Need some stage presence help

[CB91710]

Go to the back side of the stage and keep quiet. Audience should focus on the piano man.

Watch a good singer when the band's doing stuff without 'em. They'll just lurk un-noticed till they're needed.

Except Robert Plant... He plays air guitar with the mic cable.....

 

[DavGrape]

 

[Leee]

Pay close attention to your pianist. Stare like you are deeply moved and entranced. Do this even if you have to fake it. If anyone actually pays attention to you, they will see you are caught up in the music and turn their attention back where it belongs.

THIS.
Best way here to describe it.

As stated up-thread.
Drop back, and blend in.

No one should be looking past the piano player, so be still and quiet - don’t do anything to draw attention to yourself.

When it’s time to join the band, smoothly step forward and do your thang.

Does it really matter?
Do most people even care?
Hard to tell.

Just do it the right way, and avoid the question altogether.

 

[Leee]

Not that I have tons of experience, but I did sit in on several bar gigs with a friend’s band 15-20 years ago.

Coming from a completely different situation, I found myself in your shoes.

Either of two AC/DC songs - “Sin City” or “Whole Lotta Rosie” - were a regular fixture in their late set and were real crowdpleasers.
This late in the show, most everybody in the place was drunk and festive, and these songs always went over well.

The lead guitar was on a wireless, and in addition to his killer Angus Young chops, he would also go out into the audience and work his way through the crowd during an extended solo.

He would find a table that wasn’t crowded with drinks, and also had an empty chair.
While wailing on his PRS, he would step up onto the chair - to much crowd applause.
Testing the stability of the table with his foot, if it was good, he would go all the way.

Me?
I’m hanging out back by the drum kit, keeping a mean Malcolm Young going, and minding the gaps and stops as the drummer called them.

I noticed that people would still look back to the stage, to see what the rest of the band was doing - if ever so briefly.
So I stood still, and watched the other guitar player - with one eye and one ear on the drummer - so I didn’t screw up a punch or a stop.

Again, did it really matter?
I think so.
And I made it a point to make no furtive movements - not even scratching my nose.

 

[Acey]

Thanks everyone!

 

[MikeyTheCat]

Stand in front of him and tune your guitar. Really, a keyboard solo spot? It’s a gig not a recital. Solo spots are for guitar players, and the name for bass and drum solos is “bathroom break”.

Seriously depending on the gig you just sit on the riser, check your gear, stay quiet and don’t make any distracting moves.
Or if the band looks silly standing around, drop the keyboard intro spot.

How long is the intro?

 

[Uncle Vinnie]

I know it's too late, but turn off all the stage lights except for a single spot on him.

 

[dc007]

Stand in front of him and tune your guitar. Really, a keyboard solo spot? It’s a gig not a recital. Solo spots are for guitar players, and the name for bass and drum solos is “bathroom break”.

Seriously depending on the gig you just sit on the riser, check your gear, stay quiet and don’t make any distracting moves.
Or if the band looks silly standing around, drop the keyboard intro spot.

How long is the intro?

^^^this

 

[Who]

I know it's too late, but turn off all the stage lights except for a single spot on him.

I get the feeling the type of venue @Acey is talking about has 'set it and forget it' lighting.

 

[DavGrape]

'The Backstage' is the parking lot.

 

[Leee]

'The Backstage' is the parking lot.

Yeah, but it’s handy!
Loading out gear at 3:00 AM.

My truck is 20 feet outside the door.

 

[Acey]

I just played it! Room was like the boiling point of water and I sweat more than jimmy page in 79. Bassist called it the gates of hell.

It was pretty fun since I got some real world experience with the wah.

No, I will not upload it.

I dropped my guitar prior so looking for damage was something to occupy me.

 

[matte]

emerge from a chrysalis

or an 18” stonehenge…

 

[matte]

I get the feeling the type of venue @Acey is talking about has 'set it and forget it' lighting.

like an assisted living facility

 

[SteveC]

I used to hit on the fat chicks lurking by the stage. But, that's just me.

 

[gitmohair]

I used to hit on the fat chicks lurking by the stage. But, that's just me.

Were you the bass player?