Your focus while playing live

[Willy D]

Originally Posted by HHP

Incoming thrown objects.

Like this:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdR6MN2jKYs

[slewis]

Originally Posted by Elmicko

^^^^Best response yet!!! I look around the room and find a few attentive folks to focus on. I find if I do that and start talking to them then others will join in and my circle in the room starts to grow. Basically I'm winning over the room a few tables at a time.

I think that sums my approach up very well too. And yes, some quick, fun verbal banter with whomever you can helps a lot too. You really can "build" your connection with an audience and it pays off.

[MikeBmusic]

Yes, look around and see who's actually watching/listening to you. If no one is, then scratch that song of your next playlist! Also, if no one is, keep your next between-song chatter real short, because they wont' be apying attention to that but may be thinking 'when is he going to stop talking and start playing?'

[lodi_55]

My stuff is somewhat intricate, so I don't have the ability to continuously engage my audience. But I pull my head out of the sand from time to time!

Originally Posted by Haasome

I'm curious what other players visually focus on during a performance. Do you focus on anything specific like individuals in the audience or physical features of the venue? Or do you simply Get lost is the music or other parts of the auditory experience? if you're shy -- on your instrument or band mates?

All the answers so far are spot-on. Wade said:

Originally Posted by The Wade-ster

For me it really depends on where I'm playing and whether I'm playing solo or with a group.

. . . and that sums it up for me, too.

• "Festivals", Coffee shops or Clubs? Mucho eye contact, engage the audience, talk, sell food and drinks (the musician's ability to sell sell sell increases the club's sales and gets the musician invited back lol)
• Church? No eye contact, but visibly concentrate and listen to whoever is singing or speaking without distracting away from them. I use a wireless so if a singer is doing a solo I will stroll over right next to him/her and "be their minstrel" so to speak.
• Restaurant? Oftentimes I'm pegged to play fingerstyle sets (no vocals) at local eateries. I simply sit and play, make no eye contact, and act like a Muzak.

[Misifus]

I usually focus on the auditory feedback I'm getting of my own music. That is, I listen to the song. This can be problematic when I get so caught up in the music that I forget it's up to me to make the music happen. (Golly, this is great, I wonder what comes next? Forgetting what comes next is my job.)

[BrunoBlack]

These comments are very interesting and helpful. Thank you.

[BBWW]

I try to say in "joy". If I'm having fun and staying relaxed it is easy to personalize the show to the crowd or the empty chairs. If I can convey my joy of being able to do what I do, it just seems to work.

It turns out I can be funny off the cuff...that helps. I consider myself a better performer than player and rely foolishly on my writing to cover up the fact that I am just an adequate player.

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Too much going through my mind to focus on anything...
...They love me!
...They hate me!
...Do I go to G or Em?
...Do I have the right harp?
...Does my guitar sound good?
...My, she's pretty...
...Wait, what's the next line?
...and on, and on, and on...

[rmyAddison]

Between songs I joke around and make nice with the audience/patrons.

During a song I do my best to really dive inside the lyrics and become a storyteller, otherwise "to me" doing a song you've done a hundred times becomes too mechanical. Going into "storyteller mode" keeps it fresh for me........

[jpbat]

It depends on the places.
I play instrumental only, my own music, with a fair bit of improv, so, in coffee shop, or private & corporate events (which are the type of gigs I do), I tend to be inside myself, and play more lounge type numbers.
In the street, I make eye contact a lot, and play more up-tempo/fun numbers.

I don't follow any set-list, so I'm not in auto-pilot mode, nor do I find myself in the "what-is-the-next-line" situation.
I follow the crowd reaction, and play accordingly.
Very often I play background music, but the crowd has reactions nevertheless.

[6L6]

I focus on the audience. Eye contact a must!

[Acoustic Beatle]

Hi guys! Well most live scenarios that Ive played in I have tended to be the rhythm guitarist so concentrating on the chord changes and finger positioning ,to a degree, is where I,m at . I,m not a show man just a dependable side man .The last play out I mainly played finger style , even more reason to neck gaze as I was the only instrumentalist accompanying my daughters vocals . Come to think of it we might be playing a repeat of that charity performance this coming October.

[jaybones]

All depends.

In a band when I was the bass player, I was able to let the music take control so my mind would wander. Had some of the most insightful thoughts in the middle of songs, until it was time for me to play a little more in front of the music (can't really call it a solo- no slapping and popping or anything).

Same with rhythm guitar.

Singing I think about the begging words of the next verse. If I can start the verse right, the rest of the words will follow.

When I play a solo, I sort of blank out and let my fingers play what they want. I surprise myself at times, I'll play a lick and go "Whoa, where did that come from? I didn't know I was that good!"

And of course I'm also connecting with the members of the audience. I look first for the ladies that are into it, or might be. And also that drunk guy in the back holding up the wall. If he gets into it I feel like I'm doing a public service, keeping him from getting sick and/or passing out.

And of course I'm always looking for the next Lay Down Sally...

[AZLiberty]

Mostly I focus on not screwing up to badly,

It's also important to focus on not letting is show when you do screw up, usually the audience won't actually notice if it's minor.