Members Blackwatch Posted June 4, 2009 Members Posted June 4, 2009 I've often wondered what else I can be doing to add to the show I put on. I've noticed how some people just naturally have good banter with the crowd, and when I try I just seem to get into trouble. So I tend to just shut up and play which in the long run seems to work. But I'd like to know....what are your stage secrets?
Moderators daddymack Posted June 4, 2009 Moderators Posted June 4, 2009 the stripper pole center stage helps loosen things up... Really, Blackie, it comes down to individual ability, taste, ability yo read the room, etc...if ther was one secret, we would all be doing Rodney Dangerfield meets Steve Martin..
Members Kazak Posted June 4, 2009 Members Posted June 4, 2009 I always liked the way this guy presents himself, but then if I could play like he does I might have his confidence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNZL7GkqeRI
Members Blackwatch Posted June 5, 2009 Author Members Posted June 5, 2009 the stripper pole center stage helps loosen things up...Really, Blackie, it comes down to individual ability, taste, ability yo read the room, etc...if ther was one secret, we would all be doing Rodney Dangerfield meets Steve Martin.. Well Daddy....I know that but I was hoping to find some gems of wisdom put forth....give it a chance...... Stripper pole huh?? They'd just run.....
Members miimusic Posted June 6, 2009 Members Posted June 6, 2009 I think you're right to believe that you have to put on a show. The best advice is probably to somehow both be yourself and try to learn from all the best performers that you have loved and are a fan of - easier said than done, I'm sure. When I'm watching a hot new unsigned band with a load of industry nobs, they are all talking amongst themselves rather than watching the show and they are wanting to see a 'wow factor'. It's not going to be a trick or a pose, but it will be presence. Most people aren't born with it but you can learn it. Practice makes perfect. Gig loads and try stuff out and see what works for the crowd and for you. One band I used to manage the singer would occassionally run off stage into the crowd and sing right into people's faces. Freaked them right out, but it got them a deal! Ian
Members Blackwatch Posted June 7, 2009 Author Members Posted June 7, 2009 Part of why I brought this up in the first place is recently I played in front of a mirror. Now I've done this before many times, getting ready for shows but this time I realized I was making these weird funny faces. And I realized that to make my face neutral I had to (In my head) smile wide. It's the weirdest thing.And I know I'm not the only one 'cause almost everyone I see that isn't on the tube or touring has some kind of weird tick that they're not aware of. Some weird face or strange inflection of their voice that I know they don't notice. So that's what I was asking...if anyone had a certain ritual or practice that they did before or during a show to make it better. Stagecraft.....
Members Surrealistic Posted June 7, 2009 Members Posted June 7, 2009 I'm very interested in this. As I see it there are some of us who are natural performers and some who are not. I'm definitely not a natural performer and I'm sure that I could move up a level or three if I could find a way to improve on that side of things. I've seen plenty of acts who don't have anything special musically but who nevertheless put on a great show.
Members miimusic Posted June 7, 2009 Members Posted June 7, 2009 This is tough - I agree with Zero Heroes (love your artwork by the way!). You have to find your own way to let go and just perform. You can't worry about what the crowd think of you or you'll never put on a show. You need to be larger than life - you think Bono cares what everyone thinks? I agree you need to avoid gurning, but pretty much anything else goes. People want to be entertained and you want to get a reaction. It will also be helpful to realise that not everyone is going to like you so accept that you will annoy and offend some people and do your thing anyway.
Members pjrake Posted June 7, 2009 Members Posted June 7, 2009 check out this guy: tomjacksonproductions.com. i've heard about him on the CDBaby podcast and checked out his site. alot of good stuff there. hope this helps! -PJ
Members Blackwatch Posted June 8, 2009 Author Members Posted June 8, 2009 you think Bono cares what everyone thinks? Absofreakinglutely he cares.... And I bet he's developed and honed his act over thousands of shows to figure out what works and what doesn't... I don't know if anyone here watched that show "Nashville Star" but those guys broke down the performers performances and gave them all kinds feedback on what they should and shouldn't be doing. And I'm all for letting the music move me, but I've seen so many people with their eyes closed singing their heart out making weird faces and forcing their singing making weird vocal inflections, thinking they were in the moment. In other words....Deluded. I took some Buddhist Meditation classes a few years ago and they say the more you meditated the clearer you see, and the less you are deluded.Maybe it's the same way with performing. The more you perform the more the delusion drops away and the clearer you see. And as this happens, the more you can really open up and get to the heart of your music.....
