What's Your Stage Personna?

[Frank Johnson]

When my buds and I are talking about a group we've seen we tend to automatically refer to each member of the group as "the lead singer" or "the lead picker" or "the funny one" or something along that line. Certainly most members here would probably be simply called "the mandolin picker" but are you also known as the clown (or something like that) of your group?

[Chris Rogers]

I'm the tall one, at 6-0. The others top out around 5-3, which allow me to punch over their shoulders toward that single mic.

But my persona is comes from the name on my sig: Ledgwood Creed. Just say it aloud and y'all unnerstand.

[Steve L]

I'm the under-medicated one.

[Ted Eschliman]

A picture is worth 1,000 words:

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs022.snc1/4253_80530239590_599874590_1673971_5022506_n.jpg

[hank]

A Cool Cat from head to toe. ;)

[Geoff B]

Nearly every show I play I'm known to at least one person as the 'guy who plays the ukulele'... that's always fun... :)

[JEStanek]

Ted's the Urkle-one.

I'm the one in the pit taking photos.

Jamie

[Tim2723]

I'm the cautious, anal-retentive one.

[Wesley]

Our trio is called "Matthew-Mark, Luke and Bubba". It turns out that I'm "Matthew-Mark" since down here in the south that's considered one name. Our banjo player hates the bands name since he has a doctorate in theology from Harvard. But it was given to us and we're stuck with it now.

[JEStanek]

Wesley, Stonewall Jackson's cannon were named Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John too. I did that for a bluegrass band name.

Jamie

[Matt DeBlass]

Usually "The Loud One," "The Big Guy," or "The Big, Loud Guy."

Most of the time, these days, I'm playing solo, so it's just "that Irish Music Guy."

[allenhopkins]

In every group in which I've played, I've ended up as the "front man," even though I was neither the lead singer nor the best instrumentalist. I just feel at ease talking to an audience, then stepping back and letting the other band members do their musical things.

I tend to talk quite a bit, put the musical numbers in some kind of perspective. I do a lot of historical music programs for schools, libraries, historical societies etc., and enjoy presenting music in historical context.

Could have been a bit of a problem when I was doing more bluegrass. My rule of thumb is that if the spoken introduction is longer than the song, there's a problem. In bluegrass, home of the two-minute song, I had to watch the ol' verbosity.

[300win]

I'm the one who plays the mandolin and is let nowhere near a microphone to sing except on harmony parts, which I can clinch any baritone but thats it. I write alot and record demos to send to everybody and anybody, do all the instruments { sing ?} all the parts, it is a long process and will get you tired, but everytime I hear myself tring to sing lead or tenor I cringe and want to hide, for in my mind it is nothing short of horrible. Other folks tell me I do ok, but they are very kind friends. I know the real truth in every band I've been in "do not let him any closer than 12 feet of the mic if trying to sing lead or baritone. So as far as my stage presence, I'm the confused one who plays mandolin.

[bhGreen]

My band tells me I'm the lead.... I don't agree with them! :))

I prefer to call myself "The nerdy girl in the group that plays mandolin"

works for me!

[man dough nollij]

BH, aren't you the one who eats brains? (mmm. Brains.)

[catmandu2]

My rule of thumb is that if the spoken introduction is longer than the song, there's a problem.

Some folks are geniuses with stage banter. One of the best I've seen is Tuck Andress.

Re the OP: I'm the "complex" one..

[Bruce Evans]

I'm the wise guy who loves to make fun of himself. I'd rather be second banana but I can be the front man.

[Jim]

In my Rock Band I was "Bong, James Bong" When I play Blues Im " One eyed Woody Johnson"
Generally I'm The quiet guy who's sober and plays lead guitar and that other little whatchamacallit

[Charley wild]

In the only Bluegrass band I played in I was the mic man. I'd done it in a Country band previously. I was always comfortable in front of an audience and stage banter comes easily. I'm also a believer in having a little fun, talking about the next song, etc., and keeping it short!!

[Patrick Sylvest]

Being the eldest and the one who takes care of things like bookings and owning the PA, they call me 'Papa'.

[onassis]

My stage persona? I'm an inbred, lawless, morally depraved, genetically degraded, intellectually deficient, overtly violent, incessantly drunken, blatantly incestuous cartoon squid who...wait a minute...that's a different thread...:whistling:

[thesubliminalman]

Well I am a rank newb at the mandolin but it's a great question...I'll have to work on it.

