Stage presence with an upright?

[MacDaddy]

As upright basses are usually static, we can't run around stage throwing shapes and posing like what we can with bass guitars. 

What do you do, if anything, to have a bit of stage presence with an upright?

[Linus27]

I know exactly what you mean as I've recently moved to the double bass. All that I can do is try and look interesting and occasionally tilt my head and shoulders over the body when playing high up to make it look like I am doing something magical 🤣

[Mickeyboro]

I prefer the bass ukelele!

[Burns-bass]

22 minutes ago, Mickeyboro said:

I prefer the bass ukelele!

Reckon you’re probably  the only one…

[PaulThePlug]

Hat 'n Cravat... 

[Jakester]

I find I don't need to do anything, I tend to get people afterwards being far more complimentary if I've been playing the upright than an electric - and that's with my very rudimentary upright skills (which are far worse than my electric skills). It seems to start conversations in a way that other instruments don't (and not just of the "ho ho, bet you've got a big car..." type). 

[Happy Jack]

4 minutes ago, Jakester said:

 It seems to start conversations in a way that other instruments don't (and not just of the "ho ho, bet you've got a big car..." type). 

 

Troo dat, and this would include the legendary "You'll never get that under your chin".

[Happy Jack]

3 hours ago, MacDaddy said:

As upright basses are usually static, we can't run around stage throwing shapes and posing like what we can with bass guitars. 

 

It's never too late to grow up, Si. 

 

As a double bassist (and yes, I know you have an EUB) my main task at any moment is to be the coolest guy on stage.

 

If I was 19 and in great shape then I suppose I could do all sorts of tricks. If I had learned to do all those tricks when I was 19 then maybe I could still do them today (I'm looking at you, @PaulKing). But seeing as neither of those apply, I just concentrate on pretending that I know what I'm doing while looking cool - though still wondering why I don't look as cool as @tayste_2000 when he plays.

[borntohang]

The upright has the advantage of being immediately visually interesting to audiences in a way an EB isn't and also being a very physical instrument to wrestle with. I'd suggest stealing moves from keyboard players who are similarly stage-bound - you can practice playing with exaggerated arm movements without affecting your dynamics.

[NickD]

17 minutes ago, borntohang said:

...you can practice playing with exaggerated arm movements without affecting your dynamics.

You mean there's a way of playing this thing without exaggerated arm movements? 😂

 

I'm not sure stage presence, and moving around are the same thing. After a certain age (as a musician and as and audience member), throwing shapes and bouncing around just looks a bit daft. 

 

The instrument itself has presence, and the physicality of playing it adds to that. For me it's the singers job to put the story across, my job is to make him sound good while he's doing that.

[Rosie C]

1 hour ago, Happy Jack said:

 

Troo dat, and this would include the legendary "You'll never get that under your chin".

 

and of course "that's a big violin!" 

 

I've never had a problem with stage presence, certainly I get more reaction than when playing my jazz bass guitar. Often there are expectant "ooh" sounds from the audience as I drag the upright on-stage. Mine is painted white and has tribal artwork, so you can't really miss it. 

 

Edited Thursday at 16:09 by Rosie C

[MacDaddy]

32 minutes ago, Rosie C said:

 

and of course "that's a big violin!" 

 

I've never had a problem with stage presence, certainly I get more reaction than when playing my jazz bass guitar. Often there are expectant "ooh" sounds from the audience as I drag the upright on-stage. Mine is painted white and has tribal artwork, so you can't really miss it. 

 

 

 

Pics! 😀 

[ezbass]

Lee Rocker takes issue with the premise of this thread...

 

[Huge Hands]

1 minute ago, ezbass said:

Lee Rocker takes issue with the premise of this thread...

I was about to say I have seen a few rockabilly guys do that over the years.

 

However, I feel if I tried it with mine, with my weight, it would be an Ikea flatpack in seconds......

[Staggering on]

2 hours ago, Happy Jack said:

It's never too late to grow up, Si. 

 

As a double bassist (and yes, I know you have an EUB) my main task at any moment is to be the coolest guy on stage.

 

If I was 19 and in great shape then I suppose I could do all sorts of tricks. If I had learned to do all those tricks when I was 19 then maybe I could still do them today (I'm looking at you, @PaulKing). But seeing as neither of those apply, I just concentrate on pretending that I know what I'm doing while looking cool - though still wondering why I don't look as cool as @tayste_2000 when he plays.

 

As a double bassist you become the coolest guy on stage by default, it's the bass.

 I must admit I have actually twirled the bass on its endpin at a gig about three times in the last nine years, I save it for very special moments.😊

[ezbass]

24 minutes ago, Staggering on said:

As a double bassist you become the coolest guy on stage by default, it's the bass.

DB is statement enough in itself. I don’t owned a proper doghouse, but I do find myself dancing with my EUB, when I play it, way more than with an EB (and I’m not known for standing still with that either).

[Beedster]

On stage I’m too absorbed with the physical and emotional demands of playing to give a f*** about how I look, in short I’m totally absorbed.

 

In which context an Italian lady came up to us after a gig a few years back. The singer - a good looking guy 20-years my junior - naturally assumed she was going to talk to him. She did, but she said ‘The bassist plays his instrument like it is a beautiful women he wants to make love with’.

 

Still makes me smile, and I like to remind hime. He now recognises the true hierarchy in the band 👍

 

 

[Burns-bass]

There’s little you can do with a DB but you can damn we’ll look at the audience!

 

I learned to play reading music so my technique requires me to look at the audience.

 

Smile, make eye contact, sing BVs - make the gig as fun as possible:

[Beedster]

36 minutes ago, Burns-bass said:

There’s little you can do with a DB but you can damn we’ll look at the audience!

 

I learned to play reading music so my technique requires me to look at the audience.

 

Smile, make eye contact, sing BVs - make the gig as fun as possible:

BVs can really bring an upright player into the audience’s attentional space 👍

[Burns-bass]

1 hour ago, Beedster said:

BVs can really bring an upright player into the audience’s attentional space 👍

“Attentional space” is a great phrase.

 

instead of shouting “get out of the f@kin way” I’m going to shout “please exit my attentional space!”

[Owen]

Cover it in leopard skin. Job done. 

 

As for getting jiggy with it - see my signature for what could happen. 

[Rosie C]

6 hours ago, MacDaddy said:

 

 

Pics! 😀 

 

 

[MacDaddy]

19 minutes ago, Rosie C said:

 

 

 

Awesome 😎 

[tayste_2000]

17 hours ago, Happy Jack said:

It's never too late to grow up, Si. 

 

As a double bassist (and yes, I know you have an EUB) my main task at any moment is to be the coolest guy on stage.

 

If I was 19 and in great shape then I suppose I could do all sorts of tricks. If I had learned to do all those tricks when I was 19 then maybe I could still do them today (I'm looking at you, @PaulKing). But seeing as neither of those apply, I just concentrate on pretending that I know what I'm doing while looking cool - though still wondering why I don't look as cool as @tayste_2000 when he plays.

You just need a well fitting suit 💁🏼‍♀️ something to patch over the cracks 😇

[tayste_2000]

I will add it’s quite easy to look good onstage with a double bass and near impossible with an EUB.