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I can't move onstage!! Please HELP!

#21
It's made the rounds before, but still...

As others have said, you don't HAVE to jump around. There have been great bassists who didn't - Wyman, Entwistle, etc... and being the still point in the midst of chaos can itself be a kind of great stage presence. However, that doesn't work if you're only still because you're frozen in self-consciousness. You have to OWN it.

My suggestion - plant your feet, shoulder-width apart. Don't move them, leave them planted, so that you're physically solid and grounded. Close your eyes and play (know your parts well enough so that you don't need to glue your eyes to the fretboard). Focus on the groove. Let the groove into your body - might be just your head bobbing a little, or shifting your weight from one foot to the other in time to the beat. Music is physical stuff - just meditate on it and it will come through.

OK, now, a personal story - one gig, for reasons I won't get into here, I came in totally P.O.'d at the guitarist. I played the set angry and didn't give a **** how it went. The reaction afterwards - "Wow, what happened to the bass player? He really cut loose and rocked out, it was awesome!" I had always been a little hesitant before. The lesson? Rock and roll is always, at least partly, about rebellion and that defiant sneer. Say **** you to someone when you go on stage, if only in your head. For the duration of the show, the stage is your kingdom, and everyone else can **** off and watch you rule it.
 
#24
Just try not to think about it. The more you focus on your stage presence, the more self-conscious you're gonna get. Just play your songs, forget that you're on stage and let loose. When I first started gigging I was also a stiff on stage. Wasn't until my 5th or 6th gig when I started to get more comfortable on stage, forget about my surroundings and just play my bass. In time it'll become more natural, I'm certain of it.
 
#25
FretNoMore said:
I hardly move at all, other than tapping my foot a bit or maybe swaying a little from side to side if I really get into it ... not a problem as I see it.

In my experience more important than moving around is making eye contact with your band members and the audience, smile and look at people, look like you're having fun and don't stare at the floor or your fingerboard. This is hard for many, but work on it and you'll see it helps you relax and in the long run probably loosens you up a bit so you can start moving a little as well.
Click to expand...

+

I move some, but it depends on my mood. I don't worry about it, they already get awesome bass playing, what more do they want?? :ninja:

No, just kidding, but really... I've seen musicians' moves that run the gamut and the worst ones are the forced ones or fakers. I would much rather see a band play well and stand still, rather than forcing some unnatural movements or doing exaggerated stuff that's over the top for the type of show/venue. That's no knock on people who jump around, if someone does that, that's great, but I just don't care for watching it.

Sure, look around, have a pleasant expression, but just do what comes naturally. Some audiences are bored by statues, but some audiences roll their eyes at antics. It takes all kinds and there are people out there who want to see you standing there playing well and having fun. No one way is right, being yourself is what's right.
 
#26
I'm curious about the eye catching bass, can we see a picture.
I too have trouble moving around, and I play in a metal band.
I found that when I forget about everything else and I enjoy playing to the max is when I move more natural.
 
#27
If your "problem" is just that you find it more comfortable and natural to "just stand there," then I'm with the folks who say don't worry about it.

What strikes me most about your post, though, is the suggestion that it is your parents' presence that is inhibiting your ability to "really feel the music and perform." If you really believe that to be the case, then it sounds like you need to work this out with your parents. They seem plenty eager to be supportive, so I'm sure they would understand if you explained it to them the right way. Tell them first how much you appreciate their support, and explain that for some reason, you feel like having them in the audience makes you self-conscious in a way that you think is inhibiting your ability to perform. Or you could say (if true) that you don't know if that's the problem or not, but you'd like to find out. I'm sure you could get them to agree to miss one gig, if only as an experiment. Or if not that, maybe even just half a gig, so you'd have a chance to play a set or two without them in the audience before they show up for the last set. However you put it exactly, the idea would be to present it as a problem that you can all work together to try to solve, to figure out the best way for them to be supportive and helpful.
 
#29
I think you need to give yourself permission to move and be expressive. Create your own context to practice movement. Start alone in your garage or whereever and try some moves and play through your set. When you're ready, try moving at reheasal. The main thing is to take your parents out of the equation and try things out. Perhaps some songs in your repertoire make you want to dance and others make you want to work the audience.
 
#30
Moving onstage and showing that you're feeling the groove is half the enjoyment of being a performing musician in my opinion. All these people came to see me, so I'm going to put on a show. You just need to keep calm and be confident, and no matter the size of the stage you can always find a proper way to get in the groove :p
 
#31
I used to stand stock still for years. I move quite a bit these days, and I play with my eyes closed a lot too.

