What's another way to say "As a front person you're more awkward than a 14-year old at their first school dance and you have the stage presence of a cucumber?"
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Band Meeting Tonight! Help!
- Thread starter BrotherEarl
- Start date
By video. I mean, record a set and watch it as a band. You might be surprised how individuals will critique themselves.
Excellent idea......videos don't lie!
We video all of our gigs with a little Zoom Q3 HD. Pretty good sound and excellent video shows all the best parts...along with the flaws.
We video all of our gigs with a little Zoom Q3 HD. Pretty good sound and excellent video shows all the best parts...along with the flaws.
Probably not this ^ way. Maybe say something like, "you seem nervous up there, are you doing OK with this?" At least to start, you don't have to run them down.
^^^^Werd. Videos and pictures never lie. And they will hopefully be their hardest critic and say all the things you want to say to them.
Peace,
Greg
Peace,
Greg
The gig did get videotaped. What will be interesting is that it was done by a friend of the person I referenced.
I'm just hoping that everyone else felt the gig was as much of a disaster as I though it was.
I'm just hoping that everyone else felt the gig was as much of a disaster as I though it was.
Tread this matter carefully. Unless your front person acknowledges his/her performance skills need improvement, or is very humble, this subject is likely to bruise an ego, and that is rarely ever constructive. At least not until after the fact, and even then only on occasion.
Unfortunately there's no easy or harmless way to fire someone. Have you spoken to him about the areas that need improvement and given him a chance to fix them? If not, then in fairness you should. If you have, then you just have to soften the bad news as best you can. Be honest, but tactful so as to minimize or at best prevent any hard feelings.
Just playing Devil's Advocate for a moment, although a high profile, high energy vocalist is a definite plus, there are plenty of quality, successful bands throughout the years who have managed perfectly well with a vocalist who had the charisma of a pot plant. Think Joy Division, Radiohead, REM . . . (to rabid fans of any of the above, I'm not slagging off the music. I've seen all 3 live and they were very good, and none of these front-men was exactly Freddie Mercury or Robert Plant, ya know?)
But, in every case the vocalist brought something else to the table aside from stage presence - usually writing.
I guess it comes down to how good an actual vocalist this guy is - you know can he sing, and what else does he contribute?
But, in every case the vocalist brought something else to the table aside from stage presence - usually writing.
I guess it comes down to how good an actual vocalist this guy is - you know can he sing, and what else does he contribute?
^^^ True! Believe it or not, some front-persons have large egos & don't take criticism well.
MY VERSION:"You have the stage-presence of a cucumber. And, as a front-man, your're more awkward than a 14 year old at a school dance.
YOUR VERSION:"As a front person you're more awkward than a 14-year old at their first school dance and you have the stage presence of a cucumber?"
See? Mine's better.
Look man, just be blunt. Grow a pair and just don't dick around. I would suggest that you video tape your next show. Then have a band meeting. But, would I do that? Nope, not me. I ain't gettin' on stage only to have someone make the band that I'm in look like a bunch of fools.
YOUR VERSION:"As a front person you're more awkward than a 14-year old at their first school dance and you have the stage presence of a cucumber?"
See? Mine's better.
Look man, just be blunt. Grow a pair and just don't dick around. I would suggest that you video tape your next show. Then have a band meeting. But, would I do that? Nope, not me. I ain't gettin' on stage only to have someone make the band that I'm in look like a bunch of fools.
That can't have gone over well for you in the past.
To the OP - stage presence is a learned skill like playing guitar or anything else. However, there's not a whole lot of instructional videos online for it. (There are a few, however.) If you're singer's not already outgoing, gregarious and flamboyant and an extroverted people person, then they will probably never, ever make for a great front person. Having a talk with them probably won't change that. If they aren't then you can still put on a great show if you either are all phenomenal virtuoso musicians, or if you put on a crazy visual show ala Pink Floyd.
If your singer's not already extroverted or outgoing, it's still possible to get them to be a pretty good front person. However, a "great" front person will probably never come to fruition with them.
Good idea. You might also want to find some videos on Youtube of frontmen you like. Just say, we want to step things up a notch, what do you think about this guys stage presence and the way he moves.
As you show the video, don't forget the tremendous power of denial that lives in the human mind (the bigger the ego the more the denial). They just might not see what you are hoping they see, or they will argue something. Its not going to be easy. Anyone who keeps getting up on stage and doing what they do (regardless of quality) is bound to have some kind of self love for their act.
