Tips for becoming a better onstage performer?

[zontar]

No better way to do that than by doing it.

[The_Sentry]

Originally Posted by lp_junkie

Sentry- the biggest thing for me is interacting with the audience, the shows people remember are the ones they are engaged in if you make it fun for everyone then it just seems like a better time.

I love a good frontman who can keep the crowd entertained and has the confidence to take the stage by storm and demand the attention of everyone in the room.

Oh, I do quite a bit of that. With quite a few of our songs I'll tell a story, or offer an interjection....

Example: By the third set we usually dip into "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Stones....I usually start it off this way...

"I'll admit it. I tell this story every time prior to doin' this next tune....but it's still the same...so the story will be told again!

A lot of people think that rock and roll started in Memphis Tennessee when a white boy out of Mississippi named Elvis Aaron Presley cut some records in Sun Studios.

Now, OK, OK...a lot of people believe that. HOWEVER....SOME of us believe that REAL rock and roll started back in the Great Depression when a Mississippi bluesman named of Robert Johnson went down to the Crossroads AND SOLD HIS SOUL TO THE DEVIL!!!"

*pause for effect*

"Yes, that's right. The Devil! And ever since that bargain was struck for unearthly guitar skills, ROCK and ROLL has been with us! And in places all over America, and in places JUST LIKE THIS...rock and roll continues to thrive. It will NEVER DIE because of where it's from! Now....whether you love the devil..."

*pause*

"....hate the devil, or fear the devil, you'd better damn well give the Devil his due! And that's what we're about to do right here...right now...with a little bit of Sympathy..."
(Then the song starts)

I don't do that with every song...but there's about 2 or 3 that get stories like that. And sometimes the other guys and I will exchange quips about a song that's just...funny.

(Example....we play "I Touch Myself" by the Divinyls. If we have an off song or it seems like we're losing the audience, I'll usually give a "Damn...it's gettin' kinda lonely up here! Am I all by myself? Well....damn! Maybe I should do what I usually do when I'm...all alone."

*chuckles*

"Hey Rob, what's this next song about?"

(Drummer will give different answers depending on where we're playing, and if it's a bar we'll usually give off a dozen terms that are used for masturbation...ie, chokin' the chicken, torturin' the tallywacker, double-clicking the mouse, pinkyin' the petunia, etc. etc.)

I am also playing out on average of 3-4 times a week....

[jomo]

Sometimes ya just gotta rock out witcha cack out!

[Quill]

Originally Posted by Quill

You could try quitting playing live ...

Originally Posted by The_Sentry

Umm....

I'm at that point now. I gave this shit up in my late 20's. Now I'm back at it. I'm also practicing between 4 to 8 hours a day and working full time.

So....what are you trying to say here?

Oops! Well that was a bit of bad luck. Once again it is proven that one is ill-advised to use irony except with those one knows. At least 5F6-A laughed!

When I read your thread, I thought of my own experience and laughed out loud, and tapped out my little note as a joke. I of course know nothing about you, Sentry, and intended no mystery, and the connection to your own experience was pure accident. I wish you all the best!

[The_Sentry]

Sorry for the misunderstanding, Quill...but I have to admit that did hit a bit close to home.

[Quill]

Well ... then I believe you and I share an understanding: the best thing we can do for our playing and our performing is to NOT STOP DOING IT!!!

I do hope you return to me the good luck that I wish to you - 'cause I need some myself!

[The_Sentry]

Originally Posted by Quill

Well ... then I believe you and I share an understanding: the best thing we can do for our playing and our performing is to NOT STOP DOING IT!!!

I do hope you return to me the good luck that I wish to you - 'cause I need some myself!

Right back at ya, Quill.

I figure it'll be time to be done with it when there's no more reason to be breathing...but until that time....

It's no so much a hobby for me as something that keeps me from going insane at this point in my life.

Go kick some ass, man.

[5F6-A]

Originally Posted by Quill

Well ... then I believe you and I share an understanding: the best thing we can do for our playing and our performing is to NOT STOP DOING IT!!!

I do hope you return to me the good luck that I wish to you - 'cause I need some myself!

In a sad little way I have to admit it's true. It's much more difficult to start again once you haven't been doing it for a while.

