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Abstract

are they going to do now? </i>And without saying a word or playing a note, they have made an impression and captured the attention they need to start the performance.</p><p id="a848">When you’re having a difficult day or are simply too tired to perform, it’s hard to give a stellar show. Since no one wants the reputation of backing out of an event last-minute, the show must go on. At times, I’ve found it best to climb onto the stage and announce to the audience that I was going to close my eyes, take a deep breath, and welcome them to do the same if they felt like it. I quietly breathe until I feel ready, and show that I’m not pressured to rush myself. Whether they appreciate the display of vulnerability or not, they’re paying attention. It also lets them know that even though you might not be feeling very jovial, you still intend to be present and provide value with your performance.</p><h1 id="801e">Break the Barrier</h1><p id="7d4e">There is a force-field of energy around any stage or performance space that you can’t always see but you can feel. This barrier is what keeps standing audiences metres away from the stage even after you’ve asked everyone to come to the front. As cheesy as it is, “I don’t bite…all the time”, is the line I’ve used to get a little giggle out of people when I’m trying to encourage them to fill the front of the stage space. When performers don’t acknowledge this awkward empty space, it’ll stay there the whole night and kind of just suck the energy out of the venue.</p><p id="2386">If possible, leave the stage multiple times. Is there a platform or (sturdy-looking) speaker outside the perimeter of the stage that will hold your weight? Hop on there. Maybe there’s a step leading down from the stage that you can sit on. If the microphone will reach and not feedback, travel to the very front floor space of the stage and notice how people move to welcome you or crane their neck to see what’s going on. Think about how boring it is to be an audience member who is staring into one spot the whole night. The chance to look anywhere else is very welcomed.</p><h1 id="d8f9">Explore the Space</h1><p id="949c">Similar to the above, this is about erasing any unseen barriers except you can explore space while even staying on stage in a 5-foot radius. Do unusual things. Crouch or sit on the floor. Change the way you use the space you’re given and it will keep the attention of the audience. Depending on the layout of the space, it could be important to remember to face more than one way the whole time. There could be people standing slightly behind you who would fee

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l more engaged if you acknowledge them.</p><p id="b2eb">Exploring the space before you begin a performance is as important as adjusting the piano bench before playing a recital. If there are mic stands that you will not need, move them out of the way. Any object that isn’t adding to the performance and can be moved, should be moved. If you are using a table, do <b>not</b> stand behind it. This doesn’t really count for DJ’s but for anyone else, it’s important to keep the space open so energy can flow freely. If you need a table, angle it so that most of the audience can still see your legs. There should be nothing blocking you from them so when you walk on, take control and make that space yours.</p><h1 id="ba6c">Have a conversation</h1><p id="273b">Ask a question into an audience—especially one that has alcohol in hand— and you will receive an answer. Quite often, they’re stoked that you want to engage on that level.</p><p id="105a">I have a friend who takes a couple of minutes out of her show to shout out every artist she knows in the audience. Pointing into the crowd, she’ll spot a rapper, a violinist, a vocalist she knows, say nice words about them, and then ask “any other artists in the house? Don’t be shy, where are you?” We poke fun at her each time for doing this because it’s become so routine, but it really does reinforce a feeling of community in the room and creates a warm atmosphere.</p><p id="4a76">Sometimes I perform a song that leaves time in the end for people in the audience to get on the mic. Before it begins, I ask for two volunteers from the crowd who would like to share one thing they’re grateful for when the mic comes to them. Since they don’t really know when that moment will be, it keeps everyone very present as they listen for a part of the song that sounds like I’m about to offer the microphone to the volunteers.</p><h2 id="b91c">Pause. Break the barrier, explore the space, and don’t forget to have a conversation.</h2><p id="0f34">Essentially, let the performance breathe because it is “live” after all.</p><p id="b69f">All of these tips are very simple but can be effectively applied to a range of situations that require you to hold the attention of an audience.</p><p id="a50f">Instead of worrying about delivering perfect performance, think about how you can offer one that is an active experience, changing the role of the passive, onlooking audience. Having a stage presence is about being present with everyone who is sharing that space with you and understanding that the performance should never just be about the person on stage.</p></article></body>

How To Have Stage Presence

Even when you don’t feel very present.

Whether you’re a comedian, musician, teacher, or just someone trying to deliver a presentation over Zoom, there is a level of entertainment expected any time you step in front of an audience.

I’ve been a musician and performer my whole life and I’m not the most technically skilled at what I do. I’m not a particularly extroverted individual either. Ever since I was a child performing at piano recitals, my palms would grow sweaty as I approached the stage, but as I looked into the crowd, I understood what a unique opportunity it was to have a sea of eyes all focused on you. (Clearly, this was an era before smartphones.)

