A great stage presence is very paramount to the success of a live set performance. And as such, it is important for every performer to always have a great command of the stage to deliver a memorable show to their audience. Stage presence helps to wither all unforeseen mishaps that may occur in a set, and more importantly, it can convert countless individuals who were mere enthusiasts of an artist’s sound to high-value paying fans. Fans are more likely to talk about a show performance that amuses and entertains them, so a great presence on stage is always going to be in an artist or a performer’s best interest.
Stage presence is the ability of a performer to command and capture the attention of a theatre audience by the impressiveness of one's mannerism, appearance, body language, and charismatic speech. This can be accomplished via articulateness like a politician, respect and intimidation like a military officer, funniness and silliness like a comedian, authenticity like an author reading a new story, or by being the biggest personality in the room like a superstar performing on stage.
It is therefore important for every performer to develop their stage presence. To be honest, everyone always has a presence already. But to attract a larger audience than the usual, an artist has to improve their’s beyond the normal human beings presence. Authenticity and realness are also very important. But an artist needs to be confident enough to be able to portray their true selves in the most relatable way on stage to their audience. In the following paragraphs, we have curated a summary of some tips that can help an artist develop their stage presence with practice, and help them be authentically confident and cool in the presence of their audience.
The truth is every performer needs to know themselves and what makes them unique. This is the only way they can build a confident persona around it. When an artist exactly understands themselves, they can be able to create a fantasy improved version of themselves that still fits perfectly into reality, an upgrade per se based on an already existing personality.
Creating an idealized version of oneself is a step towards becoming a better present performer on stage. The next important step is to project this version to the world. Projecting doesn’t mean to start living a lie, it is simply practicing those qualities you believe you can have till they become part of you. What happens eventually is that the artist’s self-esteem will grow along with their confidence and it will help them become more relaxed and comfortable in front of an audience. This will help the artist be more confident and witty and be able to control their audience with their true authentic persona.
Projecting a persona can also be seen in the artist's body language on stage. Projecting proper body language will help the audience resonate with your performance better. Performing on stage for instance without your body seeming like you enjoy it or feel it, will only leave your audience confused and uninterested. What an artist wants is to show dominance and confidence with the right body posture to give the audience a reason to give the artist their attention.
Every member of the audience has probably paid money to come to a show just to give their attention to the people performing in front of them. It therefore already is there for the artist to utilize. This is why performing to the entire audience is important. No section of the crowd should be ignored or made to feel left out. Engaging every portion of the audience requires one thing from the artist, working the stage. It is unfair to the stage and to the song being performed for an artist to have all that space and decide to stand on one spot. Except the artist is proven to be able to keep attention from a spot, moving around the stage will be of more benefit to them and their audience.
Beyond moving around the stage, involving the audience is key to portraying a great stage presence. Finding a way to make a performance become a group effort keeps the energy juices going throughout the entire set. This can be as simple as pointing a mic to them or bringing a fan on stage with you. Whatever you can do to keep them involved goes. It also goes a long way to help in filling every gap in the show. What you don’t want at some point is a quiet uninterested audience. In between songs, other small sceneries can be set in. Some fun events can be used to keep fans engaged. Telling stories in between songs can make fans feel in tune with your personal life, and a couple of eye contact and high fives here and there can most likely never go wrong. If it’s safe, walking through the audience is certainly not a bad idea.
Looking good is also a way to help you build a strong presence. You don’t want your audience to see you like everyone else while on stage. An artist on stage with an audience that came for him or her is adored by that audience. So as an artist, it is important to play the part and look the part as well. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s just for a small audience or a big one. Looking larger than life and performing with high energy is great for every live performance.
It is never a great idea to start thinking of the right thing to do on stage or reflect if what you have just done was right or wrong. It will most likely disrupt your set and keep you a bit distracted. However, watching a recorded video of your performance can help you see the things you’re doing right and the things you’ll like to change. But overall, the most important thing is to have fun while at it. When you genuinely enjoy it, it will catch on to your audience and will draw them into your world. Just enjoy yourself on the stage.
