Top 10 Ways to Engage Your Audience

Performing is more than simply having band practice in front of people. Just like mastering your instrument, the skills required to become an engaging performer must be practiced and perfected over time. Here are my ten simple rules to get you started.




1. Smile

2. Smile

3. Single out one random individual in the audience and make eye contact with them. Smile at them, or give them the "rocker-face". Repeat.

4. Single out one band member per song and interact with them in some way. Stand next to the other guitar player during a guitar harmony part. Sing your backups into the lead singer's mic. Stand next to the bass player and "groove-dance". Head bob with the drummer. Act like they are all your best friends in the world, even if the drummer just talked trash about your mom. While doing all of the above, smile.

5. If nothing else, do something to accentuate punches; head-bobs, rocker-poses, and knee-to-an-imaginary-opponent's-groin all work well.

6. If you mess up, smile. If you are tired, ill, or bored, smile. Act like you are having the time of your life, even if you aren't.

7. Charisma is mostly a matter of conveying emotion through the face. Exaggerate your facial expressions...way beyond what you think of as normal. You aren't acting normal...you are performing.

8. Make your body movements big and dramatic....beyond what feels normal. You aren't acting normal...you are performing.

9. Smile.

10. Don't forget to smile.