Question by : How to have good stage presence for a guitarist?
I’m a lead guitarist and play mostly metal. What are some tips on how to have good stage presence, for instance: should I put one foot in front, should I look at the audience, should I headbang etc
Best answer:
Answer by Zach
Play with feeling, be totally engrossed by your guitar playing.
Use the power stance, with your legs in a V formation, maybe one in front, if its comfortable.
But only worry about your power stance if you can play the songs 95% correctly, or no mistakes. Headbang if you can do it without messing up, and look at the audience, entertain them! Make this performance seem epic! Be totally soaked into your guitar playing, but be aware of audience too.
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Just play like you mean it………….Thats the stage presence!
Here’s a summary of the advice I usually give to the semi-pro bands and solo artists I work with:
1. Know your material so well ( through practising) that you hardly have to think about your singing or playing on stage. Rehearse until you know your songs back to front and you’ll free yourself up to get some focus where it belongs – on the crowd.
2. Plan ahead for the key interaction moments in any gig
Start with your set list and think about and look for obvious points you could interact with the crowd. These may include “dead spots” from down-tunes or guitar changes etc. Turn these to your advantage instead of letting them be awkward pauses.
3. At least LOOK like you’re into the music
So many bands and musicians stand there staring down at their fret boards or trying to look cool. If you don’t look like you’re enjoying yourself how can you expect any audience to really get into it? Don’t be afraid to practise moves at home in front of the mirror before you try them out onstage.
4 Smile and make eye contact.
Doing this regularly (though not constantly obviously) while you’re onstage will do more for how your crowds respond to you then trying to look mean and moody
5 Remember not all crowd members are created equal
Look for those in every audience who seem to most into the music early on and who can therefore be used (via direct interaction with them) to help you build the gig into a night to remember for everyone
6. Arm yourself with a handful of one-liners you can use in case you “dry up”.
Some musicians will try and tell you it’s wrong to prepare things to say before hand and that every crowd is different. This is fine but if you’re giving your audiences awkward silences as part of their evenings entertainment or nerves have a habit of making your mind go blank there’s a lot to be said for a little preparation before you get out onto the stage.
Hope this helps