Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

[Gunny47]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

In addition to what was said:

Just make it look like you want to be there (ties in with the whole confidence thing as well). Just groove out, show a ton of emotion, get the audience to clap and stuff like that. Talking to the audience is rele important (I don't know if this exactly answers your question but it definitely ties in/helps). Don't hammer them about a tip box, but be greatful that they are there! Thank them for coming out, stuff like that. Don't make excuses either like "well we only learned this song yesterday so sorry if it is not that good." Avoid stuff along those lines. And if you screw up, don't make an annoyed face continue like you meant to do that.

In addition to the relating to the audience type thing, having a common theme of attire helps IMO too. And some choreography makes the band look much better as well. Simple things, not too crazy, but here and there they really help. For example, my main band does James Brown's Cold Sweat. And during the chorus part there is the vocals followed by these horn hits. So it's like: "I break out....hit..hit...hit....hit...In a cold sweat...hit...hit...hit" Anyway, those hits the two sax players do like bunny hops and the bassist and I do these kicks. Sounds dumb on paper but visually things like that make the band look so much better. More organized and into it.

 

[micp33]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

Sell whatever it is you're playing. Sell the simplest note or phrase by showing people that not only do you think it is the greatest note/song ever played, but they should too! Act big and most often people will think you are big. They'll have fun at the very least.

On a personal note, a shot before a show always eases nerves.:friday:

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

Buy a double stack and hide behind them when you play.
Put the drummer behind a plexiglass enclosure and who cares about the bass player.
Seriously, it may be okay to jump around at your local high school jamboree, but once you get around seasoned vets, you better have some ass in your pants if your gonna be jumpin off stacks and stuff.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

you just need to be more confident and rock out more. you guys don't look like you wanna be on teh stage....

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

I really don't know if you can push it. It's going to come in time. You're going to feel more and more relaxed while you play and play again and again. I think you'll be surprised when you compare yourselves after say one year, with this video.

My brother's band at their 1st appearance....they couldn't even speak by the anxiety just before the show and after some shows they were just doing their own **** on the stage (you know the guitarists stepping on the kickdrum etc). Sooner or later you're going to get it.

 

[vladmarr]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

take a look at KISS, except for Ace, they're not the most musically complex band out there. but their shows are awesome. all great bands start somewhere, the key is to work at it. keep trying, so you get booed, big deal, you get on the stage again and again until you get it right.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

I really don't know if you can push it. It's going to come in time. You're going to feel more and more relaxed while you play and play again and again. I think you'll be surprised when you compare yourselves after say one year, with this video.

We used to think that but with 4 years of playing live and not really showing much more although first 6-7 gigs I don't think my feet moved from the stage at all. Although agree it can't be forced but more implemented and at least making an effort to get into it visually.

take a look at KISS, except for Ace, they're not the most musically complex band out there. but their shows are awesome. all great bands start somewhere, the key is to work at it. keep trying, so you get booed, big deal, you get on the stage again and again until you get it right.

After watching episodes from Rock School today I can definitely tell that and thanks to this thread and from watching a few live acts I'm getting the idea alot better.

 

[rashayritto]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

just did a very successful gig tonight. i was definitely feeling it cuz i was all over the place with guitar acrobatics! that kind of stuff really reels the audience in. you gotta act out a solo when you play it! lol

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

We used to think that but with 4 years of playing live and not really showing much more although first 6-7 gigs I don't think my feet moved from the stage at all. Although agree it can't be forced but more implemented and at least making an effort to get into it visually.

Oh, I see now. Then it's not a matter of confidence but clearly a matter of style. Then yeah, if you want to change your style, some videos of bands you like their performance and some shots before the show could help I guess.

BTW one of my favourites is the performance of Firehouse in the "All she wrote" video. But that is really crazy.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

Just fire it up, bro'!

Time will bring your bada$$ onstage mojo. You play great, don't be afraid to be crazy! When folks buy your CD, they want to hear perfect playing. That's where accuracy goes. Onstage? Be confident and play well but the most important thing they would like to see is your fire. Die on stage, re-born on stage, be alive, powerful and expressive. Be crazy and enjoy what you do with passion.

Playing live is sex. F--- them, badly

Charm them, excite them, overload their senses, bring them to the top and when they think it was your last trick, start over without mercy and drive them over the top and beyond, again and again until they can't move yet keep begging for more

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

I have a few simple snippets of advice....

1 Relax.....I don't mean fall asleep relaxed.....be comfortable.

2 Breathe...don't tense up for difficult passages...refer to #1

3 Pick out one person in the crowd and play to them...make eye contact, smile etc.

4 Be whoever you want to be on stage...most outgoing musicians on stage, are generally the most reserved and soft spoken when they are themselves off stage.

 

[Onslow]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

I must be weird because I go see live music for the music and to try to meet the musicians. If a band is too ridiculous on stage or too gimmicky I get turned off to it. I like it when they look like they're loving what they do. Smiling, rocking out, even if that means windmills and kicks, but it shouldn't be completely contrived or hoaky.

