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Your stage persona

#63
skygzr said:
i made a comment in another thread that my stage self is much more confident than my regular self. I suppose the stage is a contained environment and you have license to be whoever you want. You expect a performer to be bigger than life.

I suspect many theater people are like this, too.

You?
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I have the entertainment value of a potted plant.
 
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#65
My stage persona kinda depends on the project. I usually tend to walk around, move to the groove (I wouldn't go so far as to call it "dancing"), try to make eye contact with the audience. There's often a lot of inappropriate head movement...

In one band, I was really tight with the drummer. We knew each other's playing really well, and were on the same wavelength. I'd often stand right in front of him, sometimes on the riser, and we'd look at each other as we played something. I tried that in my next band but the drummer didn't like it - he thought was coming over to tell him he'd made a mistake!
 
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#68
My offstage personality is very reserved. I keep my thoughts to myself unless asked, don't waste time, etc. I think I freaked out at least one band I was in when we first got onstage. Then I'm mugging and dancing and jumping around. They hadn't expected anything of the sort from me. There's a time and place for everything.
 
#69
My stage persona is pretty subdued compared to the real me.

I just don't have the confidence to know I'm really killing it live, even if I am. And, in our group I play, sing, run lights and sound, so I am always thinking about something.....hard to relax and worry about the show.

I'm probably 1/2 way between Gene Simmons and a cactus, LOL
 
#70
Kmonk said:
Eric Clapton is not very animated on stage, neither was John Entwistle but people find both of them to be entertaining.
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It's true. Over the years, I've found classic rock audiences are reliably entertained if on gigs I'll just manage to be Eric Clapton or John Entwistle.

(Note: after much empirical research into standing on stage like a low-key accountant, I can confidently report that the audience's felt entertainment value falls off massively—to the point of being reliably underwhelming—if instead of *being* Eric Clapton, I just stand there like Clapton would.)
 
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#71
InternetAlias said:
When on stage, I play the "does not care about anything" detached persona while shreding. We have some passages which would be very demanding on bass... If I didn't practice. So when it comes to them, I just kind of look at the audience and nod a bit while letting my hands do the thing.

One of the girls I know told me it looks like there's two people - one going about the stage and looking around randomly, the other one actually playing the instrument. I don't know what ot think of it, whether it's good or bad, but I like being so lowkey while doing something considerably harder than you'd expect. It gives off a relaxed vibe in an environment that is everything but, so it's kind of fun to subvert that.
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Yep. The John Entwistle vibe. I dig it.
 
#73
I do what I feel unless the situation requires different ( like a steak house jazz gig).

Mostly i focus on making great music, interact with the band, and ignore the audience, except when doing vocals. Think flea.
 
#74
I think my stage persona reflects the 'authentic' me. Outgoing, silly at times, dialed back at times (slow songs), 100% focused on the music and making the show "go". First time on stage I was a nervous wreck but I got more relaxed each time out. Now I can just get up and play and be me. I don't have to think about how to act, unlike other areas of my life. Corporate job, have to constantly be on guard. Church, have to censor words/behaviors. Gig? Just play bass, baby. :D I feel most comfortable in my skin.
 
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#75
I'm Mr. RT Slinger on stage, the seemingly unapproachable guy who rarely smiles when playing, but inside he is having the time of his life doing what he loves to do rocking the bass guitar.
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#77
On stage I am way more animated. In real life, I'm not one to start a conversation or make much eye contact, but on stage, I always try to engage with the audience, make sure they know that I notice them and appreciate them being there while being a little silly at the same time. I don't mind looking foolish on stage if it will please the audience. Hell, I've worn women's dresses with combat boots on stage before.

I've found that arrogance on stage and isolating yourself from the crowd doesn't make them want to tell their friends to come see you play.

I always try to remember that you are selling an experience, not merely playing songs, otherwise there is no difference between your show and a iPod from the audience's perspective.
 
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#79
whero said:
I'm the only one in my band who doesn't wear a hat on stage. It's probably no coincidence that I'm also the only one who still has hair.
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Ha, this is so true for our band, I frequently am the only one not sporting headgear of some type. The other two have numerous beard options while I shave once every 6 months. I'll take hair on top though. :smug:
 
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