sometimes...unless you're in a metal band, in which case you should scowl, bellow, etc.

8. Get up on your tip-toes. Don't just stay up there - the point is that lightening up your heels will get you "bouncing" to the music.

9. Widen your stance. Bend knees.

....And, the hardest and most important part....

10. Practice. Really great stage presence does not just happen. The best performers look totally natural, like they do this stuff all the time, right? Well, guess what. They DO do it all the time. When you're in rehearsal, jump around like a fool and practice your shiznit.

Do not just "practice" when you are on stage. By the time you've got an audience, you need to have already practiced a hundred times. You are not going to look or feel natural at first, and if you are awkward at ALL, you get major points off. The audience can see this right away.

In our studio we have "tard-monitors" (a.k.a. mirrors, so we can see how retarded we look) and couches and crates and stuff to jump on and leap off of. Mirrors are super-useful.

If the stuff you see us do live looks natural, and you think we don't have to practice looking so "cool", then we've done our job well, because we are all extremely uncool; it's all rehearsed.

[Edwcdc]

Originally Posted by badstonebass

Here are a few helpful hints from one who was once Gene Simmons.

Learn to play sightless. If you can't, that is the first step. If your playing sightless you can take your mind off playing and set it towards rocking.

First rock out in points of the tune that are easy. Long passages during guitar solos for example

Hold the bass at unusual angles....point it like a gun, play a line with your thumb, pointing at the ceiling, at the ground, across your body pointing to the right.

Swing the bass during accents points in the song and on endings.

Move into the guitarist and do the rock "meeting" onstage. Go to the drummer and "rock out" with them.

Stare down audience members. Always laugh when they look umcomfortable, look mean when they raise their fists.

During difficult passages put your foot on a monitor in a dominating pose OR move back to your amp and close your eyes giving the "concentration" pose.

Always sing the lines of a song to some chick(unless your a female). I tend to change on every line. That way I don't send out a unwanted "come see me later" vibe AND I don't get my ass kicked by a jealous boyfriend. Girls really like this for some reason. Don't just sing to hot girls either.....everyone deserves a little love.

These are only examples of things to do. Do only what comes naturally to you. people will spot a faker.

If you are in a jazz or country band ignore all this advice.

BASS IS POWER. Wield it with authority.

I love your post.
Nothing beats a good "rock meeting" with the guitar player. Some times I get on top of the drum riser and have meetings with the drummer. Then I get to jump off the riser. Landing on the beat can be a problem.

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Ewwwww! I think that's even worse than flailing around aimlessly! For some reason, some bandleaders think I want to stand next to the drummer in the back of the stage. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I not only don't want to be in the back of the stage because I sing a lot of leads, but I want to be as far away from the drummer as possible. F-ers will make you deaf!

I think its much better to chill out by the drummer just cutting loose, than flaiing around aimlessly making a fool of ones self. I didnt mean to chill out back there with him the entire night, Just kinda casually walk around the stage acting all nonchalant like its not a big deal, then go stand by him from time to time and groove with him. Just kinda casually make your rounds.