[brown akers]

"Bong, James Bong" - you people kill me! I get to call out the tunes since I'm the lead singer - and I do the nod to call the lead breaks, bass solo, trading lines, etc.... and I slip into this character (for lack of a better term) and sometimes little comments or sayings come out, and I also get to tell my favorite corny bluegrass festival jokes I've heard over the summer ("so I said to him, Say, did you lose a shoe?" "NO SIR, I DONE FOUND ME ONE!!!") I'm kinda the Bob Wills caller of the group. I loved the little funny shouts and calls he would put into his recordings - always pushing his musicians and showing how much he liked a particular break or lick.

[billkilpatrick]

everyone in my group (italians all) call me "beal."

[Greg H.]

I'm the one who plays the mandolin and is let nowhere near a microphone to sing except on harmony parts, which I can clinch any baritone but thats it. I write alot and record demos to send to everybody and anybody, do all the instruments { sing ?} all the parts, it is a long process and will get you tired, but everytime I hear myself tring to sing lead or tenor I cringe and want to hide, for in my mind it is nothing short of horrible. Other folks tell me I do ok, but they are very kind friends. I know the real truth in every band I've been in "do not let him any closer than 12 feet of the mic if trying to sing lead or baritone. So as far as my stage presence, I'm the confused one who plays mandolin.

Well, I guess I can do one better there. I'm the one NOT allowed to a vocal mike. . . . PERIOD!!! Thus far I haven't yet had someone tell me I do Ok.

[onassis]

"Bong, James Bong" - you people kill me! I get to call out the tunes since I'm the lead singer - and I do the nod to call the lead breaks, bass solo, trading lines, etc.... and I slip into this character (for lack of a better term) and sometimes little comments or sayings come out, and I also get to tell my favorite corny bluegrass festival jokes I've heard over the summer ("so I said to him, Say, did you lose a shoe?" "NO SIR, I DONE FOUND ME ONE!!!") I'm kinda the Bob Wills caller of the group. I loved the little funny shouts and calls he would put into his recordings - always pushing his musicians and showing how much he liked a particular break or lick.

I was just watching some Bob Wills on youtube. What a nut! One of my favorite stage personalities.

[catmandu2]

Raging alcoholics and other wildmen often make the best entertainers.

[D C Blood]

Didn't seem to hurt the original Dillards any:))


quote... My rule of thumb is that if the spoken introduction is longer than the song, there's a problem.

[Santiago]

I'm with Jim. call me what fits the particular gig. I'm the quiet one that looks serious, but rocks.

[bhGreen]

BH, aren't you the one who eats brains? (mmm. Brains.)

only on the weekends :))

[Laird]

Having just watched footage of last night's show, I guess I'm the bouncy one getting into the beat and singing with an inexplicable drawl.

[GVD]

I'm the brutally handsome one!

[jim_n_virginia]

sometimes cwilson introduces me as Little Jimmy Pickens! :))

I guess I would be the short one seeing that everyone else in the band besides me and the bass player is a beanpole! :grin:

[mandozilla]

Having a good time even if I'm not. :grin:

~o):mandosmiley:

[Rick Cadger]

My band all has occasional spoof IDs based on the late Bo Diddley.

As sometime fiddle abuser I am Bo Fiddley. We also have:
Lead guitar - Bo Widdley
Sax - Blow Diddley
Drums - Bo Paradiddley
Banjo - Bo Hillbiddley

etc etc...

As for the traits of my stage persona... I'm the chubby mandolin/ukulele/fiddle player who avoids solos and announces to the audience that "the following song was written by Bill Monroe"... regardless of what the song is.

Bet you never knew that Big Mon wrote 'Fat Bottomed Girls', I'm the Urban Spaceman', 'You Shook Me All Night Long', 'Louie Louie', 'Sharp-Dressed Man' and 'When I'm Cleaning Windows'.

[billkilpatrick]

... I'm the bouncy one getting into the beat and singing with an inexplicable drawl.

sort of a "eh-yeh, you'awl" ... ?

[300win]

Well, I guess I can do one better there. I'm the one NOT allowed to a vocal mike. . . . PERIOD!!! Thus far I haven't yet had someone tell me I do Ok.

Greg don't give up hope, someday you might find somebody that sings worse than you do.:grin:

[billkilpatrick]

Greg don't give up hope, someday you might find somebody that sings worse than you do.:grin:

in salman rushdie's novel "the ground beneath her feet," the protagonist is an indian rock star with a entourage of sikh body guards and promoters, all named singh: yul singh, gota singh, will singh, kant singh, singh singh and i think there's even a "shouldn't" singh.

