Stage Presence

So your walking out of the venue, your voice raspy, your neck sore, and your body covered in sweat. A smaller un-signed band had just put on one of the most amazing shows you have ever seen. They don’t have vastly expensive instruments, or huge gimmicks, yet you just had an amazing night. So what’s their secret?

Stage presence. Some bands have it, some don’t. It can be the difference between being opener’s and headliners. So what is this phenomena? It’s the art of commanding a show, and creating the energy of three acts put together.

Some bands try to use fancy gimmicks to improve their shows, such as dressing up, crazy moves, or pyrotechnics, and as good as those things are, without stage presence, it can’t get to the, “I can’t go to work because I rocked out too hard at the show last night” level. So how can a band properly use stage presence? Here are tips to help you command the stage:

1. Synchronization

Have you ever seen a band that performs like a well put together machine, like they can all read each other’s minds? This is the art of synchronization. A show from a fan’s eye can look like a totally random crazy display of skill, yet in reality it is a choreographed set of movements mad through vigorous practice, like a dance crew routine.

To achieve this, talk to the rest of your band about some cool things to do at shows, then practice it with them. During practice move and play/sing with the energy you would at a show. Tell everyone what your going to do, and make sure you know what they are doing. Sure, random things will make the show more fun, but at least you and your members know what to do in the situation whenever you should decide to do it. It also helps to make it so you plan particular movements during a particular part of a song, such as synchronized head banging during an epic rhythm break down.

2. Movement

Now I don’t know about you, but to me it’s a bit boring to just watch a guitarist stand there head banging with his feet together in the same exact spot. The key is to move with the music. Don’t just stand in your assigned spot by your amp. Move, walk around the stage. Head bang then jump around. Don’t keep your feet together, spread them apart. Play your guitar down low, then sometimes pull the guitar so the guitar neck is vertical. Stand in the back round, then during an explosive beat, go up in the front and rock it out. Just don’t be a scare crow.

3. Interaction

Interaction with band members on stage during a song can not only be fun for you, but it can be fun for the crowd, because they can see the relationships you have with your members unfold. Get up and play face to face with your singer, head bang next to your bassist. Singers go put your arm around to your guitarist and let him sing into the mic. Guitarists can stand back to back and push and shove against each other “fighting” for the spot light.

Commanding the Crowd:

Commanding the crowd can be one of the most difficult things in stage presence, yet is absolutely essential for the crowd to get that “WOW” effect. The key of this is to command the crowd, like you’re the maestro in a grand choir of kids in tight pants and band t-shirts. The object is to get the crowd to move as you want them. When the band gets extreme in the music, the crowd starts to mosh, and when you slow it down, they sway.

This factor all really depends on the crowd, where you are, and if they like your music. Now people can not like your music, yet totally get crazy, it all varies from person to person, but it may be difficult to get people who have never heard of you before to move around and get excited. Try to just get up to the crowd and interact, get them to clap in rhythm, get close to them. Make them feel like a part of the band. However this job may largely fall to the singer. He is (usually) the spokes-person of the band, so he needs to try to get the crowd to clap, jump and down, and mosh. Screaming “Get Crazy!” in a key, heated part of a song can mean all the difference in the world. Just see how the crowd responds to certain things and try to get them to follow you.

Something that may help when you are at an unfamiliar venue is to bring a couple of your fans and put them in the crowd and get them to riled up, or find one of the more loose people in the crowd and get them to participate. This usually results in a domino effect, and people gradually drop their ego’s and rock, and then from there it’s a lot easier to get the show to a higher level.

(Also bring the crowd really close to the stage, it makes things much easier!)

Stage Antics:

Now like I said stage antics can be very good things. They can make, or break a show. Sprinkle some synchronized head banging, some guitar swinging, some cool wardrobe maybe in with stage presence and it can be really fun. However try to have some idea about the crowd you are playing for, some may go for it, and some may think you look stupid. For instance, a local crowd of friends may love every minute of your dressing up like pirates, yet an unfamiliar cold crowd may think you’re an idiot for getting on top of the speakers and doing back flips.