One of my old bands played a benefit show at a church out in the country. It must have been the late 1990's. After that particular gig, my guitar player said something like "What got into you man? You were dancing and moving....." I find it funny that I remember that gig, but it's probably because Johnny P made a big deal out of it. I never intended to do anything but stand there and play the bass, but something just happened.......

Don't sweat it. If you are supposed to move around when you play you will.
 
#32
Do you dance? Ever? If you do not like to dance then do not worry about moving around.
If your the type to have a few drinks or whatever then warm up to dancing all night long, then do that.
Are you in a shoe gaze band? If so sounds like your spot on.
 
#33
Phalex said:
I used to stand stock still for years. I move quite a bit these days, and I play with my eyes closed a lot too.

One of my old bands played a benefit show at a church out in the country. It must have been the late 1990's. After that particular gig, my guitar player said something like "What got into you man? You were dancing and moving....." I find it funny that I remember that gig, but it's probably because Johnny P made a big deal out of it. I never intended to do anything but stand there and play the bass, but something just happened.......

Don't sweat it. If you are supposed to move around when you play you will.
Click to expand...
That's the right answer.
 
#34
Years ago I found simply putting on sunglasses can change on-stage behavior. It shouldn't, but it did move me farther out of my comfort-zone shell. Even today in my acoustic duo wearing some goofy "Elvis shades" from the novelty store can make or allow me do moves I normally wouldn't.
And, SMILE on stage!
 
#36
First off, I think we would all like to see pics of this "awesome painted eye catching bass" you speak of. We have kind of an unwritten rule around here. "No pics. No bass." :D

That being said, how old are you? And the only thing your age affects is how you go about talking to your parents. If you are 16 and your parents are coming to show, well, there's not a lot that you can do about that. If my daughter was 16 and in a band I probably would go to every show for a while myself. However, if you are 27, and live on your own, that's a different story altogether. You can just talk to them like adults.

Either way, here's what I would try first. (We often make assumptions that simply aren't true. That is the context of this advice.) Simply ask your parents what you could do to improve your performance. They obviously care or they wouldn't be there. They might just surprise you. They might say "Honey, you sound great, but it would be fun to see you move around a bit." Problem solved. Go nuts. You'll both enjoy it.

But if that doesn't work, just have a "spread your wings" conversation with them. I am a father of two young girls. I know these conversations are coming one day. I'm not looking forward to them, but I know they are coming. I will be both proud and a bit down when they happen. But that's all part of being a dad. Just explain to them that you need to spread your wings. Explain to them that they have done a masterful job of teaching you what you need to know to be "out there" without getting into trouble.... yada yada yada.... you get the idea. You need a little tiny bit of space to grow. (Again, they have known this day was coming from the day you were born whether they want to admit it or not.) Maybe they could come for the first set? Maybe they could come to every third show? Once you get the freedom to move around a bit while they are not there, and get over the initial fear, then you will probably even be able to be yourself more IN FRONT of them.

Yep. This is a little touchy. Welcome to grownup problems. But, the best part is you are dealing with other grownups. So this should go fairly smoothly. Best of luck with it. And don't forget to come back with pics of that bass!
 
#37
Laineye said:
Hey bassists,

I have been playing bass for 6 years now, and have been in a rock/soul/ whatever-the-heck-we-want-to-play band for about 3 years. My singer is totally into performing, and the guitarist is a natural too, but I still find myself just standing there and playing. I still don't feel comfortable moving at all! I naturally hate being the center of attention, and it really doesn't help that I am the only girl with the awesome eye catching painted bass. I also love the songs we play.

I think the biggest part of my self consciousness is that my parents are always there watching my every move. I feel like I am constantly being patronized by how "cute" I am. I HATE IT! Yes i am happy to have caring parents but I am letting them hold me back from really feeling the music and performing. And they refuse to not show up. :hmm:

This frozen style of playing has become who I am onstage, and frankly I am very embarrassed. I have a real complex going on here that has been tearing at myself and my creativity. How can I get past this?:help:

:atoz:

:bassist:
Click to expand...

Start simple ~

1) relax
2) don't stare at your fret board - lookup and smile
3) have fun
 
#38
Have you tried talking to your parents? Have a conversation - tell them that this is something serious for you, and the comments they make are not helping you. I'm a parent - I get their pride and enjoyment at what you do. Be glad that they CARE what you do - you are lucky that way :-) But - it's also ok to let them know to back off and let you be you. My daughter is 14 and a natural singer/perfomer - I hope(think) she would let us know if we ever got over enthusiastic about it.

As far as the rest - you talk about the music moving you - I think pre-programming moves is the wrong way to go. Let the music flow, your body/moves will follow. Have fun - it IS fun!
 

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