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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Stage presence
Stage presence
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Patrick Barker
177 posts
Feb 15, 2009
7:43 PM
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Anyone have any advice on stage presence? I tend to look like an idiot when I play on stage partly due to nerves and I've heard that when performing, stage presence can be as important as skill (though if you really suck at harp, stage presence may useless).
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"Without music, life would be a mistake" -Nietzsche
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oldwailer
508 posts
Feb 15, 2009
8:42 PM
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For me, the difference between a good stage presence and a poor one can be as small as 1/4 of a shot of Jack! LOL!
A little more seriously, I think I used to do pretty well in the old days with presence--then I went to just playing in my bedroom for many years--for friends and family now and then. Now my presence sucks and needs about two good beers to smooth out--three beers and I'm pretty smooth, but I can't remember anything!
I think the difference is just in doing it as much as possible--just keep on getting up there and it gets to be second nature--back when I was half-way good at it, I was playing 20 or more gigs a month.
The trick is to get so used to being up there you can just be yourself without effort. . .
Last Edited by on Feb 15, 2009 8:43 PM
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Aussiesucker
130 posts
Feb 15, 2009
9:10 PM
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We have all been where you are at Patrick. The only way to overcome those nerves is do it & the more you do it the easier it becomes. Do some busking. Go to music festivals where there are walk ups - have a go shows. Go in a competition. Shut your eyes &/or imagine your audience is all in the nude. Have you been told you look like an idiot on stage? Pretty cruel but at some walk ups - have a go shows, the compare usually dishes out some pretty cruel criticism that tends more to make them look good & not you. Keep at it.
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MrVerylongusername
144 posts
Feb 15, 2009
11:43 PM
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This is an area my band has been working on recently. I found this series of Youtube clips and I think they're great:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14309WSFpWg
this is just one - there's loads by user expertvillage. Bit annoying how he repeats the same stuff every clip for the first 30 secs - but after that a goldmine of info.
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Blackbird
41 posts
Feb 16, 2009
2:06 AM
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Do you have anyone that can videotape your performance? One of the most powerful ways is to watch yourself. Watch what you do, and every time you find you move in a way that you don't like, you have the awareness to work on changing it - try alternate moves or expressions and to replace the bad with the good.
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jbone
17 posts
Feb 16, 2009
4:28 AM
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early on i was nervous, with good reason- i had very little to offer on stage! as my chops improved, and i spent more time in the spotlight, i began to realx. i found too that watching the crowd for their reaction during my time on stage was a definite nono for me. i would get distracted, take someone ignoring my solo personally, start trying to think too far ahead, and just not be myself any more but instead i would try and be what i thought the audience wanted to see.... a big mistake. for years, and at least part of the time now, i do play with my eyes closed. that helps my focus a lot. as far as how i look, well i dress myself as well as the next guy and i am not just a stick up there, i move and groove some, get down with the partners i'm with, and lay down good responsible harp work and vocals. i relax and be myself. and damn anyone who tells me i "don't look right"!
something i remember is, i'm doing a task that most people can't or won't do. ironically, some people have to try and modify how or who i am because they aren't happy with themselves. it's a typical behavior among people and i have stopped taking it seriously, i just agree with them and go on.
and i remember this also: i can be my own worst critic! i tend to be harder on myself than others are generally speaking. my counsel is relax, be yourself, and if you KNOW something needs improving, do so. live performance is the best thing you can do to keep moving forward.
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The Happy Harper
5 posts
Feb 16, 2009
8:32 AM
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I am with Aussiesucker on this one. Busking is possibly the best way I know of to get comfortable in front of people and build a presence. You are playing in front of complete strangers without the pressure of a gig or audience expectations.
Since most people are walking by and don't listen too long I can play the same 2 tunes over and over and over and I find that can help a lot with comfort as I can sink more into the music, can't do that at a gig, well I guess I could but...
