From: kateh_1@charter.net   
      
   "Sean S" wrote   
   > "kateh"  laid this on me:   
   >> Our kids really love playing music *and* they honestly enjoy playing for   
   >> people........not a shy one in the bunch, but they just get   
   >> ........so-darned-serious-looking on stage.  Any ideas on how to lighten   
   >> them up?!   
   >>   
   >    Yes.   
   >    Let them be themselves. If that's serious, than it's serious, but   
   > forcing 'stage presence' can be worse than just going with what you got.   
   > You   
   > may be able to step them into short song intros and such, which can help,   
   > but beyond that, let them act naturally, that is the most valuable 'stage   
   > presence' you can have. As they play more, they will develop, and perhaps   
   > they will start to step up into those roles, but let them do it naturally.   
   > Or, hire a frontman for the band. In bluegrass, that isn't the same   
   > priority it is as for say a pop band, but hiring a good singer who can   
   > strum   
   > some guitar and front the can be very helpful if "stage presence" is an   
   > issue.   
      
   You know, the "let them be themselves" path......really appeals to me.   
      
   One of the parents (there are four families involved and 7 kids on stage)   
   suggested a "front man".......and wants to get an adult (guitar teacher) up   
   on stage with the kids.  I really balked at the idea.  Partly because it's   
   wild enough with the seven of them up there, sometimes trying to get in   
   front of one mic, and partly because I don't want anyone thinking the kids   
   need an adult up there.   
      
   One of the things that folks marvel at, when the kids play (besides the fact   
   than they really *can* play), is that they're up there all-alone .....with   
   nobody telling them what to do.    :)   
      
   Am I being silly?   
      
   >    Lastly, don't take any advice you read on the internet too seriously -   
   > mine included.   
   >    Good luck to you and the kids.   
      
   LOL....never.   
   And thanks!   
   KateH   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)