[Jkf_Alone]

I'm the "Texture and Dynamics" guy. I like to make sure that songs feel like they are going somewhere, and that each tune sounds different.

Oh, and I'm also the one who cant stay still.

[catmandu2]

My band all has occasional spoof IDs based on the late Bo Diddley.

As sometime fiddle abuser I am Bo Fiddley. We also have:
Lead guitar - Bo Widdley
Sax - Blow Diddley
Drums - Bo Paradiddley
Banjo - Bo Hillbiddley

etc etc...

As for the traits of my stage persona... I'm the chubby mandolin/ukulele/fiddle player

Then, you should be "Diddley Squat." ;)

[Rick Schmidlin]

A cross between Ornette Coleman, Kieth Richards and 1971 Bob Weir

[mandocrucian]

True "stagey" personna is almost by necessity, way way over the top.........

horror schlock - Alice Cooper, Ozzy
kinko camp- Ziggy Stardust, Prince, B-52s etc
walking dead - Keith Richards & Ronnie Wood
game show host - Diamond Dave, fat Elvis
cryptkeeper - David Allen Coe, Gordon Lightfoot
genuine schizo - Roky Erikson, Larry "Wild Man" Fischer
inbred yahoo morlock - Jim Dandy
live cartoon/comic book - Kiss, Gwar

[Mike Bunting]

I like the Red Baron myself.

[Rick Schmidlin]

True "stagey" personna is almost by necessity, way way over the top.........

- Jim Dandy


I saw Black Oak in 71 with Iron Butterfly in Scranton,PA.

[Paul Merlo]

... and 1971 Bob Weir

Ha funny! do people in the front row wear rain slickers?

(j/k ;-)

P

[catmandu2]

A cross between Ornette Coleman, Kieth Richards and 1971 Bob Weir

Um...before or after they kicked? :(

[catmandu2]

True "stagey" personna is almost by necessity, way way over the top.........


Tis why it helps to be a raging alcoholic...or "other" colorful personality.. :cool:

[OldSausage]

Keith Richards isn't dead. That's just how he looks.

[catmandu2]

"Kicked" as in habit.

Since we're citing others as models, I'd have to say that I am a cross between circa 1958 misanthropic Miles, 60's Syd Barrett, 90's Curt Kirkwood, ... and maybe Burl Ives (after he passed).

[jim simpson]

I've never met a microphone that I didn't love. We played last weekend for a convention of inebriated Masons (or where they masonites?). I announced that this was the first time that we played for an AA meeting. It got lots of laughs and the crowd was way more attentive than I expected. I thought we would just be background music. I just can't keep my mouth shut.

[allenhopkins]

Keith Richards isn't dead. That's just how he looks.

Appearing tonight: the Rolling Stones live! And, Keith Richards...

[Chris Keth]

My band all has occasional spoof IDs based on the late Bo Diddley.

As sometime fiddle abuser I am Bo Fiddley. We also have:
Lead guitar - Bo Widdley
Sax - Blow Diddley
Drums - Bo Paradiddley
Banjo - Bo Hillbiddley

etc etc...

As for the traits of my stage persona... I'm the chubby mandolin/ukulele/fiddle player who avoids solos and announces to the audience that "the following song was written by Bill Monroe"... regardless of what the song is.

Bet you never knew that Big Mon wrote 'Fat Bottomed Girls', I'm the Urban Spaceman', 'You Shook Me All Night Long', 'Louie Louie', 'Sharp-Dressed Man' and 'When I'm Cleaning Windows'.

If your lead guitar player ever picks up an electric guitar, perhaps he'll become Bo Meedley-meedley-mEEEEEeE.

[Tim Bowen]

Over the mic', my partner sometimes refers to me as Hugh Mandola, and I sometimes refer to him as Chunky Schmenge if he's playing accordion. Other than that, we're Dave and Tim.

[Tim Bowen]

I forgot one. If I'm playing electric sitar, I'm announced as Bubba Shankar.

