How do you improve your stage presence?

[LBS-bass]

You don't have to dance, if that's not comfortable for you. Moving in the way that works for you with the music is sufficient. If you are enjoying the music, it shows. Engage with your band mates, but not in a way that looks stupid.

Here's a video from a recent show I did. It's not great, you don't really need to watch beyond the first song, but it shows how I move. I'm almost never "dancing" but I am always enjoying the music. This show had the worst monitor mix I've experienced in recent years. Nothing but mud from the electronic drums in my monitor, and I could not lock in with him because I couldn't hear his hits. But I smiled and made it as good as I could, anyway.



I disagree with the person who said engage in conversation during a solo. I saw a bass player do that earlier in this same show, and it just looked silly. It looked like they were into themselves and not the show or the audience. A casual comment to band mates is one thing, but you don't need to dance with your band all night. Just engage for a few measures, like I do with the drummer here, and that's enough.

Dress like you meant to make a statement. OK I'm a girl, but guys can do the guy equivalent of this. I guarantee you there was nobody else in this audience that night wearing a vintage cut polka dot dress.

 

[pbass2]

Movement is key. I try to step away from the mic when not singing and then rush up to it when I have to sing (duh). Seems obvious, but it's an easy way to force yourself to move around.

Of course, John Entwistle was famous for barely moving at all. But then, you're not John Entwistle and neither am I.

And did any one mention not wearing shorts?

Some players can just look cool standing there. Like Entwistle, and Bill Wyman. Wyman wasn't a flashy player by any means but he was the counterpoint visually to all the other leaping around up there. But he made eye contact with the audience, and exuded an aura of coolness.

 

[Tnavis]

Be yourself.

I used to really worry about stage presence and making sure that I was putting on a good performance. It always felt awkward and forced to try and work the crowd and make myself be seen on stage, and it was. That's not who I am off stage. Now, for some people, having a separate stage persona is a thing that works for them, but it's simply not me.

If the music you are playing is something that you enjoy, then let your playing show that. For some people that's dancing, for some it's interacting with the other band members, for some it's working the crowd. Don't force it, just enjoy what you are doing and it will happen naturally.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

I stand in the back and drink, play bass. Not very exciting, but it’s what I do.

 

[pcake]

years ago, two bass players really got my attention when it comes to stage presence. one was jason with flotsam and jetsam - i saw them at the whiskey or the key club (can't remember which), and he was at the front, stage left, interacting with audience members and doing moves like shooting the audience members with his bass and doing all sorts of stuff. he had as many people involved with him as the guitar player did. he played the bass way over the edge of the stage. he was always in motion and VERY entertaining. i saw them with the bass player from another local band, and we really liked watching him.

the other person was the bass player from extra fancy, D.A. foster. i talked to him about his stage presence once - he felt very involved with the audience, and it showed. lots of eye contact, going toward individual people, movements that fit his playing and the music. btw, he was the guitar player for the short lived "nudist priest", where he did the same things without clothes, although his guitar covered the salient parts.

so i learned to be more involved with the audience. before talking to foster, i felt a bit adversarial regarding the audience. afterward, i realized that most of the time, they're there to have a good time, not to critique the band. i used to wander the stage, but after that my wandering would bring me to people i made eye contact with. i'd head bop, fling my hair around or let it fall over the fingerboard, do over/unders while playing, shoot audience members with the bass - with a wink if appropriate - physically count the beats in the air with my right hand while the bass was silent, sometimes putting out one more finger for each beat. when i was playing really hard music, i might pound my bass to get a certain sound out of it, which looked very aggressive. kicking hard felt right for aggressive music.

i think each musician, unless they're playing a show with choreography, should do what makes them comfortable and entertains the audience.

 

[Mike Sorr]

It sounds like I’m going to be in the minority here, but I can’t stand bands that run around the stage like their pants are on fire. I go to see a band for the music, not the clothes, not the shoes, haircuts or gymnastics. The first time I ever heard of Fall Out Boy they were the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. The only thing about the music that impressed me was that they were even able to play it while jumping off their amplifiers, the drum risers and practically playing leap frog on stage. It looked ridiculous.