These are just a few things to help your stage presence, and the basic premise is, to make yourselves bigger then you really are, not fake, but being able to put the presence of twenty musicians into five. And remember, all this stuff require a lot of practice and being able rock with your band like a finely tuned rock machine, which in turn takes lot’s of practice.

Comments

[crystaldragon75]

I agree completely. I've seen too many local and even big name bands roll through town that had soild music, but their presence was almost non existent. Bands need to loosen up more. They are there to perform and entertain, not to practice.

[demitriv]

But tehn again some guys it might be a guitarists personality to stand still and look cool, i.e. the guy from the Killers.

[Matt-92]

The Who. watch them and learn. Pefect mix of aggression, musicianship and humour (banter with the crowd and other band members is crucial)

[Icarus Lives]

I'm a keyboard player. It restricts my movement having to stand behind the keyboards but I always stamp my foot, nod/headbang and I even use my shoulders to some effect. It catches people attention when I swing my arm before hitting a huge chord or something.
My singer moves around aswell but we can't get our bassist and guitarist to move. And 2 is not enough, if even one person in the band is a zombie it detracts from everything!

[Josh Geohagan]

I am far too focused on what I'm playing to do anything more than headbanging. My band and I don't play 3 chord rock, so it's a little difficult to jump around and make a scene.

[Lt.DanHasLegs]

^nice subtle elitism.

One thing I'd add is the lateral movement across the stage is much more eye catching than moving forwards and backwards because from the audience's point of view you barely move. But going from one side to the other is very eye catching.

Most of it was common sense, but still good.

[sw1ss023]

Icarus Lives wrote:

I'm a keyboard player. It restricts my movement having to stand behind the keyboards but I always stamp my foot, nod/headbang and I even use my shoulders to some effect. It catches people attention when I swing my arm before hitting a huge chord or something.
My singer moves around aswell but we can't get our bassist and guitarist to move. And 2 is not enough, if even one person in the band is a zombie it detracts from everything!

Get a key-tar, lol.
Good article

[FionnRuadh]

Good Article man keep it up.

[BSM123456789]

Josh Geohagan wrote:

I am far too focused on what I'm playing to do anything more than headbanging. My band and I don't play 3 chord rock, so it's a little difficult to jump around and make a scene.

what would you guys suggest to do if you are playing something like necrophagist?

[Avenged7Fold332]

No stage presence = why Metallica is boring live now...

Good article, alot of it was simple stuff, but it's very important, especially if you're a local band.

[ACDCrox74]

Love the articl! 100% true!

[CurbstompBass]

"Wear your guitar low"

Really? I don't see how that helps stage presence at all.

[FUT55]

^ it only lowers playability. haha i think what he means is look like a rock legend even if its your gig

[FUT55]

first gig*

[ec50playa]

thank you sooo much for this. my band are going to start looking for gigs pretty soon. This came at the perfect time.

[IsThereLoveInSp]

Its a good article, but its a little bit more metal friendly than others. For example, Im in a shoegaze band and cant seem to think of a song that would have an appropriate moment for headbanging

[liledman_76]

Yeah, playing with your guitar down low is like, THE coolest thing ever man, you look like a ****ing rock star...

[Phoenix-Kun]

This is pretty good, and it really does make a difference

Honestly, matching outfits at shows, and when i say outfits, i mean matching shirts, can really make you stand apart from other bands, as well as set you apart for fans to know your in THAT band, they'll know you on sight. Thats what my band does, and it really works.

Syncing up on stage is essential, as well as movement. Even if your in a metal band, build a box to stand on, so when that epic solo gets ready to hit, you step up and your automatically in the center of attention.

It really was a good article for bands that don't move much.

I'll add in that having your own lights are a HUGE HUGE HUGE plus, and i don't mean like multi colored lights. My abdn bought some work lights from a hardware store, and some larger ones to flash, and one strobe, and we got a timer so that they flash in a rhythm. we also built a switch that allows us to trigger power to each set-up, so that during breakdowns the strobe hits and chorus's get flashing chaser lights, and the focal hits and chords get the bright accents. It really gives a larger than local apperance when you roll with your own lights.

