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Stage Persona

#61
hrodbert696 said:
I totally disagree with this. Why do you think orchestras dress in black tie and not jeans and t-shirts? Because the sense of aristocracy is part of the collective "persona."

Also, an historical fact we need to remember; performance to mass audiences was a new phenomenon of the mid-to-late nineteenth century, made possible by industrialization and urbanization that gave the masses money to spend on tickets and brought them close enough together to be able to form audiences that could financially support theaters and concert halls and professional performers to appear in them. Before that you had to have either court or church patronage, which entailed a whole other "persona" you had to cultivate for success.

As soon as the mass audience appears, so does the performer's persona. Chopin and Paganini made the impression they did not simply in their virtuosity but in their dazzling charisma on stage. People seem to keep thinking that it's a zero-sum game, that having great stage persona means "not playing great music." Chopin knew that wasn't the case; a successful performance means both charisma AND virtuosity - indeed the virtuosity is part of the persona.
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Well said. It is the persona that drives the virtuosity, and image is of course part and parcel of the persona, but it's the end result that garners interest, which is music. You can't have the music without the personality of course, but that's a given in any walk of life. The proof is in the pudding, in this case the listening. All the posturing in the world can't compensate for that. A good pitch is needed, but useless if the product doesn't match the promise.
 
#62
Whether you know it or not; whether you consciously define, cultivate, or manipulate it or not; you have a stage persona. The only way you wouldn't is if you hide behind a curtain where you can't be seen. If you are visible on the stage, then you have an image to those who can see you.

Your persona includes how you act, how you dress, how you wear your hair, how you play, what you say, your facial expressions, your voice (spoken as well as sung) - in short, everything about you that can be perceived by the audience. Whatever makes you you, to the audience, is your persona.

The "I'm too cool to have a persona" persona is one option, however it gets used quite a bit & it's hard to make yourself stand out from such a large crowd (just about everybody who adopts this persona has killer chops, too, so that won't help much).

A musical performance is a multi-dimensional event. To ignore any of the dimensions is to risk losing control over your performance. The personas of the performers are among those dimensions.
 
#63
Actium said:
That's part of why I can't stand seeing classic rock or blues rock cover bands. They often don't entertain. That and they usually just stick to safe songs they know the crowd will know.

I'd rather see a metalcore or deathcore band having a blast and tearing it up on stage even though I despise -core genres. Why? Because their stage presence and energy would transfer into the audience and me. Encouraging me to have a really good time.

When I got dudes old enough to be my dad going "arrrrrright, this next number is blabity derp by herpty derr, annnnd heeeere we go!" Come on guy. You're in a band on stage to entertain. Stop talking like you're some monotone NPR reporter.

I'm not saying you have to flip out and stuff on stage. Just be fun.


I remember when I was surfing youtube and was like. Hey I always liked a few Kansas songs let's see what they were like back in the day. So I found Carry On being done live in like 1980 or something back then. My kneejerk reaction was "ew".
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Unfortunately, I have to agree. Ironically, many of the blues artists and classic rock acts those bands are covering had a lot of personality. Stevie Ray Vaughn could play the hell out of his Strat, but the man just oozed star quality. Led Zeppelin was the prototypical rock band with four unique individuals who came together to form a whole. Isn't there a story about how Plant and Page got into an argument, and Plant told page that his role in the band is to be the mysterious guitarist? Get some old vinyl from Boston or Triumph or Rush or Bachman Turner Overdrive and look at the sleeves. They dressed like they belonged on stage. Even though Skynrd wore t-shirts and jeans, Ronnie Van Zant had a ton of charisma. It's doesn't have to always be about running all over the stage and wearing fancy outfits.

With that said, I like Kansas and listen to NPR. :hiding: :D
 
#64
I do have a stage persona. It's part of our show, we play Outlaw Country Trash with Spaghetti Western, band's called DEATHROPE (think of Johnny Cash meets Clint Eastwood in a Tarantino Movie).
My alias is Richland K. Harper, I'm a blacksmith, and I have babies for lunch :-)
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#65
As some have already done, I would like to clarify things a little:

It's not your "persona" that makes you a good musician. Practicing and playing a lot, having some talent and working on your musical skills is what makes you a good musician.

A "persona", some kind of image, will (in the best case) help you to stand out and be noticed. If you are noticed and your music is not moving people, you are probably not going to become a success. Except if you were promoted by a major with loads of cash.

On the other hand, if you make great music and have created an interesting on-stage and off-stage persona too, it will surely be easier for you to become a successful musician. You're going to get more media coverage, your audience will have more to talk about with their friends and the you'll get the word out more quickly.
 
#67
As a musician being payed for a gig you are paid to entertain. If someone just wanted to hear your music they would buy the cd (or rip it from the net) and avoid the extra costs of going to a show.

