How do you look on stage?

[vivacelife]

What kind of characteristics/personalities/style a pianist should have on stage performing?

[lostinidlewonder]

You should be dressed well of course, something that looks special on stage, you dont have to conform to tradition (bow ties, dresses) but you have to look good. That goes too for the stage that you are peforming on. I always get big bunches of flowers in big jars to decorate the stage. It is very important for the audience as well, whos eyes need to be distracted now and then. This is a subtle but it does make a difference in my experience.

An audience first makes a decision of someone talking in public by detecting if they are listening to someone that is talking naturally or not. Consciously or subconsously everyone makes that first observation. So of course that is the foundation to develop your personality and style of concert upon. How do to that, well, that can go on for ever.

[pianowelsh]

You should Ideally somehow show some communication with an audience and with the music. Ive seen many students who sit with shoulders hunched up and noses almost touching the keys following their hands about who give quick jerky bows when it's all over and done with. _Don't do that - please!!
Take your time on the platform. It's a good general rule to adopt an open postiton at the piano and one which is not too tense. Don't box the audience out and remember to take a nice controlled and slow bow not a quick duck and scrurry for the door, SMILE! - abrupt movements rarely work - they tend to give the impression your tense and that is generally speaking not want you want to convey. I like to look down the length of the piano when I play - it forces me to keep a good posture i fing it helpful sometimes to look up at a spot on the other wall just to take the tension out sometimes but it will be different for everyone. Dress ?!? is a difficult one nowadays were supposed to be less formal with audiences but not too informal it's all about reading the situation. I like to have one hand on the piano when I bow and deliver any speaking just to balance self and stops me playing with my hands it also take the edge off the formality. BE yourself on stage but sometimes it dosen't hurt to act a little especially if you are nervous with a particular audience. It takes real guts to be relaxed with an audience at a competition or exam I find it much easier in a concert.

[lani]

My daughter and I attended a ballet at Christmas and a very talented young woman of 16 came out at intermission to perform  a piece she had composed helself.  Unfortunately she was not well dressed, her overall apperance a bit dowdy, and her walk coming out to the stage and back was awkward.  It really took away from her her playing, and the audience responded unenthusiastically.  Too bad someone had not helped preprare her for her "presentation".  Those details should not be overlooked.  We felt really bad for her. Even your "walk" should be rehearsed. The audience responds to a performers attire, body language and presentation.Regards, Lani

[will]

Unfortunately she was not well dressed, her overall apperance a bit dowdy, and her walk coming out to the stage and back was awkward.  It really took away from her her playing, and the audience responded unenthusiastically. 

I once saw a similar thing, though with a different response from the audience. A performer walked on stage looking like he had just got up out of bed after crashing on the sofa the night before. He had on unironed, creased jeans and a matching unironed plain short sleeved tshirt. He walked stiffly onto the stage, barely acknowledged the small applause from the audience and then promptly proceeded to rip through Chopin op.10 no.1 (in a good way). When finished he got up and walked off, again barely acknowledging the (now enthusiastic) applause of the audience.
   I think the performance was more memorable than expected because his unexpected and lacklustre appearance directly opposed the manner in which he performed...Maybe he is so dedicated to practicing piano that he doesn't have time for ironing his clothes...

[pianowelsh]

Will - I've been there - he probably was! It's difficult to say. Presentation will never eclipse a really good perfromance BUT bad presentation will always take away from the maximum impact of a performance. Most of us can't afford to din't the impact one bit. You have to sell the performance to your audience. I know some people who are really business like about it and treat the audience as if they were to be buying grocery's in the store - ' now how shall we package it and is the lighting right and ;; oh yes must make an appointment at the hairdressers and have a manicure etc etc etc) I think there is an overkill and an audience are discerning enough (usually) to know when they are being conned by something that looks better than it is but when your well prepared and ready to go DONT let anything drag you under!

[Muzikant]

Well People thanks for those suggestions I will have piano solo performance on the 12th February so now I will know what to wear and how to walk!!!!

[shasma]

to muzikant: it's past the 12th of february, i hope you did well

when i read this thread i came to think of once when i was supposed to play chopin waltz op.64 no.2 at a minor school concert. i worked really hard on that piece since i loved the quick parts. but i knew i was going to screw it up on the concert since that's what i always do, although i knew i could play that piece very well.

and during the concert i screwed it up real bad, of course, and i got so mad at myself and i guess it showed on my face while i played. after the concert my friends came up to me and told me that i should be careful with my facial expression next time, since they didn't hear me play anything wrong (since the whole audience were parents and friends, not classical music lovers) but by looking at my face they knew when i messed up.

i guess this only goes for newbies like me, i can't get into the piano piece at all when i'm on stage... it's too uncomfortable. i've always kept in mind to have a calm face like a hindu cow the next time i play for an audience no matter how much i mess the piece up, but i haven't been on stage since that time

cheers

[Muzikant]

Well I did play Prelude in D Flat Major by Reinhold Gliere... It was great I got a "Superior" score of Eastern Washington Music Educators Association.  Out of 3 score I got the best score of one but did not maket it to State  it's ok I am a freshman so Ihave next 3 years thanks for sugestions how to act on stage.

For me to get comfortable is to relax.... and then play 

[ChristmasCarol]

Great topic.  There's no substitute for experience when performing.  Also, I suggest that videotaping oneself is all the feedback you need on how you come across.  I find that wearing clothes that fit great and feel great makes me very relaxed.  Shoes... I always notice a pianist's shoes.  They make such great knock-offs these days there's no reason not to have happy feet.    Practicing with imaginary audiences in ones mind is good.  I saw an opera singer perform at Symphony Hall with a pianist who had on black dress slacks, a black long sleeve jersey with no collar and great shoes.  She was dressed in gowns that must have cost thousands - she changed gowns at intermission.  He looked perfect accompanying her in those clothes.  Whatever makes you feel spiffy will work in my opinion.  If a performance is coming up that is important, and one knows they choke on stage, then find some places to do the performance where it is a more casual setting. 

[alextryan]

I performed the Rhaps in Blue last year, and when I watch myself on the video I notice these things:

1) My bow was too long -- looked self-admiring somehow
2) The bench was too low, but I didn't notice it soon enough, so I adjusted it as the orchestra was beginning -- is that the major faux pas I think it it?
3) When I stopped playing, my hands hovered before awkwardly resting on my legs.  My back looked hunched when I wasn't playing, and I would end up with my hands in my lap
4) I scooted around a lot to get closer to different parts of the keyboard
5) When I wasn't playing, I looked over at the orchestra once or twice, which didn't look right
6) When I was coming up to my part again, I would place my hands in position a little too early, so I looked "primed" and that made me look uncomfortable

What do I do about all of that?

Also, I have a friend with law-length hair and a terrific focused, in-charge facial demeanor when he plays.  Should I grow my hair out?