image and charisma

[logdrum]

IMHO charisma is like many other traits; some of it is innate and some of it is learned. How much of it you can learn depends on how much natural ability you have. I have seen people transition from being shy, stick in the mud types to the type of person who lights up the room.

Charisma can also be broken down into different mediums such as verbal and visual. Verbal charisma is knowing the right thing to say and is also impacted by delivery. Visual charisma relates to appearing friendly and likeable. IMHO visual charisma can be faked/mimed to some extent on the bandstand by simply smiling and acting as if your having good time (Assuming that is the fantasy your selling to your audience).

IMHO, probably a lot more charisma is faked than you are probably aware of. On occasion I have found myself at the home of some people that I considered extremely charismatic. In their home environment, they seemed every bit as dull an boring as I consider myself to be. Charisma is something they sort of turn on when they are in public. I am not necessarily certain they are completely aware of doing it. But IMHO charisma seems to be somewhat of a facade that they may wear or take off, depending on the situation.

IMHO image is about meeting the specific expectations of a certain scene; I.E. certain looks and behaviors. A look that is desirable in one seen may be inappropriate in another seen. Behavior that is seen as charismatic in one scene could be a turn off in another scene.

I am fairly introverted, but I can put on a costume and/or play a role on stage. AFAIK, a lot of performers are introverted.

Dang - you can explain social dynamics as much as you can explain technical data.

This post pretty much explains it.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

My wife tells me I'm outgoing to the point it makes her a little uncomfortable. Y'know, chatting with strangers in the grocery line, etc. On stage I try to dress reasonably nicely. I rarely wear t-shirts or shorts and often wear a jacket/blazer/sport coat. I'm not very schmoozy at gigs and frequently respond to people tersely, but not rudely. I'm "standoffish". On stage I fancy myself the band "secret weapon". I sing lead and backup but am not typically a featured vocalist. But if you want a credible and energetic rendition of "Tush" or "Shout" or a pretty fair reading of "Tuesday Afternoon" I'm your guy. Not the main course, but an interesting side, perhaps. Also, people have mentioned I look like I'm having fun on stage. While this is certainly true, I will confess that, often as not, if you see me smiling during a performance it's because I just made a mistake!

BBB

 

[edwinhurwitz]

I don’t know, what do you think?

More recent:

And with one of the most charismatic people I’ve been in a band with, Vince Herman, known from Leftover Salmon:

I think if you are having fun and connect with the audience and the band, it’s all good.

 

[Pocket Dave]

Charisma may not be buyable, but it can be cultivated. Smile, look people right in the eye like they matter, focus on them and engage - people I've known who can do that comfortably are infinitely more charismatic than those who go the 100% "stage persona" route - which reeks of inauthenticity more often than not.

Image? For me it's simply trying to dress and carry myself like I belong onstage as part of a performance. By "carry myself", I mean own it honestly and comfortably.

Above all, have fun. This is SUPPOSED to be fun.

 

[sonic boogaloo]

The best advice I've seen posted here is "dress in a way that respects the music"
context once again matters

what does that mean, though?

if you're playing in a tribute band, then i get it, but if you're playing your own music what dress sense would be DEEMED appropriate?

 

[edwinhurwitz]

what does that mean, though?

if you're playing in a tribute band, then i get it, but if you're playing your own music what dress sense would be DEEMED appropriate?

That’s for you to decide, but as one of my bands used to say, dress for success.

 

[sonic boogaloo]

dress for success.

but what is that?

 

[edwinhurwitz]

but what is that?

It depends on the context and you get to decide what that means. Nobody can answer it for you just like no one can tell what kind of music you want to write. In some cases, it means outrageous costumes, in others, wearing a suit and tie, in still others, it means looking like you rolled out of bed hungover. I don’t know. You tell me.

 

[sonic boogaloo]

is this an example of 'dressing for success'?

 

[sonic boogaloo]

or maybe this?

 

[sonic boogaloo]

Is image important to me? You be the judge:

View attachment 7462468

looking cool, dude!

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Charisma? I'll show you Charisma. BL in her cruise director mode. "I want to see all the Tina Turners up front" etc.