Members Nijyo Posted June 8, 2009 Members Posted June 8, 2009 Absofreakinglutely he cares....And I bet he's developed and honed his act over thousands of shows to figure out what works and what doesn't...I don't know if anyone here watched that show "Nashville Star" but those guys broke down the performers performances and gave them all kinds feedback on what they should and shouldn't be doing.And I'm all for letting the music move me, but I've seen so many people with their eyes closed singing their heart out making weird faces and forcing their singing making weird vocal inflections, thinking they were in the moment. In other words....Deluded. I took some Buddhist Meditation classes a few years ago and they say the more you meditated the clearer you see, and the less you are deluded.Maybe it's the same way with performing. The more you perform the more the delusion drops away and the clearer you see. And as this happens, the more you can really open up and get to the heart of your music..... Bruce Dickenson asked Ian Gillan one time how to communicate with the audience, how to grab the emotions of a large group of people. Ian told him to always sing to the guy in the back row, make eye contact. If you can get the guy in the back row, you get them all.
Members MaxKincaide Posted June 8, 2009 Members Posted June 8, 2009 It's not something that is easily put into words, IMO. I honestly think that if you truly let yourself go, get into the music you're playing, and play off the reaction that the crowd gives you, it gives you the best results. I know when I go to see a band perform, it's awesome to see a really good band really get into their performance...they're "in the zone", head bangin', eyes closed, moving around the stage like they have too much energy to contain. But then, they also interact with the crowd...even if it's a small amount...it makes a difference in how they appear to me. I went to see Alterbridge a couple of years ago, and was lucky enough to get back stage and then ended up standing directly in front of the stage where Mark Tremonti mainly stood. He's one of the guitarists that inspire me alot, so it was really, really awesome to meet him and then get "up close and personal" during their show. During their show, he gave me the "fist pump" right after one of his solos, and then came back again and gave me the pick he used later on. To me, that's the way shows should be. If you have a smaller audience, interact with them as much as possible...talk directly to them, make them feel like part of the show. If you have a larger audience, you may not be able to single out people in the crowd, but you can address them as a whole, and still make them a part of the show. I'm probably not describing this very well. Like I said, it's not something that is easily put into words.
Members Blackwatch Posted June 8, 2009 Author Members Posted June 8, 2009 It's not something that is easily put into words, IMO. I honestly think that if you truly let yourself go, get into the music you're playing, and play off the reaction that the crowd gives you, it gives you the best results. I think it's good that we're trying to put this into words. After close to 500 gigs I feel like I'm just beginning to understand my audience. And the tip about singing to the last row is good, I'm hoping for more like it....
Members MDLMUSIC Posted June 8, 2009 Members Posted June 8, 2009 I say go with props and funny hats. Probably not for everybody, but my audiences seem to eat it up.
Members richardmac Posted June 9, 2009 Members Posted June 9, 2009 I suck live and I admit it. I need all the help I can get. I like all the tips other people post, even though there haven't been that many of them. I tend to either close my eyes, or look up when I'm singing, and I never know what to say between songs. Still working on it.
Members BlackBelt Posted June 9, 2009 Members Posted June 9, 2009 I've learned to just say what I'm thinking, but make sure it's not obscene or anything offensive to anyone. It works out pretty well, except sometimes.I've got a few canned lines, but for the most part it's just my goofy self.The problem is that I don't drink, and by the end of the night I'm the only one sober in the house. My humor is often lost on drunk people...
