How do you improve your stage presence?

[pedroims]

what type of gig? Shaking your butt or tapping your foot wont look good in a metal band same as banging your head in jazz trio.

IMO

a) Learn the songs in and out.
b) Learn your fretboard well.
c) Dress to win
d) Enjoy what you are playing.
e) Let your body move in whatever direction it wants.
Learn from the pros, different styles.

 

[BassWaffle]

I find it hard to fake looking interested in the music if I'm not, so something I've realized the past decade is that 1) feeling as comfortable on stage as you would in your own living room will make everything easier, takes a while to get there though, and 2) genuinely enjoying the music is the only way for me to really appear to be genuinely enjoying the performance.

If you're uncomfortable on stage, the empaths in the audience are going to be able to pick up on that. Same if you don't actually like the music you are performing. I don't like putting on fake smiles so I usually only perform music I'm really into, or that I'm getting paid well to perform (I also happen to enjoy money).

 

[Axtman]

My problem is that I have always been self-conscious. I would actually just prefer to stand in and back, in the shadows, and play. I always feel more self-conscious when I try to act cool.

 

[Fingerer]

Crop dust the stage. The audience will LOVE it!

 

[mwbassace]

A guitarist I played with years ago went to a showmanship seminar & one of their ideas was to divide the audience up into 9 squares (like a sudoku puzzle) & then each band memeber pick 2 - 3 of the squares & that is now your audience area to interact with. Another thing the seminar taught was to start your set out hard & fast, then bring it down some in the middle, & finish with a bang.

 

[Rogatien]

What's your background? Been gigging for a long time or it's still rather "new" to you?

Don't fake coolness, it's awkward as f**k. You'll find your "moves" when the gigs add up and you gain experience. What kind of music you guys play?

 

[MCS4]

Act like you're having fun. If you want something to practice, spend time at home or at rehearsals forcing yourself to play as much as possible without looking at the fretboard. Even if you can play the songs in your sleep, it can be hard to break the habit of checking your position, so spending some time actively trying to not do that will help it be more instinctive on the gig and leave you more free to express yourself.

If you can't play without looking at the fretboard for at least chunks of time, focus on learning the material (or your bass) better, since there's only so much you can do in terms of stage presence if you never look up.

 

[JimmyM]

I know one of the things I really need to improve on is my stage presence. I tend to stand still and/or look at the musicians. What are some of your tips for improving stage presence for a rock cover band bassist? Thanks!

You don't have to dance or do silly jumping around or anything. Mostly it's about looking like you're having a good time...which became nearly impossible to do in my old band in the last few years. God, I hated being in that band...so glad to be out!

 

[Magthegrate]

My wife says that I always look constipated on stage.

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

can't say enough about dressing well.
be stylish.
you are putting on a show, give them something to watch!
smile, move to the beat.
don't take your hand off the neck when you play open notes.
practice playing standing on one leg. it looks cool.

 

[Axtman]

I have played rock for a long time, just never been comfortable up on stage. Please always remark how I never smile and don't look like I am enjoying myself....but I am!

My band is playing a big crowd at an outdoor gig on Friday night and I'm nervous.

 

[Mordamir]

I saw a metal band a few years ago at a bar while I was out of town, the bass player kept switching to weird hats and masks every couple songs or so. The rest of the band didn't and it was pretty distracting.

I wouldn't do that.

 

[knumbskull]

You’ve either got it or you haven’t.

I haven’t got it.

 

[punchdrunk]

Play well.

 

[Remoman]

I have played rock for a long time, just never been comfortable up on stage. Please always remark how I never smile and don't look like I am enjoying myself....but I am!

My band is playing a big crowd at an outdoor gig on Friday night and I'm nervous.

While interacting with the audience is a great way to have stage presence and up the energy, if you're a little nervous try the opposite. Tune the audience out, let them be in the background. Focus on the stage and having fun with your fellow band members. Some in the audience will love you, some won't, don't let that distract you, and focus on getting the joy you get from playing the gig. You'll be more relaxed and have more fun and in turn the audience will see that and get more from the performance.

 

[Renaissance]

Get from behind the mike stand when you're not singing. You don't want anything between you and the audience. Present a "wider" image. Stand with your feet apart a little. Rather than tap your toes up and down, tap left and right. To the audience, pointing and waving to a fence post looks the same as pointing and waving at someone you know. Smile and just do what you're comfortable with.

 

[Spidey2112]

I shave... once the goatee is tight, I'm good as gold.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Pick a couple of the fspots onar wall, over the head of the audience, and focus on them. This way it looks like you are looking at the crowd without having to do so. Shoe gazing is a downer. During a solo, go over to another band member and pretend to say something to them (bonus points if you actually do have a quick conversation).

 

[TheDirtyLowDown]

I have very little stage presence and thus no business giving any advice on showmanship, but I can suggest getting a video of your band, and watching it very carefully. You'll know what to change. If you don't, show it to someone whose opinion you trust and ask them for honest feedback. If it's hard to do that live, have a band practice where you don't stand in a circle, but instead set up as if there was an audience, and play for the video camera. That's actually been a help in a couple of bands I've been in.

Then, compare that video to a live video of a band whose style of music matches yours, and whose stage presence you admire. That helps!

 

[Pings Bass]

+1 for smiling. It feels weird at first, but it becomes natural/contagious as you go. It's a natural feedback loop. If you look like you're having fun (even when you're not), before you know it you might actually start having fun.

Don't try this if you're in a death metal band, though. You might get fired.

Eye contact is tricky; as an alternative, just pick spots on the back wall above the crowd to look at.

And of course, shake your groove thing.