Having Stage Presence

[fgl]

regarding the sage / tim098 "LOOK" issues...

I must "sadly" verify this ..... in the context of actual stage performance - be it in club /events etc - attire and looks plays a great part ..I 've worked with musos who dress like a million buck and with some female vox who are damm jembu and dressed to kill but they do this to actually to make up for their deficiences as musos or vocalist (in other words: they sux) .....while I'm NOT saying this is true in all the time - to me it's more often that not the case..

Believe me : I certainly believe in talent (Ability & great showmanship) over image but sadly its seems ppl to look at the box rather than what's inside.

Of course having said that - I have also seen some shabbby dressers out there wo play & sound WORST than they look - so there U go ....

I think what is key here is to dress to suitthe gig / crowd. I wouldnt wantto be wearing them Marilyn Manson mICKEY mOUSE EARS to any of my corporate events now nor wud I wanna wear my suit to a powerjam gig (for example).

My 2 cents to add to the 98....

 

[fgl]

haha fgl u must be damn scary to play with. detune e bass i like that one hahaha.

yeah ..aquanaut (my on again /off again bassist) also gets pretty "weird" on stage next to me too ...I find that a well placed, back hand, open palm, light but firm smack to the groin area will keep him in line .....

 

[holas]

Just be outgoing , be natural and be yourself.

 

[Plastic]

Okay...
I have a question off a band I observed quite recently..; What if the person looks like an idiot, doesn't even bother dressing up, fat like crazy, voice also so-so, but apparently his showmanship's really good, in the sense that it actually grabbed my attention and kept it fixed on the band. How does that work? Miracle?

Minus fat.... But you pretty much described Axl Rose

 

[sage]

Believe me : I certainly believe in talent (Ability & great showmanship) over image but sadly its seems ppl to look at the box rather than what's inside.

Then we should start re-educating people and not follow suit. Just because the general population thinks so doesn't mean it's the truth, and just because it's an idea that's gone around for some time, doesn't mean it can't be changed.

When I was a music appreciation teacher in secondary schools, I tried this and it worked. The kids who were used to music like 50cent, Rihanna, some boybands and girlbands, were suggested to music which were along the same vibe but more musically potent*, and when I did an experiment with a blank, controlled, non-image discomposition, they preferred the songs I suggested over their usual pop songs; That way I thought them to seek music with their ears instead of what the media constantly bombards them with ("musicians" with "looks"). Looks sell to teenagers very easily since they're in their age of finding a sense of belonging, and most if not all pop images these days are linked to a concept.

Personally I know the state of the music scene these days but I hate the fact that we're not doing anything about it and just comform with it as it is. Worse when people start complaining about not making it because the pop scene sucks, etc. We reap what we sow people....

[*potent here being subjective and another topic for discussion, which I won't do here ]


Anyways, back to the discussion; I still don't agree on looks having equal par on the contribution to stage presence. Maybe to some degree, in my opinion that has something to do with keeping the attention span of an inexperienced music-listener only, but definitely not an equal par with talent and showmanship.... Just my opinion.. I'm open to convincing :}}

 

[sage]

be it in club /events etc - attire and looks plays a great part ..I 've worked with musos who dress like a million buck and with some female vox who are damm jembu and dressed to kill but they do this to actually to make up for their deficiences as musos or vocalist (in other words: they sux) .....while I'm NOT saying this is true in all the time - to me it's more often that not the case...

There is a vast difference in stage presence with regards to club bands and a band that's trying to hit the music waves. For starters, their goals are different; Club bands are there to entertain and most of them play covers, which is more issueing proof on the stage presence (looks, glitz and glamour factor) to boost the entertainment.

What I'm referring to, and I believe what is a more relevent discussion to us musicians, are bands like us who are trying to bring our music, our passion, our talent out. Stage presence is definitely an important factor, but note that when we send our demos to get a gig, it is the songwriting and talents that get the organisers to respond first before them giving us a chance to use our stage presence to 'woo' the crowd.

 

[fgl]

There is a vast difference in stage presence with regards to club bands and a band that's trying to hit the music waves. For starters, their goals are different; Club bands are there to entertain and most of them play covers, which is more issueing proof on the stage presence (looks, glitz and glamour factor) to boost the entertainment.

