Do Ya Jump or Run?

Man I was just wondering. . .

When I am playing I can't help but to get all into the Worship and I jump, I take a few loooong steps, I have ran across the stage, ran up and down the stage stairs, I have done circles. . . I yell and laugh a lot. . . (I am not doing the stupid pose playing like big hair bands did and all that junk, I just can't stand still....

I was just wondering do you guys put any body english into playing? haha

i dont have enough space to really move around out our youth services where i play. but i dont stand like a statue either

No wireless, as much as the 10ft cord will allow me.

Same here. I'm on an 18 ft cord and I can't go too far before I'm yanked back. I usually don't move that much. I'm concentrating too hard on trying to keep up with the music. I have had a few times where I relaxed enough to sway to the music while playing.

I play for the youth bands at my church. Whenever we play for jr. highers, there's hand motions. Whenever they're supposed to turn around or jump or something I do it. I also sing along. They're jr. highers. For some of them it takes A LOT to get them to do the hand motions or sing along. That's where we come in.

I've played in bar bands since I was 15, I am now 46 and have been out of that scene for awhile. But, I have the music groove in me, so I move around. But, I do it in place and to the beat or feel of the music. It's really a blessing and an honor to play for my Lord and Saviour. So when the "older folks" in our congregation come up to me and tell me they enjoy my playing and can tell I love to play for the Lord. I know that what I'm doing is all right.

I almost forgot to mention the fact that I do alot of singing as well, so I can't be too far away from my spot. You got to go where the Spirit leads you!!

I do jump, a bit of walking... but mostly I *bounce* to the beat of the music...

I dont know if it's just me, but I play better when I play praise and worship songs... I hit all the right notes and my playing has more emotion or feel to it...

when I practice blues and other stuff... I feel like I'm starting to play the guitar again and my chops are ugly...

Bass players are not supposed to move around. They should stand or sit back by their amp, that's it. And oh by the way, playing bass with a pick is a sin.

Bass players are not supposed to move around. They should stand or sit back by their amp, that's it. And oh by the way, playing bass with a pick is a sin.

Bass players can't have amps. Or DI boxes. They're not supposed to be heard, remember?

And, when there are no hand motions, I kinda sway my hips forward and back to the beat of the music. Almost like I'm humping (?) the guitar, except not at all... ;)

Well cool deal guys... I mostly bounce too ha ha, and ppl say they enjoy seeing me worship... I just can't help it. Honestly... seriously.... in my book... Praise is Action!

I think the Charismatics and Dutch Reforms are going to weigh in differently on this....

Yes I move around. Stomp my foot, engage with the drummer, even jump occasionaly. But I try to keep it at a fairly low level.

My philosophy is, the LAST thing I want is for anyone in the congregation to be looking at me. BUT, I'm on stage and at least a few people will end up doing just that. So when they do, I want them to see someone having fun and worshiping God.

Dance a bit, jump a bit, sometimes stop playing and lift my hands.

I dance a little bit. I always end up stuck in the middle of the praise band next to the guitarist monitor so that I can hear myself (only electric player in the group including bassist) and thus have no room to even think to myself:P I still have a ton of fun bouncing and praising the Lord with my tele though:D

Our guitar player in our Church's worship band jumps, when he gets to groovin'. I like to see some activity and feelings, and I think it is infectious, which I think is good.

I get a little animated, but I don't think I jump, and I know I don't run.

Man I was just wondering. . .

When I am playing I can't help but to get all into the Worship and I jump, I take a few loooong steps, I have ran across the stage, ran up and down the stage stairs, I have done circles. . . I yell and laugh a lot. . . (I am not doing the stupid pose playing like big hair bands did and all that junk, I just can't stand still....

I was just wondering do you guys put any body english into playing? haha


That sounds like waaay more than "body english"... :wink:

The other guys are right, it's what is permissible in your church. And more importantly, it's about NOT being a distraction... your "experience" shouldn't override everyone else's. Plus, if I jumped, I'd bust through our stage... I KNOW that would be a distraction! :mrgreen:

So all of the uptight guys in the "Let's keep this section open!" thread don't get their manties in a bunch.... it goes for secular music, too. If one person keeps taking the focus off of the band (or the frontman), it can cause problems. A good example of this is Joe Bonamassa's "A New Day Yesterday - Live" DVD... his bass player is constantly "mugging" for the audience, even during Joe's solos. It's really distracting, and irritating. Oddly enough, he's no longer Joe B's bass player. :smile:

My brother jumps ten feet in the air playing his bass. When I play my Tele or acoustic or mandolin or whatever I'm too deeply focused on my instrument to move. I never even tap my foot lol. I feel like jumping and running sometimes, but I try to focus that energy back into the instrument. I can't do allot but I am a perfectionist at what I can do. I feel the same spiritual release some get by running when I'm in extremely deep focus, it's just me, the instrument and God, and I'm playing perfectly for Him. No greater satisfaction for me as a musician. Everyone has a different way to release that praise, that's mine! You jumpers & runners help get that praise atmosphere going where the Spirit starts to move and I start digging in! Haha.

Nub that is hilarious, falling through the stage....

This has been a cool thread, you also talked about ppl trying to STEAL the lime light, Oh man you can see the attention wanters all the time. Some Good points.

I guess one of the most crazy things I ever saw during a song (not our chruch) was the electric rhythm guy walked over to the drum cage, stepped up on the perch "about thigh high" And did a BACK FLIP with his guitar...

Also since this thread started they have MOVED ME :sad: I am now in the corner behind the Pastor's Chairs. . . Which is NOT been good, I have almost swacked him a few times with my guitar head....

Funny thing is, several ppl have commented on not liking me back there in the corner, but I really don't bother me so much as being "Seen" I just need some Room to Roam!

I guess I kinda bounce. As the lead singer too, I step up to the mic during vocals and step back when I'm not singing. It helps as a visual cue to the congregation who are always invited to sing along. We don't have a big screen to powerpoint the lyrics on, but they are printed in the bulletin. But yeah I kinda swing with the tempo. Obviously, some slower more somber music, lends itself less to bouncing...