Improving Stage Presence - For Individuals and Bands [2020] 

Go wireless and run into the crowd. Cheap wireless systems do mess with your tone. But the bass can get away with it.

Maybe its time to move on up.

I've still got bumps from those tiny stages, everyone trying to move around and the other guitarist bashing me with their headstock.

That was always my problem as well. I suggest trying to use the space as best possible. Any amount of movement while you are stationary or even swapping adds interest.

Yes indeed. Never forget that

Video footage changed my life. I had no idea I looked like a statue and played even in bars for years before I got into original stuff and someone video taped us. I was depressed for a week or so after seeing that and then pulled myself up from the bootstraps and never stopped working at it. The mirror does help but getting on a stage in front of a bunch of people with your band, adrenalin, weird stage mixes when you can barley hear yourself (and God knows what else lol) is an entirely different situation. I guess if you're a natural the mirror might just cut it. But I wouldn't be here for help if that was the case

I'm a weekend warrior and I couldn't agree more. If you're part of the entertainment (and getting paid) you shouldn't look like you just walked out of the crowd once you finished your wings. And good lord wear sleeves and no cargo shorts.

Agreed. It's a job. Not a party.

Agreed! It matters. Being nonchalant about appearance is basically flipping the bird to the audience and ignoring their eyeballs which is how they are experiencing the music not just the audio.

Yeah that's how it usually goes haha!! They don't know the difference

I’ve learned not to judge our performance by crowd reaction. Sounds crazy, but 9 out of 10 audience members don’t know mistakes and inconsistencies when they hear them.

This is a great point. I am currently involved in playing in jazz setting. Of course, that wouldn't be appropriate. But, engaging with the audience is never style specific. Connecting with eye contact is always a great way to build rapport.

For me, all this is great for my cover band, but when I see bands like allman brothers or Daryl Trucks, they are obviously just very into their music and playing naturally (also long solos are totally ok there) there are many ways to engage an audience but also in those cases the audience knows what to expect and is there to listen. They do still do small things, like step up when doing a solo, step back when done, etc. I think this is a great video that many (including my band) need to work on. We have been playing a good deal,more gigs lately and notice also along with being able to relax on stage, suddenly some of these points were starting to happen naturally. We started not taking it so seriously, and our enjoyment and happiness to be playing showed which helped a lot. I saved the video and plan on writing down some of these points as a kind of prestige checklist. I will say too, bands ought to practice these things a bit (maybe a little less than they will do on stage but same ideas). We went from a band where every musician was in their own little world to also connecting with each other, simply smiling and nodding, etc. and also the audience.

Guitar is good. Loud guitar is better. Makes your fillings rattle. Fuels the soul.

Well, I can answer that. What defines a bass player in a word? COOL. You act COOL. You don’t jump around, but opening your legs a little, moving a little with the rhythm (easy to do) in your own space and smiling a little like “it’s all going to be alright” does the trick. You give the sense of CONFIDENCE to the audience. They see you, and they see “this band will be solid”. Nothing is worse than a hesitant bassist. You need to be cool always, calmed as Hindu cow. Savoring the music. And you need to SHOW it. You steal the show by NOT trying to steal the show. A good joke or praise words or cool anecdotes about your bandmates during a break work as well. Trust me, people will notice you and you will do your band a huge favor.

Eddy: "pfft"