Hey, to each their own, but I think stage presence for most members of the band is over rated.

 

[Element Zero]

You just gotta woahoHOOOOO listen to the musiiiiic! Let the groove take over your body. Doesn’t matter how you “look”. Wouldn’t hurt to learn some older Snoop or Dr. Dre, Zapp and Roger, 2 Pac, Parliament etc. Bangin beats like that SHOULD get your booty movin... or go the other way and learn I’m Broken or Walk by Pantera and get that neck breakin bob goin on.

 

[LBS-bass]

It sounds like I’m going to be in the minority here, but I can’t stand bands that run around the stage like their pants are on fire. I go to see a band for the music, not the clothes, not the shoes, haircuts or gymnastics. The first time I ever heard of Fall Out Boy they were the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. The only thing about the music that impressed me was that they were even able to play it while jumping off their amplifiers, the drum risers and practically playing leap frog on stage. It looked ridiculous.

Hey, to each their own, but I think stage presence for most members of the band is over rated.

You're not wrong. Forced motion on stage looks fake, because it is. I've seen legendary acts onstage who were just running from one side of the stage to the other, plastering on a smile, then running to the other side, plastering on a smile, all while reaching down to touch a few hands of the worthy who were able to pay for the premium seats. Looked like what they had been doing for 40 years and were sick to death of doing but still felt they had to do. That's not stage presence, that's phoning it in.

 

[Ric5]

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!

 

[dr doofie]

You’re a bass player. Just let what is in you and what is coming through your instrument show in your countenance and movement.
(Finally had a chance to use
“Countenance...”

 

[Space Pickle]

flaming leap off amp

 

[Jon McBass]

Bill Wyman didn’t move much, either.

Unfortunately he was my role model.

 

[NOVAX]

Start by watching Yessongs.
The Fish 101.

 

[Clark W]

I pay a couple of strippers to hang out on each side of me on stage and shake stuff. Don't know what exactly it does for my stage presence but it improves my mood tremendously.

 

[Shardik]

I just bought a hat.

Other than that I dress up a little bit, but we're not a suit and tie band. When on stage, tight playing is paramount. If the song is complicated, I focus on my instrument and locking in the timing with the drummer. I don't care about stage presence if that is not in place.

If the rhythm is tight (it usually is), I focus on the audience, and try to look at people a bit beyond the people in the front. By doing that, more people feel you look at them. I smile and to me, moving to the music comes natural as a part of keeping time.

If the stage is big enough, I try to join up with the guitarist during solos or long instrumental passages. It makes the stage a place where things happen.

If the band looks like it's having fun, the audience will lock in with that. So: Have fun.

 

[Sid Fang]

I pay a couple of strippers to hang out on each side of me on stage and shake stuff. Don't know what exactly it does for my stage presence but it improves my mood tremendously.

You just reminded me of my "Achievement Unlocked: First gig in bar with stripper pole" moment. Not so much about my having stage presence as my stage having presence.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Unfortunately, I think you either have it or you don’t.

 

[equill]

Practice in front of a mirror or video yourself for review so you don't look like a dork, jerkin' around like you're being electrocuted.

I knew a blues singer who did that, a long time ago. That is, he did on the rare times he actually moved on stage.
The regulars nicknamed him Rigor, as in Rigor Mortis.

 

[JimmyM]

It sounds like I’m going to be in the minority here, but I can’t stand bands that run around the stage like their pants are on fire. I go to see a band for the music, not the clothes, not the shoes, haircuts or gymnastics. The first time I ever heard of Fall Out Boy they were the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. The only thing about the music that impressed me was that they were even able to play it while jumping off their amplifiers, the drum risers and practically playing leap frog on stage. It looked ridiculous.

Hey, to each their own, but I think stage presence for most members of the band is over rated.

Depends on the band. Worked for Fall Out Boy. Probably wouldn't work for Tedeschi/Trucks.

 

[Knavery]

Be like this guy: