How much do you react/emote/groove to your OWN playing ? (Online gear demonstrators loving themselves …)

[Kandinskyesque]

I don't pull faces much when I'm not singing but my singing face is about as still as Jim Carey on acid.

I definitely 'chicken/pigeon neck' when I play funk and my hips go a bit Hula-Girl when I'm lost in the moment.

 

[Peegoo]

I always get a chuckle over the way some guitarists, when doing a slow strum, employ a sort of 'flourish' move with the hand. Like it pulls something a little extra out of the guitar. It's a Liberace move.

Example:

 

[StoneH]

I was gonna say the same about the boots!

What’s he have shoved in there with a cord attached? Or am I just looking at it funny?

I like the bass player looking at the singer, looks like he’s getting amusement out of the front man antics

I think he tied a bandana around the top of one boot. I see one tied to my old Martin 000-18, and he tied them to his mic stand too.

 

[buster poser]

I sometimes lose myself, and sorta sway a lot generally, usually have a toe tapping. When I played piano, my teacher told me I often stopped breathing. I’ve since become aware I do it with guitar too. Holdover from a few years on saxophone as a kid maybe, choir?

Anyway, it’s anything but demonstrative, sort of autonomic, and if I was trying to look cool I’d choose different tics. I’d hope that most people are like me and in the moment but otherwise a bit out of it, without much body/face awareness, if not oblivious to how others are perceiving us. Getting 'there' is sort of the point for me.

But I’m not sure that’s always the case and a lot of dudes (and a couple of notable lady players) really overdo it. Affected guitar-hero face has put me off many players on its own. Luckily I have the kinds of friends who would troll me mercilessly if I did anything like that.

 

[Dave Hicks]

C'mon, now... you're missing the Queen!

 

[57joonya]

I'm prolly in here somewhere.
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I was gonna say there’s a tie for first place between Richie Sambora, how Walsh , jimmy page and Keith Richards- but then I saw bb king….. he deserves some kind award for tvag

 

[brookdalebill]

I move, I always have, especially when I play bass, at gigs.
I don’t move as much when I play guitar.
Luckily, everyone I play with these days is great, and easy to groove with.

 

[StoneH]

C'mon, now... you're missing the Queen!

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No disrespect intended. The pic immediately made me think of Mr Bill on SNL in the '70s.

 

[Lynxtrap]

I move, make faces, even sounds now and then. The amount depends on how emotionally involved I get in the playing or how much I'm "in the zone" or whatever you want to call it. Can't help it.
I also tend to hold my breath a lot, can't help that either but it doesn't show so I guess that doesn't offend anyone?

 

[Dave Hicks]

I move, make faces, even sounds now and then. The amount depends on how emotionally involved I get in the playing or how much I'm "in the zone" or whatever you want to call it. Can't help it.
I also tend to hold my breath a lot, can't help that either but it doesn't show so I guess that doesn't offend anyone?

I hold my breath when I'm recording acoustic instruments, then give a nice loud whee-e-e-z-z-e at the next quiet part.

D.H.

 

[Controller]

Oddly enough, if I let the music move me too much on stage I tend to forget what I'm doing. At home sometimes I really get into it, no idea what I look like then.

 

[tigertail]

I went through a drooling phase when I was a teenager. Dunno what that was about. Concentrating too hard? Lost control over bodily functions?

 

[985plowboy]

I’m ok with my playing.
Hearing recordings of my singing makes me want to work harder.
The way I look in my bands videos make me sad. I’m older, chubbier, shorter and my hairline has receded more than my self image

 

[mad dog]

I've been known to make some faces while playing. Not appealing (looking like a scorched rat) and not generally connected to any deep self appreciation. The one exception for me is playing certain things in open E, loud, with and without slide, on my favorite tele (for slide that is). There's some kind of propulsive low end thing I sometimes fall. It's compelling; I cannot help but be very pleased I can make those sounds.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

Honestly, I'm a compulsive 'head-bobber' when it comes to playing fun R&R, funky, or blues grooves.

I get into the rhythm of the song, and my head doesn't stop- like a spastic metronome!
I play sitting down ( back pain), so I think this is how I dance-someting has to move!

( I know it is goofy, but don't care)

 

[Oxidao]

I went through a drooling phase when I was a teenager. Dunno what that was about. Concentrating too hard? Lost control over bodily functions?

One more here.
Still find myself sometimes on a ridiculous dropped jaw gesture.

 

[bottlenecker]

they’re just reacting to a trope that they’ve seen countless times and attempting it/perpetuating it themselves.

This. Plenty of this going on in every corner of the internet, especially on the socials. But here too. When it's obvious, it's powerful cringe to me.


When I play I look like a stone faced killer. I look like Cesar Rosas fell asleep on his feet. At least I think I do. No one take any pictures.

 

[Maguchi]

Not too much facially I don't think. But more my body in time to rhythm or my playing. None of it is pre-planned, just try to feel the music and putting some "english" into it to put as much feeling as I can into my playing.

Might stand straight and go down to a crouch on big chord strums. Maybe crouch a little to emphasize timing on subtle or syncopated parts. Or slouch a little and straighten as I go from quiet to more intense or faster parts.

No duckwalks or jumping or any a that though. That's been done, and thank you original guys who did those.

 

[Dukex]

Honestly, I'm a compulsive 'head-bobber' when it comes to playing fun R&R, funky, or blues grooves.

I get into the rhythm of the song, and my head doesn't stop- like a spastic metronome!
I play sitting down ( back pain), so I think this is how I dance-someting has to move!

( I know it is goofy, but don't care)

I was going to say something similar, but I like the way you put it.

 

[mystichands]

I try to make a conscious effort not to to look mad or frowny when I’m playing. Why? I’ve seen videos and still photos of me in various bands and settings and I always look really pissed off or otherwise in a bad mood. And it wasn’t how I was feeling, but rather, concentrating on what I was playing. Or maybe being irritated with my band mates. No matter. But now I try to look less grumpy.