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I don't know what to do on stage.
- Thread starter Pvt.Parts
- Start date
get over yourself! nobody cares if you're shy or self-conscious. nobody cares about us at all, really
relax, play your parts, move when the parts move you and groove when a groove is happening. (just move "in time", please
)on stage, you have to really exaggerate everything to have an impact, so what feels like frantically jumping around will come across as "sort of moving around somewhat" to the crowd.
In terms of movement, forget what you're doing up there or how you do it. I usually get into a mode where I forget what I'm doing and just focus on playing. If it makes me move (and it always does
), then so be it. If not...then don't sweat it.
Check Entwistle, for example. That guy didn't do crap up there...but he's my favorite and he's the friggin' man.
I actually get made fun of for what I do on stage...but not in the bad way. It's more like the "you give so little crap about how you look that its cool" sort of thing. I played some stuff at my college last year which had audiences of over 1,000. One of them I had about 8 square feet to move around in...and so I started doing these ridiculous shuffles with my feet (the floor was slick and I had Chuck Taylors on so it was easy). I knew I was doing it but I didn't give a crap. Then there was the other one where I had A HUGE amount of space and we played "Superstition" and I got way too funky. Once again, I knew I was doing it but it felt way too good. I was making use of that whole area, I tell you that much.
Needless to say, I looked like a goof. And everyone let me know. But at the same time...everyone expecting nothing less every time. In 5 years it has become a signature. And I remember during and after those performances hearing my friends in the crowd yelling my name. And that's when I realized it was all about confidence. I'm most confident up on stage for some reason...and it doesn't matter what I do as long as I'm all-in.
Not to mention the fact that a friend told me guys look 10 times hotter when they play a guitar. And I'd be full of **** if I said she was any less than a fox. So just pick the damn thing up, get smiling, get passionate, and play!
), then so be it. If not...then don't sweat it. Check Entwistle, for example. That guy didn't do crap up there...but he's my favorite and he's the friggin' man.
I actually get made fun of for what I do on stage...but not in the bad way. It's more like the "you give so little crap about how you look that its cool" sort of thing. I played some stuff at my college last year which had audiences of over 1,000. One of them I had about 8 square feet to move around in...and so I started doing these ridiculous shuffles with my feet (the floor was slick and I had Chuck Taylors on so it was easy). I knew I was doing it but I didn't give a crap. Then there was the other one where I had A HUGE amount of space and we played "Superstition" and I got way too funky. Once again, I knew I was doing it but it felt way too good. I was making use of that whole area, I tell you that much.
Needless to say, I looked like a goof. And everyone let me know. But at the same time...everyone expecting nothing less every time. In 5 years it has become a signature. And I remember during and after those performances hearing my friends in the crowd yelling my name. And that's when I realized it was all about confidence. I'm most confident up on stage for some reason...and it doesn't matter what I do as long as I'm all-in.
Not to mention the fact that a friend told me guys look 10 times hotter when they play a guitar. And I'd be full of **** if I said she was any less than a fox. So just pick the damn thing up, get smiling, get passionate, and play!
Apparently I move a lot during a set...but I never remember the set. I'm ALWAYS sober though. Kinda strange.
I'll second the "Ox" comments. Or you could go the Steve Harris school of stage performance. Or anywhere in between.
I tend to do slow rotations to the left, for some reason. (only occurred to me after I had to stop and unwind the chords! LOL!)
I tend to do slow rotations to the left, for some reason. (only occurred to me after I had to stop and unwind the chords! LOL!)
I don't know how to stand still if I am into the music. It may just be something you aren't into, which is fine. Mind you I speak in public for a living, so I don't have stage fright but I do NOT dance. Period.
I jump all over the place. It is totally sincere, but also kind of stupid looking sometimes.
Apparently, I do 'little kicks'. I never realized until my guitarist pointed it out.
Also, I head bang both on and off (intentionally- it looks kinda cool) the beat. I do not however, do the Warrant 'circle head bang'.
Bottom line- do what is natural. Maybe you don't want to move.
Eff 'em if they don't like it.
I jump all over the place. It is totally sincere, but also kind of stupid looking sometimes.
Apparently, I do 'little kicks'. I never realized until my guitarist pointed it out.