[FretboardToAsh]

For instance, a local crowd of friends may love every minute of your dressing up like pirates, yet an unfamiliar cold crowd may think you’re an idiot for getting on top of the speakers and doing back flips.

I think that so far we've had like 20 of these kind of articles, yet not one actually gave info on how to work a cold crowd like that.

[Shane0s]

FretboardToAsh wrote:

For instance, a local crowd of friends may love every minute of your dressing up like pirates, yet an unfamiliar cold crowd may think you’re an idiot for getting on top of the speakers and doing back flips.
I think that so far we've had like 20 of these kind of articles, yet not one actually gave info on how to work a cold crowd like that.

Indeed. Someone, do give some tips for this!

[postmortem2006]

Avery very good artile, some good points made. ten points!

One ting I did in previous bands is, if we played a cover, ask if anyone in the crowd wanted to come up and sing it with us. It sends them absolutely mental.

[SwampAshSpecial]

I loved the article, but I'd lie to see some info for guitarists who also sing. I can't hold a mic so I can't walk/run around while playing. I need some good solos so I can run around :P

[Aneoclassicguy]

The best +10

[StraitsSantana]

Matt-92 wrote:

The Who. watch them and learn. Pefect mix of aggression, musicianship and humour (banter with the crowd and other band members is crucial)

This^^^

[Pepefloydean]

This is true for the vast majority of musical styles, but in reggae or jazz the stage performance is much more different. For example in a Reggae concert musicians need to flow with the music and be part of the crowd, make the crowd feel the message. In jazz the stage performance is much more serious so it is rare to see a jazz guitarist running arround.

[justinb904]

Icarus Lives wrote:

I'm a keyboard player. It restricts my movement having to stand behind the keyboards but I always stamp my foot, nod/headbang and I even use my shoulders to some effect. It catches people attention when I swing my arm before hitting a huge chord or something.
My singer moves around aswell but we can't get our bassist and guitarist to move. And 2 is not enough, if even one person in the band is a zombie it detracts from everything!

keyboard players are usually the guys who have the craziest stage presence

[chaos13]

justinb904 wrote:

keyboard players are usually the guys who have the craziest stage presence

This. Check out Mushroomhead. If it weren't for J Mann the keyboardist would be the biggest presence in the band.

[Dimebag R.I.P.]

fred, the keyboard player of dragonforce uses a "keytar" and he moves around alot.

[oncetaken]

No stage presence = why Metallica is boring live now...

I disagree. I saw them last year and they owned the crowd. Decent article though. A lot of this should come naturally from being in the moment and the music.

[Toker420]

I think the trick is to get into the music. If youre not into your own thing then how can the crowd be?

[apak]

Dream Theater needs to read this XD. But it's cool because they're gods at their perspective instruments.

[nick_b]

BSM123456789 wrote:

Josh Geohagan wrote:

I am far too focused on what I'm playing to do anything more than headbanging. My band and I don't play 3 chord rock, so it's a little difficult to jump around and make a scene.

what would you guys suggest to do if you are playing something like necrophagist?

slaughter a goat onstage, and then when you're doing fermented offal discharge, point out the organs individually, before vomiting into the ribcage as a finale

[tomrgane]

Good article (Y)
It should be accomponied by a video of Angus young on stage, that is stage presence and perfomance at its best

[Suav Nitebeest]

Good article, but some bands also have great stage presence that for the most part actually is "a totally random crazy display of skill" like you mentioned. The biggest example in my mind would be the Dillinger Escape Plan. It would probably be pretty tough for Greg Puciato to choreograph running on top of the audience...

[CG138]

Pepefloydean wrote:

This is true for the vast majority of musical styles, but in reggae or jazz the stage performance is much more different. For example in a Reggae concert musicians need to flow with the music and be part of the crowd, make the crowd feel the message. In jazz the stage performance is much more serious so it is rare to see a jazz guitarist running arround.