Members HKSblade1 Posted June 9, 2009 Members Posted June 9, 2009 Had a singer/front man years ago that was very good at singing but he sucked as a front man. Down the road we made a decision on a new guy which was tough, but paid off. He had the pipes and the charisma to charm an audience. It's like sales jobs. There are salesmen that earn 6 figures and others can't sell a hot dog as a street vendor. Much has to do with that persons comfort and ability to entertain. Not all are entertainers. Annyhoooo, after switching to a new vocalist with better front man ability we were booked much faster and played more often. He was very good at selling venue mgt too. Hell, just look at other entertainment. Actors, Comedians. Some are really great and some just plain suck. Our original front man was not as charismatic or received well in college years. Great voice, but very shy, boring to some people. We were even told by some of our friends.... you sure he's your best choice for front man? They were right.
Members chevybusa Posted June 9, 2009 Members Posted June 9, 2009 I think acting comfortable and NORMAL are the key. Unfortunately, it;s an odd paradox but established bands can do the wierdest stuff imagineable and people love it, but if some band that is not well known does something crazy they will more likely than not be ridiculed. It sucks. But I think just acting "calm cool, and collected" will go a huge way in winning over any crowd. Another huge thing to avoid is coming off egotistical, that is a huge turnoff for most audiences, they will dismiss you right away if they get any sense of ego at all...
Members Poker99 Posted June 9, 2009 Members Posted June 9, 2009 I think acting comfortable and NORMAL are the key. Unfortunately, it;s an odd paradox but established bands can do the wierdest stuff imagineable and people love it, but if some band that is not well known does something crazy they will more likely than not be ridiculed. It sucks. But I think just acting "calm cool, and collected" will go a huge way in winning over any crowd. Another huge thing to avoid is coming off egotistical, that is a huge turnoff for most audiences, they will dismiss you right away if they get any sense of ego at all... Damn They go out to see a live rock band, people who actually climb on a stage to play their own music in front of people, and they want "calm cool, and collected" artists? I disagree with you. I think it takes ego and some arrogance to get on a stage and rock the {censored} out. You can do this and still respect your crowd, still, people who don'T want to see "any sense of ego at all" should stay home and play guitar hero.
Members Nijyo Posted June 9, 2009 Members Posted June 9, 2009 Damn They go out to see a live rock band, people who actually climb on a stage to play their own music in front of people, and they want "calm cool, and collected" artists? I disagree with you. I think it takes ego and some arrogance to get on a stage and rock the {censored} out. You can do this and still respect your crowd, still, people who don'T want to see "any sense of ego at all" should stay home and play guitar hero. I think this is more correct, but it MAY depend on the genre. i.e. I'd expect it from G'n'R but not Coldplay. Appearing genuine, I think, is more important. It shouldn't look forced or like an act (which it may very well be, but it shouldn't LOOK like one!)
Members richardmac Posted June 9, 2009 Members Posted June 9, 2009 As a member of the audience, I don't much care how someone acts, as long as they've got my attention. And there are many ways to do that. And I agree that this is definitely genre specific. What do you call a band that just stands there and plays their hits? The Cars, on their last tour. Bo-ring.
Members 37point5 Posted June 9, 2009 Members Posted June 9, 2009 Play a ton of gigs. Videotape every performance. While watching the videos jot down what you did and didn't like about your performance and try to focus on those things at the next gig. Rinse and repeat. After doing this 20+ times you'll be much more comfortable with your "stage self" and can slowly start adding in new moves/banter/etc. I know this seems slightly lame, but remember that the audience doesn't really care about the real you. All they care about is whether the guy up on stage is boring and uncomfortable-looking, or confident and fun to watch.
Members rhino55 Posted June 9, 2009 Members Posted June 9, 2009 I think this is more correct, but it MAY depend on the genre. i.e. I'd expect it from G'n'R but not Coldplay.Appearing genuine, I think, is more important. It shouldn't look forced or like an act (which it may very well be, but it shouldn't LOOK like one!) exactly why rappers do well in movies
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