Stage Presence; How to Hold an Audience With More Than Your Voice
Focusing on your vocal skills and abilities is important to giving the best performance possible, but something that isn’t discussed often is how you present yourself WHILE performing. Today we’ll talk about the ways you can take your performance to the next level visually.
01. “The Dice Method”:
Connecting with your audience is made easy when you have a bit of courage to make eye contact with individuals. One method that I stand by is the Dice Method. Imagine the fifth side of a dice, how there's four spots in each corner and one right in the middle. Now imagine your audience as your dice. You should make an attempt to travel around the dice with your eyes and your head. This gives some variety in where you look, so that you don’t focus on one specific area of the audience.
02. Showing Emotion:
Your facial expressions are so important to convey the message you want to give to your audience. A small smile can be good, but it’s not always encouraged. Changing your mouth can affect your vowel placement, which can make your pitch falter and change the overall quality of the song. Instead, something as simple as lifting your eyebrows or opening your eyes more can make your piece much more lively. A furrowed brow can communicate a piece full of rage and passion. A good understanding of the emotion your piece carries can make it much easier to incorporate these techniques. Is it happy? Sad? Angry? Confused?
03. Don’t Stand Still:
Unless your piece and performance doesn’t call for it, some physical movement can bring more visual variation on stage. Don’t be afraid to travel across the stage, maybe a brisk walk during an upbeat pop song, or a slow saunter during a ballad. A good balance of standing and moving can keep an audience engaged.
04. Intention
There’s nothing more uncomfortable than watching someone who looks uncomfortable; this is important to keep in mind. Whatever you do, do it with intention. If you sway, sway with confidence. If you stare at a member of the audience for too long, sing to them with absolute passion. Whatever you do, commit and do it fully. Your audience’s main takeaway is how the performance made them feel, so give them your all.
But ultimately, the most important rule is to enjoy yourself. The audience can feel your energy, and displaying your love for your craft is joyfully contagious.
Kailey Zapata