This is quite true. The only disclaimer for this article should be that this is for bands who are trying to generate that kind of manic energy. Some bands are meant to be quite laid back and some music is obviously not meant to mosh to.

Also, if you're playing something and you can't move or look up from your guitar, then you're simply stretching yourself too thin. You can't expect anyone to be energetic about mannequin's doing sweep arpeggios and snarling, you just look like an a**hole.

[filthylittleboy]

watch jeff loomis play the last solo in enemies of reality, and if you don't shut the hell up, then you never will and should leave UG.

[Aziraphale]

Good article, planning all these points beforehand is very "un-rock n' roll" but it's necessary. Playing the local scene is competative as all hell and you need to stand apart from the legions of other bands, not just musically but visually too.

A lot of musicians, once they get some actual skills, get a bit elitistic and think gimmicks and image etc. is just for talentless posers who're compensating for bad music. In many cases that's true, but those bands pretty much always run laps around more talented bands anyways because they get the attention, and that's what matters if you want to be successful. Marketing is the same thing, if you spend all your time practicing, who's gonna run your myspace? You need to do everything, the music is just one part of the equation.

[Pencil Man]

Icarus Lives wrote:

I'm a keyboard player. It restricts my movement having to stand behind the keyboards but I always stamp my foot, nod/headbang and I even use my shoulders to some effect. It catches people attention when I swing my arm before hitting a huge chord or something.
My singer moves around aswell but we can't get our bassist and guitarist to move. And 2 is not enough, if even one person in the band is a zombie it detracts from everything!

But what about AC/DC? Only two people move around, and yet they have amazing presence.

[johnff]

John Entwhistle from the WHO stood "LIKE A SCARECROW" yet the WHO were one of the most visual bands around. I believe you should just act naturally on stage..if the music moves you, then move. Nothing more ridiculous than watching a band "try" to look cool by forcing stage precense.

[Chasepw133]

Josh Geohagan wrote:

I am far too focused on what I'm playing to do anything more than headbanging. My band and I don't play 3 chord rock, so it's a little difficult to jump around and make a scene.

then learn your music better.
i play in a band that frequently changes timing, and signatures, while playing fairly difficult riffs at a high tempo - but that doesn't mean i just stand around,
i just practice to the point where i don't need to stand still and stare at my hands.

[AlskiOverload]

Pencil Man wrote:

But what about AC/DC? Only two people move around, and yet they have amazing presence.

I admit that I have found myself thinking, "Why are only two people doing anything. And, wow, the rest of the members are kinda standing there" lol.

I agree though. They use the relationship of the two people to make a big show out of it. Especially because of the iconic Angus image. Thats an example of a gimmicky thing that stuck and has become a big part of their image.

Also, something little and out of place can also be interesting. Battles, although they arent flying around or anything, you can see they are intense and focused. Plus the drummer has his cymbal REALLY high up lol.

[GrayFoxz]

Good article,
i always felt that my band had synchronization almost no movement at all apart from the guitarists, but synchronization works a crowd extremely well, play a song with lots of breakdowns n pauses and if u can perfectly time that, the crowd will love you.

[Glenn4009]

Josh Geohagan :
I am far too focused on what I'm playing to do anything more than headbanging. My band and I don't play 3 chord rock, so it's a little difficult to jump around and make a scene

I think that is a bullshit comment to be frank with you my man, seriously, I have seen so many bands that play very technical music, lots of timing changes etc etc and they move around like satans man boobs on a treadmill. I agree 100% with Chasepw133 you should learn your stuff better, practice at home and with your band till you can play it in your sleep dude! movement on stage is key!

[DoomsdayArsenal]

demitriv wrote:

But tehn again some guys it might be a guitarists personality to stand still and look cool, i.e. the guy from the Killers.

That's hillarious...I actually thought of him as I was reading this. Tom Morello has my favorite guitarist presence...he can go from super-mellow to jumping off of monitors within one song.