[FUS44]

First, you need to video your performances. Watch them and be critical. my first thought is, your music should be your first priority. You should be good enough to play and engage the audience from behind a curtain.
Second, lose the canned speeches. Either learn how to address to audience off the cuff or work on making your set so powerful that you don't even need to speak to them. I, personally,don't like "coverband showmen", who have little speeches and crap that they do at certain times. It looks bush league and forced 99% of the time (even by pros). Now, this is coming from a player. YMMV with drunken chicks etc. Hell these sheeple ask for things like Nickelback and Vampire Weekend so I'm probably way off.
My band is probably better at the between song banter than we are playing. We deliver short off the cuff bursts that either engage or enrage the audience. If you are not part of the banter, you don't get a mic. The banter often reflects the show and the audience. If you are not witty and funny in conversation(can you crack up a room full of strangers,or do all friends say "I'm really funny") do not try to take it on stage.
Picking out the oldest woman there? Cute, but is she going to bring five (hopefully hot and paying) friends to the next show?
learn to balance the arrogance of being on stage and inner the salesman of trying to put asses in the seats.

[lp_junkie]

Originally Posted by Quill

You could try quitting playing live, for years and years ... get a solid, bills-payin' job in an office somewhere, or maybe in construction ... dream and dream and dream about playing ... then, when you finally get on-stage again, all that pent-up energy will completely explode and the sheer mass of your enthusiasm will knock everyone on their ass!

It works great as far as feeling "fresh" again goes, but it sure is hell on your chops!

Probably it'd be better to concentrate on the clever medleys and mix-ups (great ideas!). It's more ... how you say ... Direct!

I did just that, I am working on my first album in 10 years and putting a new band together.

Good idea, but as you said it's rough on your skills.

[Lungo]

In my opinion you just need to be aware of who your audience is and find a happy medium. I'd rather be a great player that makes people pay attention than draw people in because I act like a circus clown.

The bass player in my band has the philosophy that it doesn't matter how you play or what you sound like as long as you put on a show. Needless to say, the one time I've played live with the guy every single friend of mine that showed up said we sounded good but what's the deal with the creepy bass player? And his creepy girlfriend dry humping him onstage made him step on his tech 21 pre-amp and unplugged his bass in the middle of a song. Some "show" that was.

[The_Sentry]

Cool advice!

BTW:

Funny thing...I sat in with another band over Halloween since my gig went haywire. The bass player had a light show...it really does make a difference. I'm looking at a small portable system w a footswitch for 200 dollars.

[Quill]

Originally Posted by Quill

You could try quitting playing live ...

Originally Posted by lp_junkie

I did just that, I am working on my first album in 10 years and putting a new band together.

Good idea, but as you said it's rough on your skills.

lp_junkie, your post is so matter-of-fact I don't know if you missed my irony or not. I suppose it's the question of choice that makes or breaks my stupid joke. If you had a damn good reason for leaving a musical career that actually had you recording albums - jeez, I was never near that! - and now you've come back to it, at that same level, again with firm decision and a sense of choice, then I have to say there is something brilliant and beautiful in your reply to my sad little joke - which takes its irony from the pretense of being about a choice with a clear cause-and-effect, while in fact it is really about not really being able to choose, and thus losing something precious. You turn that whole thing upside-down. Good for you! (... by the way ... this time, I'm serious.)

Originally Posted by Lungo

In my opinion you just need to be aware of who your audience is and find a happy medium. I'd rather be a great player that makes people pay attention than draw people in because I act like a circus clown.

The bass player in my band has the philosophy that it doesn't matter how you play or what you sound like as long as you put on a show ...

It's hard to find a decent bass player, isn't it? Lungo, that has to be one of the best posts ever. I wish I'd been at the gig, just to see the reactions of you and the rest of the band members ... And I share your opinion about performing, and admire your concision.

Originally Posted by The_Sentry

I'm looking at a small portable [light show] system w a footswitch for 200 dollars.

Sentry, I'm beginning to get the impression that you hardly need a light show to be entertaining - but it will be more fun for you if you have one, and that in turn will probably be infectious! Go for it!

[Goldtop75]

Being able to play well has something key to do with beign a great act. The first things to kill any performance are a band that's not tight, and the players are sloppy. Rehearse as much as you can until you can play yours songs in your sleep.

