How are you meant to look confident on stage?

Question

I play bass and recently I got assessed on my skills when i played a song in front of my music class. My teacher thinks I'm competent, but says I should look and feel confident while I'm playing.

I try to look at the audience to connect with them (I've noticed this is what other people do) but I worry that I'm going to stuff up what I'm playing.

I have another performance coming up and I want to feel confident this time.

Got any tips?

Answer 1

It is all in the posture....don;t be stiff .  Move around ,even if it is only to take a step or 2 or face the drummer for a minute or 2.   Make sure your facial expressions change...smile etc.

Use your imagination to pretend that they love you no matter what because you rock!

Answer 2

In all probability, you are experiencing a combination of being new at this, and caring too much about the approval of others, which you will never get on the best of merits, but always get on the basis of popular acclaim, which is mostly social. If you like your own rocking out because it fulfills you at a deep level, and has musical quality, others will get the jazz and like it socially. But if you play to impress others, you won't impress others. Yes it's marginally creepy and really annoying, but that's how it is getting the people to dance..... the musician sincerely "dances and rocks out musically", and the people get jazzed and join in! Regards, Larry.

Answer 3

Stand up straight, but don't be rigid.

Smile.

Look like you know what you're doing and that what you're doing gives you a lot of pleasure.

Answer 4

practise it all day and night in front of the miror smile a little bit move around.get a MEAN look and just look realy.....well MEAN!!! maybe wear a cool oufit if u dont have a uniforn

Answer 5

be able to play yer stuff blindfolded, that way you can make eye contact with your audience.

Answer 6

if it makes you uncomfortable to look out unto the audience, then don't. that will come with experience & time. if you're looking at a sheet of music, stare at it intently, or if you're playing it from memory, you may want to close your eyes. either way, you'll seem focused on what you're doing.

confidence comes with experience. the more you play in front of people, the more you'll get used to it.

i've been on stage so many times, i could literally fall flat on my face in front of everyone before making it across the stage, get up, laugh, & resume my performance - i wouldn't care.