[|Matt|]

Awesome guide, completely agree. My band is working on synchronising our headbanging, teabagging and other stuff to a tee. Synchronised teabagging with the whole band looks insane, as does all 3 guitarists windmilling through tremolo/fast sections.

Rated: 10.

[AdamDK]

I like this article apart from the "Wear your guitar low" as people like Tom Morello have there guitars high and can still rock out.

[ShadesOfNight]

Icarus Lives wrote:

I'm a keyboard player. It restricts my movement having to stand behind the keyboards but I always stamp my foot, nod/headbang and I even use my shoulders to some effect. It catches people attention when I swing my arm before hitting a huge chord or something.
My singer moves around aswell but we can't get our bassist and guitarist to move. And 2 is not enough, if even one person in the band is a zombie it detracts from everything!

Watch DragonForce lol. They can't play for shit, no, but that's not everything. If you want to hear someone sound like a "machine" with complete perfection...buy the CD and jack it up. DragonForce have awesome stage presence (on the 3 times that I've seen them supporting anyway) and put on a hell of a show, regardless of sound - the keyboard player being one of the best every time. Crack out a keytar aswel, it helps join in with the axe men

[Mr.LeadGuitar]

Matt-92 wrote:

The Who. watch them and learn. Pefect mix of aggression, musicianship and humour (banter with the crowd and other band members is crucial)

I saw a Performance of theirs on Palladia and they were AWESOME with stage performance. They interacted well with each other (a good portion of the time Pete was messing with Keith, haha). It was just fun to watch.

[luyano]

apak wrote:

Dream Theater needs to read this XD. But it's cool because they're gods at their perspective instruments.

true XD

[tate_ms777]

what would you guys suggest to do if you are playing something like necrophagist?

Thats exactly what I want to know, because when your playing something that technical it gets a little hard to move around and make a show. In my opinion

[sg4ever]

Took a Tom Jackson seminar. Covers WAY more than this.

[WiggityJoe]

i agree totally, although sometimes it is not really possible. my first concert was on SUPER small stage, and there was almost no room to move. so in order to compensate for lack of space, i had to do a LOT really small movements with my body and bass.

[Let It Be0o0]

CurbstompBass wrote:

"Wear your guitar low"

Really? I don't see how that helps stage presence at
all.

Well if the guitar strap is adjusted high/tight you'll be pretty damn stiff. If Hendrix never wore his strap loose, you think he'd be able to do his teeth cover of The Star-Spangled Banner? Which was awesome :P

[wtfmates342]

I don't think a band should rehearse choreographed movements, then you might end up looking like a bunch of wannabe Michael Jacksons (too soon?). I think the band should feel the music and interact with the other members judging on their body language and things of that nature. That's always worked good for me.

[eric12321]

Decent article. Check out some live Maximum the Hormone, they have amazing stage presence.

[Metal_Edog]

Josh Geohagan wrote:

I am far too focused on what I'm playing to do anything more than headbanging. My band and I don't play 3 chord rock, so it's a little difficult to jump around and make a scene.

Haha dude are you in Meshuggah or something? What a douche.

[ljubavjelijepa]

Toker420 wrote:

I think the trick is to get into the music. If youre not into your own thing then how can the crowd be?

I agree, you have to just get into your music.
Good article too.

[willwelsh816]

wtf with all the head banging? That always looks a little stupid whenever I watch a band,and they start doing that.

[pinktuxdude]

thank you for the positive feed back (as well as negative) I want all to know that I dpn't play in a metal band. I play in an alternitave band like the style of anberlin.

Also I think I might write an article about cold crowds since someone suggested it.

[Aethen]

nick_b wrote:

BSM123456789 wrote:

Josh Geohagan wrote:

I am far too focused on what I'm playing to do anything more than headbanging. My band and I don't play 3 chord rock, so it's a little difficult to jump around and make a scene.

what would you guys suggest to do if you are playing something like necrophagist?

slaughter a goat onstage, and then when you're doing fermented offal discharge, point out the organs individually, before vomiting into the ribcage as a finale

I think ALL bands should do that ahahahah

[Aethen]

wtfmates342 wrote:

I don't think a band should rehearse choreographed movements, then you might end up looking like a bunch of wannabe Michael Jacksons (too soon?). I think the band should feel the music and interact with the other members judging on their body language and things of that nature. That's always worked good for me.

