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Looking good on a gig

M

Mazer

Guest
Apr 4, 2011
39
2
#1
Hey!
We've got a small gig coming up in a month, where we're mainly going to play covers. But the problem, if it really is a problem, is that I don't know how to look good on stage. I'm not the headbanging type, who swings his hips, so all the ladies up in the front want to get me. My other band members are planning to rock the people on the gig, but doing all kinds of crazy moves on the stage, it just isn't me. Maybe I'm taking this too much of a concern. Should I worry about it or just do my own thing?
 
#4
I think stage presence is an important part of a rock gig. However, you don't have to dance around like an idiot to have stage presence. I'd just try to think a little about crowd interaction. Smile and look like you're having fun. Point to a friend in the audience. Clap your hands during instrument breaks to get the crowd involved. Little things like this go a long way, and for me, help me to be more involved in the gig and make each one different and more memorable than just playing the same songs I always play. These are just suggestions, but you can think of things that suit your personality and playing style, but all the successful rock bands I can think of have huge stage presence. Most important though, is to just have fun, cause if it aint fun, why do it anyway?
 
#5
If everybody else is running around playing the rock star, the one person who is just being cool and ignoring it will be the one getting the attention. Think John Entwistle...

Note - it doesn't work if *everybody* does the cool standing still stuff. Then it just looks like navel gazing...
 
#6
A few thoughts:

Be yourself. Let the music move you in a natural way. I guess the main thing is not to hold back your moves due to shyness.

It can be a bit boring to watch a musician who just stands there with no emotion/moves. The flip side is that it can be overdone.

Just be yourself; whatever that means to you. And yet, never forget that you are entertaining people. If the crowd sees you getting into the music, chances are they will too.

It's also a good idea to practice in front of a mirror.
 
#7
throughthefire said:
If everybody else is running around playing the rock star, the one person who is just being cool and ignoring it will be the one getting the attention. Think John Entwistle...

Note - it doesn't work if *everybody* does the cool standing still stuff. Then it just looks like navel gazing...
Click to expand...

What throughthefire said!

Seriously though what looks best for the crowd is you having fun.
Own the songs and power through any flubs...:bassist: Smile and laugh at the bits you or others play that you like most. Enjoy it and show it.
It's a show after all!:D
 
#11
Look the part. Dress in a way that expresses who you are, but with a little flash to demonstrate that you are someone on stage.

Other than that, let the music move you. The most authentic antics on stage are rarely contrived, just spontaneous, so find yourself in the music and have fun.
 
#12
I never think about it. That just adds stress where it does not need to be, and makes you self conscious. Relax and play. There is nothing wrong with being there for the music, instead of the image.
You cannot fake being flashy. If you try, and it clashes with your personality, you come off as being phony. Leave that for the lead guitarist
 
#15
PlungerModerno said:
what looks best for the crowd is you having fun.
Click to expand...

^^^This.

My wife will begrudgingly come out to see/hear me perform every now and then. She's hearing impaired which means the music rarely makes sense, so it's a real chore for her to sit through a live band in the best of circumstances. But she likes to show her support for my endeavors, blah blah blah...

Oddly, her favorite band of mine was the dense, thorny, oft-abrasive & discordant, highly non-commercial avant-garde jazz ensemble I played in...because, according to her, "You guys looked like you were sincerely having fun."

No faux-rockstar poses, no disingenuous crowd interaction moves, no choreography, just five musicians interacting with each other and visibly enjoying the crap out of it.
 
#18
A good starting point is to dress yourself just a step better than average for your audience. Make sure that you're comfortable.

Then again, you could just wear black jeans & a black T-shirt like everybody else.
 
#20
All you need is one move, hip thrust. Sync it up with your playing or the kick. Some sort of bass face helps too, bust it out whenever you do anything flashy playingwise.

+1 on dressing well unless a grungier look is your thing.
 

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