Lesson #2: Stage Etiquette

FYI: These suggestions are shared with you based on my own personal experience and from watching many independent as well as major artists over the years. How you take it is up to you. But if you are truly serious about wanting to make it in the music industry, I hope you take these points into consideration when you are honing your craft. Read on.

 

Lesson #2: Stage Etiquette

 

 

We have all, from time to time, witnessed this scenario at open mics as well as major concerts:

~An artist gets on stage and starts performing, in ONE PLACE, not even working the floor.
~Either at that time or a few minutes later, their “crew” comes out in the form of a sea of people surrounding the artist.
~Some are getting the crowd involved, others are showing more energy than the artist, and the rest are just…………..there.

I’m certainly not the only one who thinks this is a major eyesore. With all of these people on stage, the question we begin to ask is, “Who is the artist?”

 

What’s So Bad About Having Your Crew On Stage?

In case you are wondering why this is an eyesore, put yourself in the shoes of the audience: You’re sitting/standing in the crowd. You’re watching a group of people crowded in one spot. It sounds like someone’s rapping/singing, even if they’re performing over their own track (which I will discuss in my next installment). But quite frankly, you can’t even tell which person is holding the microphone, let alone performing. So you lose interest and start to focus your attention on another conversation (or what basketball team is playing on TV), because you decided not to waste your time trying to figure out who the artist/group is. This is what your potential fan is thinking without you even realizing it. You usually only get one shot in making a good first impression.

 

Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone!

For some artists, they have the sea of people on stage with them because they’re emulating what they see on TV or at their favorite rapper’s concert. But for others, it’s a lot deeper than that. You never know who may feel insecure being in the spotlight by themselves or suffer from stage fright. They feel more comfortable with the people/supporters being on stage with them to keep from being nervous with all eyes on them. And that is completely understandable.

But…….

THIS IS GOING TO HURT YOU IN THE LONG RUN!!!

Your fans did not come to the open mic/showcase/concert to see a bunch of guys/girls that have no reason to be up on stage embarrassing themselves. They came to see YOU! You have to learn how to step out of your comfort zone and grow from there.

 

Preferred Stage Limitations That Are Pleasing To the Eye

1. The artist by themselves. NOTE: If you’re the only performer, you are the only one that should be on stage, which also means that you need to be working the performance with stage presence and energy, which gets the audience involved.

2. The artist + 1 or 2 hypemen. Please make sure the energy is equally balanced between you and your hypeman. They should not be standing there with you doing nothing, nor should they have more energy than you, making you look bad.

3. The artist + the featured artist(s). Again, you and the features should be the only ones on stage with equal energy being given into your show.

4. The artist + background singers/dancers. This is acceptable as long as their involvement does not clash with your performance.

5. The performing group of artists. DISCLAIMER: If any of the people in the group are not the actual performers, they do not need to be on stage.

And everyone else? Their job is to be the floor support. They belong in the audience, either at the front or scattered throughout the audience for visual presentation and to get the surrounding individuals involved. This especially helps if a person likes you and wants a CD; the supporters can get a CD in their hands either while you are performing or in the venue but may be unable to make it to everyone.

 

In Closing….

It’s not enough to have a hot song in the streets. The determining factor also lies within your ability to connect with the audience through your performance. In the words of Eminem, “You only get one shot.” So why not use that shot and present yourself the right way, making a lasting impression on old and new fans that could potentially alter the course of your career for the better?

 

Perform wisely,
Lyrical Preacher

Lesson 1: Microphone Etiquette (1st Installment)

FYI: These suggestions are shared with you based on my own personal experience and from watching many independent as well as major artists over the years. How you take it is up to you. But if you are truly serious about wanting to make it in the music industry, I hope you take these points into consideration when you are honing your craft. Read on.

 

Lesson #1: Microphone Etiquette

 

“Turn my mic up!”

“Turn the music down!”

“Turn me up!”

“Turn me down!”

“I can’t hear myself!”

