Stage Presence: What It Is NOT!

After listening to countless singers' CD's and tapes, I feel the need to discuss with you...again, the art of stage presence. I've discovered that something seems to happen when a person opens his/her mouth to sing which is unnatural. I liken this phenomenon to a photograph session.

Ever pass one of those "glamour photo" places in the mall, where they promise to make you look like a love-goddess? These are very popular among many females who feel a bit like "plain Jane's", and want to experience the feeling of being totally sexy and irresistible. So the make-up goes on, and the hair is coiffed, cleavage is air brushed into the photo, if there isn't any, and VIOLA! A gorgeous and sexy photo is produced!

The trouble is that the subject of the photo does NOT really look like that. So while it may be pretty, it's not real! If you've ever studied professional photography, you've certainly looked at award-winning photographs where the subjects' inner qualities are captured. These are not POSED shots, but rather CANDID moments of reality. THESE make the best pictures, and the ones that last forever!

Having just watched a bio on Rita Hayworth, born, Marguarita Cansino, a beautiful being inside and out who led a sad life of exploitation and abuse, I feel the need to quote her here. On her multi-marriages, she said:

"Men went to bed with "Gilda", and woke up with Marguarita. That was the problem!"

Okay, so what does this have to do with singing?!

Let's go back to what I started with. When a person opens his/her mouth to sing, something unnatural seems to occur. A "Glamour Pose"! As unreal as the Glamour photo in the Mall, singers somehow feel the need to POSE !

Look! You sing because you want to express yourself, but when you POSE, you are defeating your purpose. Do you get that? But if when you open your mouth to sing, you are simply talking through a song, then the real you is revealed and THIS is what grabs people, not the razzle-dazzle!

You need to let people in in order for them to share you experience on stage. When you POSE, you exclude them. In other words, Singers, no matter what kind of music you are singing, make a connection with it first, and then you'll make the connection with those who are listening.

A complete analysis on Stage Presence and how to get it is in Volume Two of "A Voice For a Lifetime in 30 Days". As a lifetime member of Sing Your Life!, this volume and all 4 volumes are FREE!. Sign Up now to become a member. Just get yourself on our mailing list HERE.