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5 Simple Tips to Level Up Your Stage Presence

5 Simple Tips to Level Up Your Stage Presence
5 Simple Tips to Level Up Your Stage Presence

Whether you’re a first-time performer or a practiced creative looking to perfect your craft, stage presence is essential.

Stage presence is how you ensure your performance is unforgettable, but it can be hard to master. In this blog, we will look at ‘What is stage presence?’ and ‘How to improve stage presence?’, giving you practical tips that will transform your next performance.

What Is Stage Presence?

Stage presence is easier to feel and experience than explain.

If you’ve ever seen a performance and you felt unable to take your eyes off a certain actor or dancer, that’s stage presence.

It’s a combination of energy, charm, charisma and skill. It’s the way someone conducts themselves during a performance. And it’s something every performer aspires to have.

How to Improve Stage Presence

There are numerous ways to improve stage presence, depending on your specific discipline, your performance style, and your existing skills. But, to give you some broad, practical tips, here are 5 ways you can level up your stage presence…

Actively Connect With Your Audience

Stage performances are unlike TV or film performances, there’s an audience there waiting for you to connect with them. Often that’s through eye contact, but even if you can’t see your audience you should still project a sense of engagement toward the crowd.

Command the Stage

The stage is there to be used, so don’t confine yourself to one area. Use the full space to command the room and tell your story. Always make sure your movements are bold and intentional, whether you are acting, dancing or singing. The stage is an extension of your performance so make the most of it!

Body Language 

Stage presence has a subconscious element, it’s not just about movement and words, it’s also about the way the audience reads you. The non-verbal communication elements are just as important, as these create the overall picture of you as a performer. Be aware of body language signals like posture, tone, volume and eye movement. These build a character and add to your stage presence.

Control Your Breath

Breath control is an essential part of any performance, especially for vocal performances. Practising deep and controlled breathing can help you manage nerves, project your voice and maintain an even tone and volume in your speech. Breathwork can also make a difference in how confident and comfortable you feel on the stage, which will add to your presence.

Seek feedback and Improve Self Awareness

Feedback on changes you’re making is important. You can get a sense of what is working and what isn’t. Be specific about what it is you’re asking from people you trust – not simply, “did I look good”. Consider who you’re asking, it is useful criticism you’re after here. You also need to develop an internal sense of how you feel different, how present you are with yourself and with your scene partners, and with the audience. Where is your attention? Where is your focus? How ‘grounded’ do you feel? How do these things change when you try different things?

Master Your Stage Presence

For practical help and tailored advice, we offer a range of industry-leading courses, including BA Hons Acting courses and tailored audition prep courses, helping you level up your stage presence.

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