 

[DaBigBadaBoom]

People are born with/organically and unconsciously develop charisma.

Image you can buy and learn.

If you have charisma you don't need image. Just be yourself. That's your image.

A very small percentage of musicians/creatives have charisma. It's mostly cultivated image we see and consume.

Cultivated image is, of course, the most common sort of image people have. Lots of passionate people have no charisma, but a perfectly cultivated image.

Neither is good or bad. They're just different.

I personally prefer charisma, but it's very rare.

 

[Fondsdale]

Charisma isn't about being likeable or outgoing necessarily, but something that draws people in somehow. It's not really tied to image either. Steve Jobs is a good example, no 'image' but oozed charisma. From all accounts he was highly unlikable.

 

[hrodbert696]

So here's another angle, just food for thought; I recently read a book by an historian named Molly Worthen called "Spellbound," which was about charismatic religious and political movements in American history. Obviously we can't talk about those topics on TB forums, but her point about charisma itself was interesting. She argued that the key to a charismatic movement was not some secret sauce in the leader of the movement, but about the ability of the movement to build an inspiring story that they had a role in. The leader might not actually be all that special (outsiders to these movements were often unimpressed by the leaders and baffled by the appeal), it's just that the story casts them in a starring role.

A gig is a much smaller-stakes kind of a thing than some big social movement, but I wonder if that's basically the difference between acts that have charisma and those that don't. Basically, they create the vibe that we're part of a story tonight, even if the story is just that we're going to have a great party, and the band is in the vanguard of it. How you dress and talk and everything is then just part of the story.

 

[Clark W]

what's your take on the cargo shorts and bare foot look?

One of my friends is a lead guitarist and backing vocalist in a band that plays out a lot. And when he's not playing with the band he's doing acoustic duo's with their lead vocalist. And when he's not doing the duo thing, he's doing solo acoustic. In other words, he makes his living playing music, probably 50 to 60 hours a week when you count the drive time, load in/out, etc..

His attire...

Pretty much cargo shorts, some flowery Hawaiian type button up, loosely buttoned, beach hat and flip flops. Doesn't matter if he has an acoustic guitar or a Strat in his hands, what you see is what you get, all the time. It's actually part of his persona. So it works for him. It worked for Jimmy Buffet too.

Definitely not for me and my hairy pasty white legs and old man feet

 

[dbsfgyd1]

The best advice I've seen posted here is "dress in a way that respects the music"
context once again matters

The rest of my new band looks like refugees from a biker gang. I look more like Mr. Rodgers. lol!!! Minus the cardigan and slippers….of course..

 

[mambo4]

Basically, they create the vibe that we're part of a story tonight, even if the story is just that we're going to have a great party, and the band is in the vanguard of it. How you dress and talk and everything is then just part of the story.

I think that is close to the heart of it. Tom Jackson always rants about "creating moments" on stage. Those moments are part of a story. And you want the audience to feel like they have a role.

outsiders to these movements were often unimpressed by the leaders and baffled by the appeal

I think we all can name bands whose appeal we don't get...

 

[MonetBass]

Reporter: "What is it about him? His charisma? His presence?"
Benny Hill: "I don't believe he gives them any charismas presence."

 

[bass12]

So here's another angle, just food for thought; I recently read a book by an historian named Molly Worthen called "Spellbound," which was about charismatic religious and political movements in American history. Obviously we can't talk about those topics on TB forums, but her point about charisma itself was interesting. She argued that the key to a charismatic movement was not some secret sauce in the leader of the movement, but about the ability of the movement to build an inspiring story that they had a role in. The leader might not actually be all that special (outsiders to these movements were often unimpressed by the leaders and baffled by the appeal), it's just that the story casts them in a starring role.

A gig is a much smaller-stakes kind of a thing than some big social movement, but I wonder if that's basically the difference between acts that have charisma and those that don't. Basically, they create the vibe that we're part of a story tonight, even if the story is just that we're going to have a great party, and the band is in the vanguard of it. How you dress and talk and everything is then just part of the story.

This is, I'm sure, part of what we're seeing with the Angine de Poitrine phenomenon. It's not so much the music for a lot of people - or merely the outfits and designs - it's the offer of a different "world" that can be stepped into.