[journeybear]

First, you must understand that around here, "bubba" is a term of endearment, the equivalent of "buddy." Everyone is either "bubba" (to show camaraderie) or "captain" (to show respect, sometimes sarcastically). For a while there I was playing in an occasional trio - guitar, fiddle, and mandolin - that was really a duo called Twisted Sisters (the other two were old friends) plus me. One day Fearless Leader (guitar), having some fun, introduced the band members as Dee Licious (fiddler was indeed very attractive), Booty Licious (guitarist does weigh over 300), and looked at me and paused. I piped up that I was Bubba Licious - cracked us all up. :))

Usually, though, I'm the guy in the corner with the Jerry Garcia stage presence - just stand there and play, maybe sway a bit. :mandosmiley: I'd much rather do that - stay out of the way of the music and let the music speak for me - than jump around, making a big spectacle but lousy music. What I've seen of rock and pop performers in the post-MTV era I'm in the minority ;) but still believe it's the right way. It's about the music, right? Isn't it?

[allenhopkins]

It's about the music, right? Isn't it?

Nah, it's about the Benjamins. And I may see one someday...

[journeybear]

Ha! I have actually seen Benjamins in the tip jar - four times (memorable experences) - and once made $130 by not playing a song! :)) Long story ... :whistling:

[mandopete]

Funny thread.....

Me? I'm usually "the guy with the glasses who does all the talking and has a bluegrass radio show."

.....or more succinctly - mandopete.

[Mike Bromley]

Gotta find a BAND, firstly....maybe it's the dry curmudgeon persona....hmmmm...

[catmandu2]

Mike, I'll ask around to see if any bands are looking for a...dry curmudgeon. ;)

[Ted Eschliman]

All I can say is I frequently brag about the fact that I've had a flair for fashion and stage persona ever since I was 10 years old.

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs153.snc1/5700_113636849590_599874590_2145387_7294699_n.jpg

[journeybear]

That look is coming back ... any day now ... may have already arrived! :grin:

And the car is now a classic!

[catmandu2]

Never mind the car--classic threads: hand-me-downs; mother shrunk them in the drier...or else you were growing mighty fast. I had that same look :cool:.

[Laird]

sort of a "eh-yeh, you'awl" ... ?

Eh-yeh. (New England humor, folks, Bear with us.)

[Mike Snyder]

Dig your narrow tie, Ted. Clip on? That vintage faux fashion is getting hard to find.
I've been known to channel the spirit of Briscoe Darling on the rare occasions I'm onstage. Very worn bib overalls with an antique pin-striped, button-down dress shirt and a thrift store suit coat. I've got an "I Like Ike" tie I inherited from me 'ol Dad. Wide, Ted, real wide, and tied Windsor style. With a three day growth of grizzled whiskers and a Fedora that was worn out some time in the '70s, I could be his (fat) brother. Last Sept. I did some fill-in work for an outfit at Winfield. I couldn't handle the hot weather, so I wore shorts instead of the bibbers. Lost the effect totally.

[Tim Bowen]

First, you must understand that around here, "bubba" is a term of endearment, the equivalent of "buddy." Everyone is either "bubba" (to show camaraderie) or "captain" (to show respect, sometimes sarcastically). For a while there I was playing in an occasional trio - guitar, fiddle, and mandolin - that was really a duo called Twisted Sisters (the other two were old friends) plus me. One day Fearless Leader (guitar), having some fun, introduced the band members as Dee Licious (fiddler was indeed very attractive), Booty Licious (guitarist does weigh over 300), and looked at me and paused. I piped up that I was Bubba Licious - cracked us all up. :))


Bubba! We're from the same the same neck o' the woods, hence you're preachin' to the choir!

Bubba/brother/sister/pardner/partner/boss/cap'n/friend - all connote terms of endearment and easygoing friendship to me.

Your post reminds me of a band that I was in the 80's. When our lead vocalist became pregnant, we temporarily renamed ourselves Hot Mama and the Doctors of Love. Just before she was ready to pop, all the guys donned surgical masks (that was big fun with backing vocals...) and doctor's smocks for the gigs. The only problem was that, after the new pup was born, our newfound schtick was gone...

[journeybear]

Hey bubba

I figured I'd better preface that as I did because I've heard "bubba" used pejoratively (perhaps by folks from other parts of the country), like "hick" or "yokel" or "rube." Amongst area residents, it's pretty synonymous with "buddy," "pal," "chum," etc., etc.

Too bad you lost your schtick. Maybe you should talk to your singer about this, or her husband ... :))

[Boge Quinn]

I'm the old fat guy.

I'm also the "bandleader", but not the "front man". Meaning I do most of the arrangements, scheduling & leading rehearsals, booking gigs, etc., but I don't talk that much on-stage.