My band (Wotan's Apotheosis) though in it's infancy is going themed. Going to do the Proto-German/Viking Theme on stage full on with stage names . It is your job to entertain so put on a show! If you just stand there and play you are just a face in the mob of musicians. Stand out, be different and entertain (but it is equally important that you can play the music too) It's a full package.
 
#69
Drucocu said:
I do have a stage persona. It's part of our show, we play Outlaw Country Trash with Spaghetti Western, band's called DEATHROPE (think of Johnny Cash meets Clint Eastwood in a Tarantino Movie).
My alias is Richland K. Harper, I'm a blacksmith, and I have babies for lunch :-)
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That sounds completely awesome. Got a link?
 
#72
I started off wearing my graduation gown from high school. Since it's white, it kind of looks like a mad scientist coat. I just wanted to wear it more than once in my life to make me feel like its price was justified though. ;)

But since then, I've started wearing very bright colors in general, and wearing dresses. I'd wait til after the first song, then take off my clothes to reveal the dress underneath just as kind of a shock. It's probably not something I'd do when I'm older, but for now I enjoy it!

One thing I have to work on is stage presence though for sure. I put so much concentration into the playing itself, I end up not moving a lot. But I think I'm gradually become less statue-esque with each show.
 
#73
xxfaux_punkxx said:
I've been thinking and as music is part of being a musician I do feel that it's almost as important to create a stage persona in order to make one a successful musician.

Think the sex pistols
Lady Gaga
Marlyn Manson
Slipknot
Here come the mummies
Munkey (koRn)
and so on.


So do you guys have a stage persona or do you try to keep it strictly about the music.

If you do have a persona what is it like? Attire, performance, attitude on stage, etc.
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First, I think success is a subjective term. One guy teaching bass and playing at bars in normal clothes may feel he's musically successful. Meanwhile, another musician dressed in all vinyl and playing a down-tuned bass in front of 100's at a music festival may insist he's successful.

What is success? I guess it would depend.

Having a stage persona is cool, but presence has to accompany it. Also, the entire band has to be in on it. Otherwise the odd ball looks like a tool.

In a perfect world, music quality alone would define a band/musician's "success". However, we're a visual society. Looking "cool" is mandatory for a lot of new acts.

I've done both plain clothes, unassuming, technical gigs, and costumed, light on musical ability shows.

Me personally, I favor bands that go the extra mile to look awesome and put on a show. It takes a lot of dedication beyond chops to put on a crazy show in costumes or makeup. I apreciate that, because I know playing in a costume is usually not comfortable. I'd much rather see that, than some dude in plain clothes, shredding all night.

I'm in a KISS tribute band, having the time of my life. A lot of folks on here blast Gene's playing. I was the same way. Then I started playing his lines while singing, and wearing platforms. My respect for him jumped up a little. Not falling over while doing the choreography is even a challenge.

Just my .02
 
#74
powmetalbassist said:
As a musician being payed for a gig you are paid to entertain. If someone just wanted to hear your music they would buy the cd (or rip it from the net) and avoid the extra costs of going to a show.

My band (Wotan's Apotheosis) though in it's infancy is going themed. Going to do the Proto-German/Viking Theme on stage full on with stage names . It is your job to entertain so put on a show! If you just stand there and play you are just a face in the mob of musicians. Stand out, be different and entertain (but it is equally important that you can play the music too) It's a full package.
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AMEN!
 
#75
Stage persona. It's just something that happens. Everyone has one. Some are just a little cooler than others.
 

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#76
I used to strip and wear a thong in my old funk band. This was before Party Boy did it on Jackass. It was a gimmick, but people would attend future gigs just to see the reactions of unsuspecting audience members. They liked the music, but this act of humor made us memorable to venue owners and fans.
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Regardless of weather you wear a costume or go plain jane, have fun.
 
#78
Rockmusician said:
I couldn't disagree more. The artists you metioned are using gimmicks to try to attract attention. The attitude seems to be "maybe if I dress weird or run arround, people will pay attention". True greatness comes in the ability to play and move people.
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Greatness don't pay so much these days.

blue
 
#79
SteveHeissner said:
LMAO!!! Our singer wears pink boots and strange costumes, but I've gotta say you beat him by a mile with that thong. I won't show him this. It might give him ideas...
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I did this in a country bar once. This one dude flicked a cigarette at my ass. It happens. I have zero shame, so it's all good. yes, I'm wearing a feather boa in that pic.
 
#80
ReginaldPLinux said:
I'll probably catch a bit of flack for this, but I personally believe music is supposed to come from your soul, not from base desires or marketing. You should already look somewhat like how you sound, since that's a part of your identity.

I know I look how I sound! Awful.
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Aw now, I bet you sound and look fine, pal.

I didn't need to read any further than this the first time through. I agree whole-heartedly. Me, if I have to act like anything other than myself, I don't wanna be up there. It must work because I've been gigging and gigging forever.
 

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