Once that's done, and you're on the stage, MOVE. Dont' just stand there. Engage the audience. Go climb up on one of their tables and to a solo if you have to, or if you're a singer, sing to someone in the crowd. not at them.

Eye contact is key.

Enjoy yourselves.

And hit that note like you mean it!

[rickym]

I'm in the minority with my band on these - I prefer no breaks, very little dead space between songs (if you're going to take a drink of something I prefer you do it right after the last song, not right before the next), no shoe-gazing (looks silly when the drummer is the only one looking up). But I love playing with them so I bite the bullet.

Dance, man, dance! - aren't you doing this because you enjoy it? Eye contact with as many people as possible; saying "Thank you" & looking at the person that's clapping the loudest. Get the bartender's & waitress's name & mention them when you can; not after every song but when you see either working the people themselves. And just have fun.

[snaredrum]

yeah, i can only say enjoy yourself. that makes the people watching enjoy themselves.

oh, and my onstage banter with Suzy Q (the other singer and bassplayer) is f*cking dynamite, if i do say so myself

[snaredrum]

oh, and AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION.

[Jaypee319]

this might sound a bit dumb.. idk, but anyways--just my 2 cents for this.

I see that the 'practice' aspect was already addressed, so that's one down. lol
(hey, all and all it's not really that great to sound sloppy live seeing how it can be a turn off to the audience)

from personal experience, I play heavier stuff like metal, hardcore...just heavier stuff in general when it comes to work with my band(s). Yet, I've also been stuck with different audiences-- from brutal metal folks, to those people who are all like 'Oh, I'm so sad..waaahhh..', and now I'm more stuck to people who are more into stuff like indie or into groups like 'Owl City' or 'Kings of Leon', etc etc...

I found that while it's important to recognize what sort of audience you are in front of (hypothetical example--recognizing that the Fall Out Boy song you were working on last week won't cut it in front of a bunch of crazed metalheads)...
do let your actual personality shine through. For example, I tend to be a really silly person--once in awhile doing things that borderline with dumb if not dumb outright and I feel like things go more smoothly letting some of that bleed out onstage (from ridiculous/silly callouts to pranking the audience and a first gig with one of my bands one time with an entrance song I had with my band that involved the intro to Raining Blood to suddenly switching to the theme song of The Office, lol.

I find that going that route works as opposed to adamantly holding a facade like, "Hey. I'm metal. like my band. ROAR!1!" and 'try' to hold a tough guy look
etc etc

Starting out with shows back in my hometown, we didn't really do so much for lighting and the crowds digged it more if the bands pulled off crazier moves.. So with that said, if you can-- keep things moving. You don't necessarily have to do backflips and roll on the ground as if you have a seizure (but if you want to, lol go for it--more power to you, man), though on the other hand a 30+ minute live set of just a few guys on a stage standing still while wanking off to their instruments isn't that great after all... ...

I've seen this suggestion already, but I'd like the reiterate it--especially if you can--- Get a wireless. It makes the whole live setting less of a drag, seeing that cables just really limit things..

I don't think I've exactly directly mentioned it, but do interact with the audience. Acknowledge them and make them feel special, too. Yes you can still be silly with them, kinda like what I wrote above earlier. It's ok to do some stuff that seem farcical and the crowd can dig it.


I can't be any more blunt with this last one, but-- if you are going to do this stuff... HAVE FUN WITH IT.
The way I see it, if youre not having fun, then why the _____ are you up there?
Also, I noticed that bands that do have fun on stage tend to get that sort of good vibe to get to the audience as well


hope that was at least somewhat helpful... :/

[Mr Insane]

Originally Posted by alligatorbling

rub icy hot on ya balls before the show

When I go the concert, I don't want the band just standing in one spot and ignoring the fans, but I also don't like them runnig around like a chicken with it's head cut off.

[The_Sentry]

Funny thing...on a side note a road manager for a touring band saw my little band play on Saturday....I guess he was impressed enough to hammer our drummer (who books our shows and does the merchandise) about how serious we were, how many originals did we have, would we be willing to travel. (He even mentioned Sturgis which I thought was a bit far-fetched, even though the band he's managing DID play there last year.)

I thought that was a nice compliment...and I'm glad someone found our show entertaining...but at the same time, I am SOOOO leery of anything that's offered or stated unless they're willing to put paper behind it.

Entertaining is fun...but it's still a business.