Guitar Gear Forum

So guys...here's the deal...

For those of you who know, I've recently transitioned from the lead guitarist to the lead singer. Our new band "The Insignificants" (Inside joke involving old lead singer), does mostly 80's new wave....Duran Duran, Simple Minds, Cars, Billy Idol...etc.,

Anyway, I'm getting the vocals down pretty well...singing with confidence and really getting into the whole 80's singer vibe. My question is...do any of you know the best way to learn...moves? I refuse to be the lead singer that just does the "singer walk" or stands there all night. I wanna get into it, entertain, be a front man. It's fun music, and we're gonna dress up like idiots and try to make ever show a party. But at the same time, I'd like to not look like a complete moron.

Any suggestions?

Video tape yourself at rehearsals etc. and practice in front of a mirror.

Maybe pay more attention to what your favourite front-persons do on stage to interact with the crowd. Obviously you won't really want to be ripping them off directly, but it might give you some ideas at least.

A.Watch what Mick Jagger does.

B.Dont do anything Mick Jagger does.

C. Have fun on stage, its not a choreographed play.

best bet is to hide behind a guitar.

just try to have fun, that works better than anything

cept maybe this:

zach wrote:best bet is to hide behind a guitar.

Iggy Pop.

edit
I recently switched to lead vocals too (shared 50/50 with other guitarist) but I've still got my guitar to hide behind.
Not that thats really relevant just saying. It has been a fucking blast though.

DNW wrote:Maybe pay more attention to what your favourite front-persons do on stage to interact with the crowd. Obviously you won't really want to be ripping them off directly, but it might give you some ideas at least.

This.

You mentioned Duran Duran. Simon LeBon is one hell of a frontman!

Will do, guys. Hiding behind the guitar is not an option as I'll only be playing it on a few songs. Rest of the time it'll be in it's stand. I'll start watchin some vids...

Just Crawl in to some TIGHT pants, & stuff a sock yo!
Nah, Id say the above guys got it right. Try to have fun like your favorite singers do. MY thing would be to hide behind a guitar.

Get out there and let it go.

Try not to be self-conscious about it.

Give yourself some time to develop your own style, and you will.

'63-Strat wrote:Video tape yourself at rehearsals etc. and practice in front of a mirror.

This^^^

Lots of practice in front of a mirror would be the key me thinks.

Do the Axl dance. The whole time.

Just like everyone else said, watch what others do and emulate until you find your natural groove just like you did when you were learning to play guitar. The thing you have to get over is looking stupid. Sometimes looking stupid is the key to looking cool, if that makes any sense at all. You can't be afraid to fall flat on your face. Scars heal, man.

Van_Muddlestein wrote:Just like everyone else said, watch what others do and emulate until you find your natural groove just like you did when you were learning to play guitar. The thing you have to get over is looking stupid. Sometimes looking stupid is the key to looking cool, if that makes any sense at all. You can't be afraid to fall flat on your face. Scars heal, man.

This. My cousin went through the same thing with his band. I noticed he just emulated a lot of what his favorite singers did on stage and I used to give him shit about it lol. Now after seeing him 30+ times on stage he's definitely got his own thing and styled that he's "perfected" over time. He's become comfortable with it and has become second nature.

Van_Muddlestein wrote:Just like everyone else said, watch what others do and emulate until you find your natural groove just like you did when you were learning to play guitar. The thing you have to get over is looking stupid. Sometimes looking stupid is the key to looking cool, if that makes any sense at all. You can't be afraid to fall flat on your face. Scars heal, man.

*Like*

that's good advice and the right way to approach anything related to performance

Just worry about the singing. All the rest of that shit will come.
Do you want people remembering your vocals or your stage moves?

DISTORT6 wrote:Just worry about the singing. All the rest of that shit will come.
Do you want people remembering your vocals or your stage moves?

I'm not worried about the singing. That part is fine. I want people to remember that they had fun, and the singer didn't stand there like a dull boring piece of crap.

zach wrote:best bet is to hide behind a guitar.

this. or a keyboard, since you nu wave and all.

Dave Gahan. Embrace the Mode.

guitarbilly wrote:

Van_Muddlestein wrote:Just like everyone else said, watch what others do and emulate until you find your natural groove just like you did when you were learning to play guitar. The thing you have to get over is looking stupid. Sometimes looking stupid is the key to looking cool, if that makes any sense at all. You can't be afraid to fall flat on your face. Scars heal, man.

*Like*

that's good advice and the right way to approach anything related to performance

Totally agree as well, that definitely makes sense Muddlestein and think you've got it nailed.

edit
To go further I think the key here is owning it. Just be more sure of it than anyone else in the room, I think this is key. Hesitation and doubt as opposed to confidence are what separate success and failure many times.