Valid points. I also agree with ur comments on changing soceity's mindset of looks over talents but it would seem that trying to change this is going to take a long, longtime. No doubt the days of "3 sexy foreigners singers and 1 keyboard player backing them theme has diminished to a certain extent but I reckon still all too prevalent in most quarters.

Having been a label chief in an international record company in the past, part of of my duties was to ply through the many demos sent in by local bands. Yes, some had great potential but unfortunately "marketability factor" (aka looks & youth) were high on the selection agenda by management. There were exceptions of course but generally (and sadly) this was the case.

My point about club or cari makan bands is that it's their livelyhood. The MUST have stage presence to make club and crowd happening coz really it's their job. As such, many club players and bands e.g Douglas O, Jive Talking, Tania and the like - over the years, continue to craft their stage presence to a fine point. This is a combination of hard work & expirience. Bands trying to hit the airwaves, especially if they are just starting out, may lack the cutting edge and expirence that seasoned "6 nights a week working musicians" had accquied.

Sage - good points U brought up and would be great to discuss them with U when Vocalist hangout mkII happens...

 

[fgl]

Just be outgoing , be natural and be yourself.

holas, if we ever gig together - do watch out for the "detunes" on stage

 

[sage]

Mornin' FGL~

Nah I doubt hangout II is gonna happen anytime soon, so maybe we could discuss them now and give read to others who are interested :}
I'll open another thread under "music and marketability" and we could continue there. Very interested to hear what you have to say, as this isn't the first time I have read a familiar opinion and I still haven't had some answers through this.

Btw, do you happen to know someone by the name of Sulong Omar during your label chief days?

 

[fgl]

Mornin' FGL~

Btw, do you happen to know someone by the name of Sulong Omar during your label chief days?

No - i was with warner music - which label was he from??

 

[TheGuillotine]

Hmm. I think having stage presence is not so much about having to think whether you're having stage presence or not, but you just have to let go of yourself on stage and have fun with everyone INCLUDING the audience. If you're going up on stage with the mentallity that 'I MUST have stage presence', most probably you're just going to appear really fake to the audience and it'll be a turn off to watch.

So the bottom line is that stage presence is important, but it should come naturally with experience.

You may ask why it will come naturally. Once you've played up to a stage where you've built up your confidence in yourself and your band, I'm sure you wouldn't want to just stand there and play the music as it is... Where's the fun in that? Learn to let loose and form that chemistry within the band so that during your shows, you naturally get hyped up which tends to spur the audience as well. I'm not an expert, but just sharing what I've observed from bands that started out small and have made it huge.

 

[TheGuillotine]

holas, if we ever gig together - do watch out for the "detunes" on stage

hehehe. evil. he's gonna take like half a day to recover and start retuning.

 

[sage]

No - i was with warner music - which label was he from??

He was in warner for awhile but spent the rest of his work at bmg.. was the managing director but i think he did sales & marketing with warner also if i recall.. in the 30s-80s

paiseh warner was someone else sulong omar was from bmg..

 

[sage]

Hmm. I think having stage presence is not so much about having to think whether you're having stage presence or not, but you just have to let go of yourself on stage and have fun with everyone INCLUDING the audience. If you're going up on stage with the mentallity that 'I MUST have stage presence', most probably you're just going to appear really fake to the audience and it'll be a turn off to watch.

So the bottom line is that stage presence is important, but it should come naturally with experience.

You may ask why it will come naturally. Once you've played up to a stage where you've built up your confidence in yourself and your band, I'm sure you wouldn't want to just stand there and play the music as it is... Where's the fun in that? Learn to let loose and form that chemistry within the band so that during your shows, you naturally get hyped up which tends to spur the audience as well. I'm not an expert, but just sharing what I've observed from bands that started out small and have made it huge.

Well said Mr Slathe
btw i'm quite impressed with your band's song for the lime mag. don't know if it appeared in the first issue or.. something but i was impressed nonetheless... :}

 

[TheGuillotine]

Well said Mr Slathe
btw i'm quite impressed with your band's song for the lime mag. don't know if it appeared in the first issue or.. something but i was impressed nonetheless... :}

haha. thanks alot dude... we've got an ep sampler on our myspace as well though hope it works for you lol.