Live Acoustic Set from last night *Critique Wanted*

Hi, I played an acoustic set here last night, i'm not expecting anyone to watch the whole thing but if you wouldn't mind having a quick look and giving me any pointers particularly on my stage presence, confidence etc or indeed anything else. Thank you

I wonder if it would benefit you to lower that mic a bit. I keep watching how you lower your head when you step back to play and then have to bring it way up like that to sing.

I do usually have the mic a bit lower just thought i'd leave it as it was this time, I don't know I quite liked it having to look up

@realkevm , funny enough I played in front of people myself last night, only it was the first time I ever played in front of anyone. Where you seem to be confidant and aware of what you are doing, my mind said "I'll see you when this is over" - so there is a lot to be said about being well rehearsed which you were (i evidently was too, and didn't forget any words and stuff, but I don't remember much of the performance)

The sound on your video is surprisingly good , one thing I could maybe suggest, since your asking - (based on my one performing experience from last night  ) is maybe a little more banter between the songs. Folk singers like John Prine,  Arlo Gutherie, Donovan etc kind of draw their audience in by saying a little something about the song that their going to play.  Just a thought though.

I'm sure the people there had a good time.

Vince

@realkevm  - I was just about to tell you about the mic level too, when I noticed that @Leonard Scaper already pointed it out.... It does feel a tad too high.

These are some of my other thoughts that crossed my mind while watching (I'm just commenting as an ordinary spectator here):

- Regarding stage presence, I think that you have good presence especially when you're playing the longer guitar parts.
- In the parts where you're singing the short verses, you tend to shift a bit backward right after each line. I think it would help if you don't shift as frequently during these parts (such as 4.23-4.26). Nevertheless, for the longer guitar parts it looks good that you move a bit and use the rest of the stage.
- You could perhaps try to increase contact/interaction with the audience (without overdoing it) e.g. when presenting your next song, it would be nice if you looked more at the audience and increase eye contact with all viewers (sort of look 180 degrees to face everyone and make them feel that you're speaking to all of them).
Y- ou could also have more varied song repertoire so as to increase interest and have certain songs stand out more than others. e.g. have slower songs that could show off more your vocal before going onto the more upbeat songs and/or make use of varied strumming patterns for different songs.... I think these could help retain the attention of the listeners.

@realkevm , funny enough I played in front of people myself last night, only it was the first time I ever played in front of anyone. Where you seem to be confidant and aware of what you are doing, my mind said "I'll see you when this is over" - so there is a lot to be said about being well rehearsed which you were (i evidently was too, and didn't forget any words and stuff, but I don't remember much of the performance)

The sound on your video is surprisingly good , one thing I could maybe suggest, since your asking - (based on my one performing experience from last night  ) is maybe a little more banter between the songs. Folk singers like John Prine,  Arlo Gutherie, Donovan etc kind of draw their audience in by saying a little something about the song that their going to play.  Just a thought though.

I'm sure the people there had a good time.

Vince

Nice one Vince! It gets quite nerve wracking doesn't it? I've only been playing live around a year, my first few gigs I was so nervous and as you experienced it all seemed to go by in a blur! It's cool you got by with no mistakes though, i'm a nightmare for forgetting lyrics (again nerves) thanks for checking the video out, lack of banter between songs is a confidence thing but I need to do it don't I. Thank you for pointing it out to me Good luck with your music, do you have a youtube or soundcloud I can hear your stuff?

@realkevm  - I was just about to tell you about the mic level too, when I noticed that @Leonard Scaper already pointed it out.... It does feel a tad too high.

These are some of my other thoughts that crossed my mind while watching (I'm just commenting as an ordinary spectator here):

- Regarding stage presence, I think that you have good presence especially when you're playing the longer guitar parts.
- In the parts where you're singing the short verses, you tend to shift a bit backward right after each line. I think it would help if you don't shift as frequently during these parts (such as 4.23-4.26). Nevertheless, for the longer guitar parts it looks good that you move a bit and use the rest of the stage.
- You could perhaps try to increase contact/interaction with the audience (without overdoing it) e.g. when presenting your next song, it would be nice if you looked more at the audience and increase eye contact with all viewers (sort of look 180 degrees to face everyone and make them feel that you're speaking to all of them).
Y- ou could also have more varied song repertoire so as to increase interest and have certain songs stand out more than others. e.g. have slower songs that could show off more your vocal before going onto the more upbeat songs and/or make use of varied strumming patterns for different songs.... I think these could help retain the attention of the listeners.