 

[vladmarr]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

you have a point onslow, you should try not to let your stage act over power your music. show your passion, but avoid gimicks and looking fake.

 

[stuey222]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

Confidence, movement, and eye contact are the biggest. Try to smile a bit too, that shows you're enjoying it, and if you look like you enjoy it, the audience will as well.

 

[rainsong86]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

looks like you guys have pretty good chops on the guitar.. so just do some "fake ****" while you play on top of that.. like if you're just playing with your left hand (hammer-ons and pull-offs) still pick with your right hand in the air.. I saw Prince do that and it was the smoothest thing ever... also the guitarist from "He Is Legend" did it in kind of a mystical, metal type way.. maybe throw in some cheap right-handed tapping or behind-the-nut bending.. maybe even fret notes with your right hand or fret notes for the guitarist next to you (ok maybe the latter is a bit TOO corny.. Dragonforce could get away with that I guess).. you have to remember that the audience doesn't play guitar and they don't know what REAL playing is.. so you can use those campy '80s techniques and make them think you're virtuosos

the keyboardist could also liven up his performance by lifting his hands further from the keys so that it looks like he's really slamming the keyboard.. the drummer could do the same by lifting his arms up higher before crashes and hard hits

also, have your mics a bit higher so that you're looking up instead of looking down while singing.. and use more backing vocals because people get bored hearing one voice the whole time.. hearing backing vocals for key parts creates a bandwagon appeal and the crowd wants to figure out the lyrics and sing along (at least in their heads they do)

and most importantly, never look at each other unless it's a smile from good music vibes or whatever.. if the band members are looking at each other timidly the crowd almost always thinks that the band is making some kind of mistake and that they're sulking towards one another

btw.. if some of those guitar suggestions sound too corny or just don't suit your playing style, maybe incorporate a weird effect pedal every now and then.. something that really breaks the sonic monotony... Nels Cline and Johnny Greenwood always have something up their sleeves to make the crowd think "wtf that was out-of-this-world"

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

Gotta make eye contact...a band seems like it's too formulaic if they always hit the same thing the same way and never look at each other.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

I think that you need to remember that a gig should be a shared experience between you and the audience, not an us and them thing...The audience is as much a part of the gig as the band is, and should be treated in that way. Everything else has already been said.

In some cases, sure.

But not always.

Sometimes as a bar band you're just the background music to a bunch of folks getting drunk.

If you're going to take that sort of response to your music and efforts personally then I tell folks not to bother playing out. Find something else where the response will be more overt and expected.

For me the magical moments are when the band clicks and the crowd sits up and notices. With a really good band it's near impossible NOT to notice them. Being able to have that split second where everything changes is the kind of stuff I live for when I play out.

 

[Rowan]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

Stances.


If you feel that you will mess up your playing by too much movement then at least have a confident stance. Keep your feet wide apart and planted, lean back a bit and arch your guitar upward. This sounds fruity but get in front of a mirror and see what looks best. Find a stance that is comfortable as well as dramatic. Look to the pros in pictures/video for examples that best fit your musical style.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

also, have your mics a bit higher so that you're looking up instead of looking down while singing.. and use more backing vocals because people get bored hearing one voice the whole time.. hearing backing vocals for key parts creates a bandwagon appeal and the crowd wants to figure out the lyrics and sing along (at least in their heads they do)

Yeh just to add to that this is basically the only song we have without proper backing vocals and it is quite old so we tend to have more multi voiced song per se even harmonies thrown in (not saying any of it is good just wanted to point that out).

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Performing Getting to the Audience? For the gigging guitarists on the forum

This is exactly what I've been working on for the last few weeks. I was another one of those guitarists who was always a lot more comfortable standing in place and looking anywhere, but at the audience. Boy did I have a lot of learn and I still have a lot to learn. Crowd interaction really is everything when you're in a band that's getting paid to entertain folks.

Selling it is a big thing. It's taken me a few shows to start selling the notes I was playing. When I was first starting and I wasn't confident with my playing, it showed (especially on my face). The audience can see that so even if you don't hit every note, try not to make it show. I've come to the conclusion playing live that you'll never nail everything perfect (especially if you're moving around, but honestly - the audience really doesn't care). When there ends up being "hits" in songs and you have a bit of time to go into a chord, rock it out and throw yourself into it, don't just play it an easy way.

Just go out and have fun and don't be afraid to do stupid things. Dance around, smile, jump - get people involved - it's all part of playing a good live show. When I get to take solos now and jam out, I usually end up with the guitar behind my head and I like holding up the guitar just hammering on and off with one hand... you have to make it look easy and it ends up being a lot of fun. I don't even care if I end up on the ground at the end of it, the audience ends up digging it.

In short, if you're a person that is shy (like myself) sometimes you just have to say "**** it" and go crazy and have fun and be able to not take yourself so seriously.