How many of you have heard these phrases from an artist performing on stage? Here’s an even better question: How many of you have found yourself saying them before/during a performance? I have, and I’m not afraid to admit it. In some situations it may be the DJ or whoever’s running the sound system. In other cases it may be the sound system itself. But in most cases–and in no way is this being stated to belittle any up and coming performer, whether you sing, rap, or play an instrument–it may not be any of those situations.

Yes, that’s right: It may just be YOU.

I’ve seen many artists who will get agitated because they feel like the audience can’t hear them or they can’t hear themselves, and will automatically blame whoever’s running the sound. But there’s nothing wrong with the system; the microphones are brand new, the speakers are leveled great, and the EQ is on point. The problem is the way they are holding the microphone. If you are a professional and/or major artist–C’MON SON. (Though nowadays some major artists don’t know how to perform on stage, but that’s another topic. *cough*) But if you are just starting out, I understand. At the same time I feel sorry for most of you because you’re just jumping out there ready to make it big, yet you do not have the proper training necessary in this music industry. There are methods that lead to success, and you have to be willing to learn them. If you want people to hear you on stage, you have to learn how to use the microphone.

 

Holding the microphone

You can sing and/or rap as loud as you want, but the audience will not be able to hear clearly if the microphone is too far away from your mouth. No one should be watching you perform with it all the way down near your chest. For better results, the microphone should be at least 1 to 2 inches away from your mouth while you are performing. If you are a singer, the only time you should pull away is when you are hitting high notes in order to avoid your voice being too loud in the speakers, at least no more than one foot in distance.

 

“Cuffing” the microphone

Rappers, this is ESPECIALLY for you. We’ve heard this term, before: “Don’t cuff the mic.” To those not privy to the meaning of this term, “cuffing” is when a person wraps their hand around the ball of the microphone while speaking or rapping. From my own experience, this hurts an artist because it blocks the field of sound. It also muffles and distorts a person’s voice to the point where you cannot even understand what they’re saying.

Your hand should be gripping the handle directly underneath the ball. This will enable the microphone to better pick up sound so the audience can hear you more clearly. Now I will admit that some people feel differently about this; there are artists (moreso rappers) that believe “cuffing the mic” actually helps increase the volume so they can be heard better. Shoot, I’m actually guilty of having done it every now and then, but moreso out of habit than anything else. If you “cuff the mic” (and be honest with yourself), I recommend you do what I was doing until I habitually started holding it correctly: Practice on at least leaving enough space at the top of the ball so you have a better chance at not sounding muffled.

 

Keeping the microphone near you

How you hold the microphone when you’re not performing is just as important as when you are. Never should you allow yourself to let it hang to the side in between verses (this goes for backups and hypemen, too). Letting it hang as if you are about to drop it on the ground only adds more effort into bringing it back up to your mouth when it’s time to perform or speak your adlib. Not only that, it also causes that ear-splitting sound we like to call “feedback” when you get near a speaker or monitor. You are literally putting the microphone into the monitor when you let it hang.

So in order to avoid this from happening, keep your arm bent and near your body when you’re not speaking/rapping/singing. This will make it much easier to bring the microphone back to your mouth, as well as avoid putting it into the monitors.

 

In Closing…

Performing on stage is all about leaving a long-lasting first impression on your target audience. People who see you–fans, other artists, A&R’s and industry executive higher-ups alike–are paying attention. They’re paying attention to your stage presence as well as your energy, determining whether or not you can move crowds. But most importantly, they’re paying attention to your delivery. And, in my opinion, your delivery begins with the microphone.

 

Perform wisely,
Lyrical Preacher

First Installment Coming Soon….

My apologies for the delay in posts; I have been focused on my main blog through Blogger. But new posts are coming soon so don’t touch that dial!

Bless,

LP

Introduction Course

HELLO MY FELLOW HUMANOIDS! I hope you enjoy these installments of Music Etiquette 101, and I pray it reaches out to you as very informative when it comes to aspects of the music industry and bettering yourself as an rapper/singer/producer/instrumentalist.

Do not hesitate to share your feedback on the installments as well. I always love receiving it.

Until then, enjoy!

Bless,

Lyrical Preacher