Thanks Rachel for having a watch, some good points there I do have a bad habit of leaving the mic and heading back to it between each line don't I? Something I need to shake off or do sparingly. Definitely need to have more audience interaction i'm going to make that my aim for when I play live going forward. I could also vary my set a bit I guess a lot of my songs are at a similar tempo. Thank you again for watching giving me some great feedback it'd been a help

Hey @realkevm .... nice job.

1. Your pitch (singing) has greatly improved. I can tell you are working on it!

2. By yourself with just a mic and guitar seems so nerve wracking  ... I wish I could do that, really. I admire your confidence.

3. You are very fortunate to have venues like that and to get gigs in venues like that. It is very impressive and I have to admit I'm pretty jealous ....

No pointers from me really.  You already got some good ones and you seem to know what to work on.
When you do a gig there are multiple acts performing? You do a set and then another act goes on, yes?   

in my opinion u are really good guitarist but u should practice high notes while singing
you can definitely notice that u cant reach those notes
i really like arrangement of performance

Hey @realkevm .... nice job.

1. Your pitch (singing) has greatly improved. I can tell you are working on it!

2. By yourself with just a mic and guitar seems so nerve wracking  ... I wish I could do that, really. I admire your confidence.

3. You are very fortunate to have venues like that and to get gigs in venues like that. It is very impressive and I have to admit I'm pretty jealous ....

No pointers from me really.  You already got some good ones and you seem to know what to work on.
When you do a gig there are multiple acts performing? You do a set and then another act goes on, yes?

Hi Bill, I hope you're well, good luck with your upcoming gig
Thanks i'm getting there very slowly with my voice but at least there's been an improvement lol, yeah it can be really nerve wracking but these past few shows i've jsut gone for it and felt very confident, it really helps me in my performance I think

in my opinion u are really good guitarist but u should practice high notes while singing
you can definitely notice that u cant reach those notes
i really like arrangement of performance

Thanks mate, yeah it's something i'm working on

Playing live is always something complicated
I have been playing live since I was 17 and now I am 66 years old and my conclusion is that the public is an entity that we have to master in some way.
My main advice is that you do not go out to play without sitting in a chair.
Be very important on stage
And I also think that you should play the rhythms with your guitar in a much quieter way
I wish you the best in your career and do not forget that on stage you are the one who should always send 

Playing live is always something complicated
I have been playing live since I was 17 and now I am 66 years old and my conclusion is that the public is an entity that we have to master in some way.
My main advice is that you do not go out to play without sitting in a chair.
Be very important on stage
And I also think that you should play the rhythms with your guitar in a much quieter way
I wish you the best in your career and do not forget that on stage you are the one who should always send 

Interesting this only play live while sitting in a chair thing .....   Hmm... I hadn't thought of this much...

Ya know @realkevm  and @Marcus Nalgaber  ,if one is to go that route, I say really do it up!  A big puffy recliner or something like this:

Interesting this only play live while sitting in a chair thing .....   Hmm...

I have also been pondering this and going back in time to my own performance days. I agree with @Marcus Nalgaber about using a chair for solo performing if the music style is more intimate and cerebral. My solo performing, such as it was, was always done from a chair as I felt that I could best project my feelings to the audience from that more controlled position. That also kept my guitar in the right spot (that was back when an acoustic was always mic'd up) and my microphone position constant.

With the band...well, that's different.

That said, I like how you move around on the stage @realkevm ....I see it as an integral part of your stage persona. You just need to fine tune it a bit.

Thanks Marcus, Bill, Leo - I do sit down sometimes depending if the show is a bit smaller or more intimate. I think i do a better show if i'm standing up and moving about a bit.