Also, I head bang both on and off (intentionally- it looks kinda cool) the beat. I do not however, do the Warrant 'circle head bang'.
Bottom line- do what is natural. Maybe you don't want to move.
Eff 'em if they don't like it.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
God, that was awesome. And the bass solo was pretty good, too! Better than Hillary Duff's version, anyway...
Dude, just stand still and maybe tap your heel or toe to the beat. We're bass players, we're the ones who aren't supposed to look like total tools on stage.
+1 on smiling
+1 on copying what people do (worked also for myself when I first discovered electronic music and hat to dance to it in clubs)
+1 on self-consciousness (just don't give a ****)
For me the biggest point is that I wanna play in the same quality with moving around, posing, showing off, placing feet on the monitors etc as when I would not move at all. So for me it was more like playing constantly while lifting the bass, or putting it in a 90 degress angle away from my body (works best w/ pick) and stuff.
What got me there is: do not make a difference between rehearsals and gigs. Practice your moves on every rehearsal. That also allows you to fathom whats possible and whats not. I tend to move around harder during rehearsal (and sometimes play really bad because of that) in order to find out where the borders are.
Funny thing is, once I started this, the other members adopted, and rehearsing has become more fun. Set yourself a goal to get a good sweat every rehearsal and be disappointed if you are leaving the rehearsal room in best-looking, fresh condition.
+1 on copying what people do (worked also for myself when I first discovered electronic music and hat to dance to it in clubs)
+1 on self-consciousness (just don't give a ****)
For me the biggest point is that I wanna play in the same quality with moving around, posing, showing off, placing feet on the monitors etc as when I would not move at all. So for me it was more like playing constantly while lifting the bass, or putting it in a 90 degress angle away from my body (works best w/ pick) and stuff.
What got me there is: do not make a difference between rehearsals and gigs. Practice your moves on every rehearsal. That also allows you to fathom whats possible and whats not. I tend to move around harder during rehearsal (and sometimes play really bad because of that) in order to find out where the borders are.
Funny thing is, once I started this, the other members adopted, and rehearsing has become more fun. Set yourself a goal to get a good sweat every rehearsal and be disappointed if you are leaving the rehearsal room in best-looking, fresh condition.
do what comes naturally. the audience is already there to see you, so don't worry about how you look onstage. if the music moves you, go with it. if it doesn't, don't. smile, and make eye contact with both band and audience members.
Bhahaahha! Ok! Found my inspiration, that was hilarious!
At band rehearsal today I tried some grooving and shuffle around, I'd like to be a little more energetic though, but it really doesn't help when my lead guitarist is just in front of a mic doing back up and the rhythm guitarist is sitting on his amp!
Our singer does dance quite a bit though, so I think I'll try to keep in the same ball park as him.
Thanks for all your suggestions.
I've only been onstage a few times, first time I was 15, I just walked around in circles, then got nervous and stood next to the drummer with my back half turned to the audience. Decent show though, I played spot on.
Second time shortly after that, a band invited me to jam on stage for an open mic. I was pretty comfortable with improv around simple patterns back then but I got up there, completely froze and didn't play a note but an off beat C every once an awhile
Worst night of my life, everybody thought I was a decent player up till then and I had several band offers but they all changed their mind after what happened there.That definitely scared the stage fright out of me though.
and now, starting up new band and have some gigs planned out for in the coming months.
I hate this response. "Just be yourself! Don't do ANYTHINg if you don't feel like it Huurr duurrrr!". The fact of the matter is, you're performing on stage to entertain your audience. Imagine how lifeless and boring gigs would be if the band playing did everything except entertain and engage the people paying money to see them. I know if a band has little to no stage presence, I easily tune out no matter how technical or brilliant they play. You need to be both a skilled player and an eye-catching performer if you want to make the best out of a gig.
My advice? Move around a little bit...not saying jump around like an escaped mental patient...direct your attention to your other bandmates and get them to do the same. Get the audience to join in by clapping along to the beat. Hell, look into the audience and mime the lyrics to the song you're playing if you know them. You don't necessarily have to dance or jump around to make a good performance....just grab the audience's attention and keep them attracted to what you and your bandmates are doing. Simple.