I find too that busking builds confidence with leaping off the cliff in front of folks without a safety net and ripping into new solos with abandon cause if I fall flat, the light will change or their train will come and I'll never see them again anyway.
Here in Toronto I have never been asked for a busking license even though you are supposed to have one, but check the laws where you live.
Until only recently I only busked playing banjo in a 4 piece old-time band. I have just started to go out solo and play harp. If you are going to give it a go I strongly suggest you grab a friend that plays guitar for you first few times. It takes even more pressure off and having someone else there to react with makes it more fun for me.
Last thing I'll say is, even though buskers can mostly be ignored no matter how good they are(I have seen some absolutely amazing buskers play like nuts only to seem invisible to everyone walking past) it can, at times, give good feedback on what works, when you are comfortable and rocking it out in a good groove more money will drop in the hat and more folks will stop longer. Make a mental note of what you did and then pull it out at a gig when you need to amp it up.
Hope that might help. Whatever you try let us know what worked for you in the end, it would be good to know.
Last Edited by on Feb 16, 2009 8:37 AM
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mickil
32 posts
Feb 16, 2009
10:45 AM
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I was about to endorse Aussiesucker's words about busking, then I scrolled down and read what Happy Harper had to say. It's hard to add to what he said cos he's spot on.
When the weather warms up a bit in the UK, I'm going busking, not for the money, but because the last time I did it on a regular basis, I found that it was the best way to build both confidence and chops for when you do play on stage. A lot of acts started out that way, not to mention yours truly, S&A.
You very quickly find that some people will walk on by when you're doing your best stuff, while others will be in awe and stand and listen when you're playing the simplest thing you know. I've been spat at, told to get a job, and I've had people say, 'That sounded amazing' and apologise for not being able to give me more money. You'll see the best and the worst of human nature condensed, and soon you won't give a stuff about the mean-spirited people. For me, at least, it helped enormously when I did get up on stage.
The only thing I can add is what kudzurunner says in lesson 1: "Don't be afraid to make mistakes. You'll never get anywhere if you're frightened of making mistakes." One thing is for sure: it won't help your stage presence.
P.S. Neat thread
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'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
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Buzadero
31 posts
Feb 16, 2009
3:46 PM
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Patrick,
Buy Estrin's very recently released DVD. It's called "Rick Estrin Reveals". It really isn't a harp instructional tutorial. In it, he spends the time walking the viewer through the various tips and techniques to be a better entertainer and yes, a better showman.
I'll admit, I would not have given it a second glance if it was sitting on the table at a show with the rest of the CD's for sale. But, I got a free copy and watched it because I love Rick and think anything the guy puts out is good entertainment. It really is a crack up. At the same time, it's got a lot of good stage and delivery info that you could accumulate from any number of sources. He's compiled it all into one reference source and it works.
I have no professional affiliation with Rick Estrin. Nor do I benefit from helping him hawk his wares.
I will give it a hearty 'thumbs up', however.
~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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Patrick Barker
178 posts
Feb 16, 2009
6:50 PM
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Thanks guys! I'll try performing more often and I have seen the expert village videos on stage presence.
Aussiesucker- I actually wasn't told, a video was taken and I noticed how weird I looked on stage. So yes to you also Blackbird- I have seen a video of myself, thanks to the video I've realized that I need to work on my presence.
With my stage presence its really not an issue of my playing ability, its more of a thing where I just stand there awkwardly and don't know what to do with myself. Hopefully with more performance practice this will get better.
Thanks for the advice!
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"Without music, life would be a mistake" -Nietzsche
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jbone
18 posts
Feb 16, 2009
10:17 PM
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well so just do some moving around, tap the foot, maybe do a lil dance! shake the hips. pander to the crowd. boogie with the bass player. pretend you're "helping" the drummer! part of it being a clown at times but to me this serves mostly to loosen your own self up.
i had a guitar partner who was very wooden on stage until my wife convinced him to relax and enjoy what he was doing. i think that's the key right there.
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