Seeking advice on stage presence

[mambo4]

John Entwistle always looked like he was bored to me. Good thing Pete, Roger and Keith were keeping the audience engaged.

since the OP is playing Ska, and addressing stage presence was explicitly requesting of him:

-Know the material well enough to not mess it up when moving around
-let your physical movement be impelled by the music, form the inside out (if that makes any sense)
-eye contact with other band members/audience -visibly play your parts "at" them
-head bopping and/or full-body bobbing to the beat
-dance! if you can learn to skank while playing that would be pretty f'in cool.
-emphasize big breaks/changes with some kind of physical motion.
-lose your self consciousness-let others worry about "faking it"

I've also learned that whatever it is that I decide to do, it's necessary to do it to the point that it feels a little overdone in order for an audience to get it.

+1 to this. It takes a little bit of over the top for it to read form 30 feet away. Save subtlety for the studio.

I think of it as communicating/projecting the music with more than just my bass.
It's all about the music, but that doesn't stop with simply executing the part accurately:
You can project the feel of the song with every part of your being, out to the entire audience, if you can get your ego/self conciousness out of the way.

 

[dvh]

Letting go of ego and self-consciousness doesn't mean you'll give way to bopping around. It means you're comfortable in your own skin. So, anything goes, exaggerated movement or otherwise, whatever comes naturally to you.

When I'm playing, especially DB, my feet are planted (I might tap a foot or heel or something). My head and body move with the swing or groove. I've forced the jumping around in the past. It felt off and I must have looked that way too.

Do what comes naturally - which will happen when ego is lost....

 

[gard0300]

My singer and lead guitarist are stage trees, so that leaves the onstage movement to me and the other guitarist. Which is fine for me. I do the little run over to the guitarist on the parts we are together on. Maybe face the drummer for a quick sec before using his drum monitor as a springboard to jump off of. Do the old Steve Harris with the leg up on the monitor. I would say since your in a ska band the sky is the limit. Nobody wants a ska band that doesn't know how to move. Maybe work the "Dougie" in...haha just kidding. Just be sure to nail the playing first.

 

[TWolf]

Just don't do this:
YouTube - Kenny Chesney Cover For Anything But Mine

 

[ster]

Look at people. Make eye contact. Act like you're having fun - it's contagious!

+1

 

[bluewine]

Please, don't wear shorts. Dress nicely! I always make sure the best jeans are ready for the best gigs, along with my favorite shirts. I am a huge fan of Goodwill and Marshalls.

I agree, especially if your in a Rock Band. I have seen this cargo short look on several bands and it just doesn't work.

I think if your under 20 you can probably still pull off wearing shorts after that, forget it. I guess shorts look ok if your really in great shape.