In this article I’m going to talk about “owning the stage”, and it means exactly what it implies: the great singer is also a great performer, and the stage is her personal playground. As long as you perform in it Unless you have a group of pretty dancers around you, it’s just you, your voice, your body, and the stage.

So how do you “own” that scenario?

Well, first of all, you have to decide where your stage is. His stage changes for different songs. For example, if you are singing a slow sad ballad, you may want to make your stage an area that does not exceed what you need to stand in front of the microphone. Or maybe you want to take the mic out of the stand and move around a bit … let’s say a 5 square foot area.

This sounds easy, but it is actually the most difficult of the “stages” to work with. It is much easier to move around a larger area than it is to be confined to a small space. Facial expressions and small gestures become an integral part of the performance. Staying connected to a microphone throughout a song, keeping the audience’s interest and attention, is very difficult. This takes practice.

If you plan to deliver some songs this way, it would be smart to videotape yourself at home so you can critique and find ways to get the song across without much area movement. Get family and friends to help you with your criticism.

Don’t fool yourself into believing that just standing in front of the microphone and using your great singing skills will capture them and turn them into believers. The smaller your “stage”, the more you will have to search within yourself for powerful but subtle feelings to communicate. Look at the professionals. Learn their movements on stage.

Obviously, your alternate “stage” is the full stage. The entire area available to you while you perform. Using this larger area makes it easier to look like an experienced player, but it has its own set of potential problems.

• Divide the space into 5 separate areas: center stage, bottom right (down towards the audience, but to your right), bottom left and bottom center. Use all of these areas by moving through them during various parts of the song. When you move to a new area, stay there for a while. Don’t leave too soon. Let the verses, bridge, and chorus move you to different areas.

• Down-center is the loudest space on stage, and should be considered for your biggest choruses and powerful finishes.

• Center stage is the neutral zone and can be used for any part of the song. You just don’t anchor there for long.

• Lower right is also very strong. Move there from your starting place and you won’t go wrong.

• Don’t forget the bottom left. Those people over there will really enjoy you getting close to them.

I recommend that you practice your songs, deciding in advance where and when you are going to move. Seasoned artists have been doing this for so long that it becomes natural, but the best ones still have a game plan before they hit the stage.

You can also use any of the five areas for a “stand in front of the mic without moving” space.

Lastly, don’t shuffle once you’ve claimed your space. Plant your feet and only move them because you decide to … not because you don’t realize you’re doing it.

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