That's always worked well for me

[jthm_guitarist]

Maybe the author should work for MTV.

[Morbius77]

I see all these band names referencing stage presence, but I see a few missing names.

Pearl Jam: Check out some of their stuff from the 92-93 tours... BIG presence.

Meat Loaf: Nothing BUT stage presence

Kiss: Gimmicky as all get out but the COMMAND the Audience, hands down.

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Yup They STILL got it.

It is about feeling what you play, and if you don't neither will your audience.

One thing that should be added here is that you should ALWAYS greet your audience! "Sometimes do it AFTER the first couple of songs of the set, or right up front.

Get them pumped without them knowing why, and then SHOW THEM WHY!

[MelodicSlap]

planned stuff is stupid as well as forcing yourself to do stuff is fake and annoying

[jake_b92]

You just gotta get into the music that you're playing and be loose, not stiff or stood in the same place for too long... interaction with the crowd is also a winner

[sewoo55]

"Wear your guitar low"

how the hell does that improve stage presence?

besides making myself look like that cu-nt Slash, my playability worsens

[racman92]

sewoo55 wrote:

"Wear your guitar low"

how the hell does that improve stage presence?

besides making myself look like that cu-nt Slash, my playability worsens

I think what he meant was let it hang at the natural hanging position of your strap, rather than with the guitar neck vertical. Where it hangs naturally should all depend on your arm length.

And stfu about slash.

[JesusCrisp]

Great article, there are two many bands standing and only tipping with their feet a bit, though their music has potential.

Anyways most of the bands I like to watch live like AC/DC, Metallica, RATM, etc. have that kind of stage presence. Crab walking, duck walking, spasms, jumping around and all that make a band much more fun to watch than two talentless guitarists standing around headbanging while doing some senseless shred.

I think new bands feel a bit ashamed about stuff like jumping around like crazy, so they just keep standing in one place.

[05McDonaldT]

Icarus Lives wrote:

I'm a keyboard player. It restricts my movement having to stand behind the keyboards but I always stamp my foot, nod/headbang and I even use my shoulders to some effect. It catches people attention when I swing my arm before hitting a huge chord or something.
My singer moves around aswell but we can't get our bassist and guitarist to move. And 2 is not enough, if even one person in the band is a zombie it detracts from everything!

Vadim, the keyboard player from Dragonforce has a keyboard on a strap that he carries with him so he can move about on stage

[rhcp01]

i gotta say my favorite stage presences are:
the red hot chili pepperss, ac/dc, jimi hendrix, rage against the machine, and bruce springsteen

[Guitarhead06]

Agreed %110. I hate going to show where the band members are just standing there. Thats why when my band practices we always say practice like your at a live show. Its like half and half. 50 per cent is skill and how good your music is and the other 50 is entertaining the crowd and getting them in to it

[woodenbandman]

Good article. Good stage presence makes a good band an excellent band. I was excited about Exmortus when I heard their recording, and when I saw them live, I was shaking with excitement about how good they were. Their stage presence turned that tiny room upside down.

[RrTtGg]

Awesome article man. Josh Geohagan, I feel bad for yu man because of everyone treating yu like crap, but I would have to say that I agree with most of them. If yur in a band that plays some hard technical music, practice like crazy so yu wont have to look at yur hands.

[kennethdave]

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123037 8

Care to check it out??

[kennethdave]

^ Remove the space from that number 8...lol....sorry...

[LostInBuckland]

Seriously nice work putting out these tips, thanks man! Little question from me: Think I can rock out a high school show, I mean, everyone is sitting, no room to get on your feets. Think we can still rock their ass out and make them go over school rules to rock with us?

Thanks!