The attention of an audience is malleable, it is responsive. When you actively play with this, it feels fresh and exciting to an audience who is used to being treated like they don’t exist. In my later years, I would often reemerge into the venue after finishing on stage and receive the same compliment: “You have such great stage presence!” Translating this to mean the act of being present on a stage, this ability likely made up for the fact that I typically don’t use live instruments or have the vocal chops of the other acts in the line up most nights. If you are looking for ways to keep an audience engaged, there are four main tricks I recommend keeping in your toolkit.

Pause

Before a recital, my piano instructors always advised that when a player approached the bench, they should first adjust it to make sure they are starting the performance comfortably. Then, before touching the keys, that they sit with their hands in their lap to gain composure.

The “pause” before you deliver any performance is crucial. When there is an audience waiting, we feel the pressure to keep their attention by getting off to a prompt start, but doing so has the opposite effect. Imagine this: you’re at a concert and the next act walks onto the stage. They slowly approach the microphone and stare silently into the crowd until you wonder, what are they going to do now? And without saying a word or playing a note, they have made an impression and captured the attention they need to start the performance.

When you’re having a difficult day or are simply too tired to perform, it’s hard to give a stellar show. Since no one wants the reputation of backing out of an event last-minute, the show must go on. At times, I’ve found it best to climb onto the stage and announce to the audience that I was going to close my eyes, take a deep breath, and welcome them to do the same if they felt like it. I quietly breathe until I feel ready, and show that I’m not pressured to rush myself. Whether they appreciate the display of vulnerability or not, they’re paying attention. It also lets them know that even though you might not be feeling very jovial, you still intend to be present and provide value with your performance.

Break the Barrier

There is a force-field of energy around any stage or performance space that you can’t always see but you can feel. This barrier is what keeps standing audiences metres away from the stage even after you’ve asked everyone to come to the front. As cheesy as it is, “I don’t bite…all the time”, is the line I’ve used to get a little giggle out of people when I’m trying to encourage them to fill the front of the stage space. When performers don’t acknowledge this awkward empty space, it’ll stay there the whole night and kind of just suck the energy out of the venue.

If possible, leave the stage multiple times. Is there a platform or (sturdy-looking) speaker outside the perimeter of the stage that will hold your weight? Hop on there. Maybe there’s a step leading down from the stage that you can sit on. If the microphone will reach and not feedback, travel to the very front floor space of the stage and notice how people move to welcome you or crane their neck to see what’s going on. Think about how boring it is to be an audience member who is staring into one spot the whole night. The chance to look anywhere else is very welcomed.

Explore the Space

Similar to the above, this is about erasing any unseen barriers except you can explore space while even staying on stage in a 5-foot radius. Do unusual things. Crouch or sit on the floor. Change the way you use the space you’re given and it will keep the attention of the audience. Depending on the layout of the space, it could be important to remember to face more than one way the whole time. There could be people standing slightly behind you who would feel more engaged if you acknowledge them.

Exploring the space before you begin a performance is as important as adjusting the piano bench before playing a recital. If there are mic stands that you will not need, move them out of the way. Any object that isn’t adding to the performance and can be moved, should be moved. If you are using a table, do not stand behind it. This doesn’t really count for DJ’s but for anyone else, it’s important to keep the space open so energy can flow freely. If you need a table, angle it so that most of the audience can still see your legs. There should be nothing blocking you from them so when you walk on, take control and make that space yours.

Have a conversation

Ask a question into an audience—especially one that has alcohol in hand— and you will receive an answer. Quite often, they’re stoked that you want to engage on that level.

I have a friend who takes a couple of minutes out of her show to shout out every artist she knows in the audience. Pointing into the crowd, she’ll spot a rapper, a violinist, a vocalist she knows, say nice words about them, and then ask “any other artists in the house? Don’t be shy, where are you?” We poke fun at her each time for doing this because it’s become so routine, but it really does reinforce a feeling of community in the room and creates a warm atmosphere.

Sometimes I perform a song that leaves time in the end for people in the audience to get on the mic. Before it begins, I ask for two volunteers from the crowd who would like to share one thing they’re grateful for when the mic comes to them. Since they don’t really know when that moment will be, it keeps everyone very present as they listen for a part of the song that sounds like I’m about to offer the microphone to the volunteers.

Pause. Break the barrier, explore the space, and don’t forget to have a conversation.

Essentially, let the performance breathe because it is “live” after all.

All of these tips are very simple but can be effectively applied to a range of situations that require you to hold the attention of an audience.

Instead of worrying about delivering perfect performance, think about how you can offer one that is an active experience, changing the role of the passive, onlooking audience. Having a stage presence is about being present with everyone who is sharing that space with you and understanding that the performance should never just be about the person on stage.