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Performance advice

B

Bassnoise

Jul 24, 2013
104
3
#1
Hi I searched and didn't find anything... So what do any of you have any general advice on connecting to your audience?.... I'm not looking to steal anyone's show so feel free to be general....

I'm working on trying to have a performance art kinda vibe and larger production like wardrobe which is why I specifically ask about connecting to the crowd.... Thanks
 
#2
Confidence is a biggie. Eye contact is very important as well. When you find a female (or male) that you think is good looking, give them a wink ;)

You gotta move, but in a cool way, in a confident way. Practice in front of a mirror, work out what you think looks good and what doesn't. You might think you look like a goof ball, and honestly sometimes you will, but if you do it in a confident way, your crowd will love it.

And in the words of Chef from south park "A cucumber in the pants never hurts"
 
#4
At home pick a song out of your set list. write up a short 4 sentence story\anecdote about it. Practice telling it to your band members. Then tell it to the audience during the performance.

ask if any body is celebrating a birthday..anniversary..bachelor party..anything..even a well liked face book post. Bring some 3x5 pictures of your cat and lunch to share with them...that would be pretty funny...

Saturday Morning we played a small festival and threw 50 beach balls into the crowd. It went over pretty well, the crowd was knocking them around while we played, even trying to hit us with them.

That evening we played a pub and brought a couple more there. Those people had a blast hitting the beach balls around the bar.

If you're doing performance art, then maybe incorporate an audience members name and\or occupation into the chorus of a song.

You will be better off if you can emotionally engage the audience. Treat your shows like a conversation. The other person is always more receptive if you talk about them.
 
#5
some good suggestions already.

Smile and look like you are having fun.
Look at the audience at least 2x looking at another band member.

If you are nervous looking someone in the eye, look just over the heads of the audience and make eye contact with your imaginary friend, no one will notice.
 
#6
It actually wouldn't hurt to take and improv class or two. I've found that a great way to connect with your audience is to pick something out in the audience and riff off of that for a couple seconds inbetween songs. It really helps to be able to think on your feet. Get creative, try to be funny and if a joke fails, call yourself out on it. People will connect better if you're not afraid to make fun of yourself.
 
#7
Need more info.

What kind of stuff do you play?
What kinds of places do you play?

The same advice would not work for a death metal band that would work for a top 40 cover band. If you play death metal, do NOT go around looking for people to sing happy birthday to. Probably wouldn't go over. Theater gig? Do NOT wink at the old lady in the front row. It probably WOULD go over and you better be able to run when the show is over.

If I haven't said it already (noticed you joined not long ago)......
Welcome to TalkBass!
 
#8
Watch the bands that inspired you. What works for them? Does any of that work for you? Don't be a stiff; play like you love it; and FILM YOUR SHOWS. Watch 'em back, and see what works and what doesn't.

I'm no master of entertainment, but I'm a lot better than any stiff, and a lot less cheesy than some clowns.
 
#10
Everything you do onstage should be exaggerated. Facial expressions, movements, clothes...... It translates better that way for some reason.

Also have fun on stage (in an exaggerated fashion). The audience loves to see a bunch of idiots with instruments have a good time entertaining them.

My drummer and I used to toss drumsticks back and forth. It's awesome if you can make the catch and throw it back, and it's comical if you miss and have to go chasing after it. We'd even get the audience to chuck a wild stick back to us if it went off the front of the stage. (Sometimes they keep them instead)

The trick to tossing a catch-able drum stick is to throw it flat with no spin in a fairly high arc. Give it a shot.
 
#11
#15
Two things: Eye Contact, Hip Trust. When you have mastered those two things, combine Eye Contact + Hip Thrust. I have a lot of hip trusts in my arsenal, with two main ones.

There is a local Country bassist that I've caught a few times. He does not move at all. I think that's his thing... to minimize movements (hands, body) as much as possible. What he does have is Eye Contact but it's intense like you get hit by a blast of Country mojo and makes up for the lack of moves. Everyone got their own style.

I find that it helps if you are actually physically loose it helps. I was surprised to find that once I started doing Yoga every day, my moves were able to expand to the next level.
 
#17
Bassnoise said:
Hi I searched and didn't find anything... So what do any of you have any general advice on connecting to your audience?.... I'm not looking to steal anyone's show so feel free to be general....

I'm working on trying to have a performance art kinda vibe and larger production like wardrobe which is why I specifically ask about connecting to the crowd.... Thanks
Click to expand...

Yeah here’s a tip: Learn to play bass without having to stare at your fretboard - lookup at the people and smile.
 
#18
Lol I like the answer don't suck and thanks there's alot of good stuff in here ... But no I don't want a gimmick so much as I just found it interesting to read about...

I try not to use anything so often it becomes a gimmick.
The music is jazzy and improvised psych rock pretty wild and loud. But not metal. I used to do "the box thing" I'd get a plant in the audience and put this painted helmet box on them lit some I sense and mesmerize them and they'd have some course of action to go through before returning to the crowd..

With my current group at a recent show I started mocking every thing the guitar play said threw the mic ... I also like the idea about bringing pictures from lunch(not exactly like that but lol)
 

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