Making eye contact while singing in front of a close audience

August 15, 2013 4:51 PM

I sing with a small group of vocalists and instrumentalists on a monthly basis. Often it's in a bar/restaurant or other situations where the audience is very close to me (sometimes sitting right in front of me.) Sometimes I sing solos, and I can't figure out where to direct my gaze when I do because of the closeness. Should I make eye contact with the audience, even when they're right in front of me? Should I move my head back and forth and survey the entire crowd? What should I be doing as a performer? Thanks very much for any help you can give me.
posted by Jenesta to Human Relations (10 answers total)

Up to you. In community theatre they told us never to make eye contact; you address the space slightly above their heads. I would move my head & body to survey the crowd.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 5:39 PM on August 15, 2013

Just pick one person who looks like they are "getting it" and sing to them. Don't STARE at them but make some eye contact.
posted by hiddenknives at 6:17 PM on August 15, 2013

Look at a spot about one car length behind them or two heads above them.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 6:24 PM on August 15, 2013

I'm not sure if singing is like public speaking. The audience connection may be the same. What I was taught and it seems to work well is three section eye contact, though you don't necessarily have to look anyone directly in the eye. You just look at the top of their heads. You move from from one side to the other, right, middle, left and linger a bit in each area. Then you mix it up so you don't seem like you're acting like a robot and can move back to front.

What ends up happening is people think you're speaking to and engaging them without you directly engaging anyone in particular unless you want to. For instance if you catch someone smile you can offer a quick but more direct smile or nod back before more on.

If you watch good singers and good speakers you will see them move their gaze around the audience and make what seem like brief direct connections with single people.

When I started doing this I got way better comments after my talks. It also made speaking easier because I felt like I had something else to do besides just speaking which helped with nerves. It also helped to gauge overall audience reaction and engagement which I felt made me speak better. I felt more connected with my audience which made the experience more enjoyable.
posted by Jalliah at 6:54 PM on August 15, 2013

I always look at the middle of the foreheads/top of the heads if I have to look at people in an audience.
posted by bibliogrrl at 7:53 PM on August 15, 2013

It's great that you're able to get so much regular practice! I tend to pick two or maybe three people, look at one for a while, and if it starts to feel appropriate to move on, switch to the next. It can vary with the song - is it flirty, sentimental, introspective, etc? Is the narrative voice of the song addressing just one person or a group? I also tend to look at hair instead of right in the peepers unless the song calls for some kind of special moment, like trying to get a laugh.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:23 PM on August 15, 2013

Part of it is your own comfort level with making that kind of eye contact at close range. But as far as what you 'should' do, it's perfectly fine for musicians to make eye contact with the audience if they are inclined to do so; it's not like conventional 'realist' theater where, ostensibly, the characters are not supposed to be aware of any audience. It can enhance the connection you make with your performance to members of the audience, provided you are comfortable enough with it that it does not detract from your performance -- if it just makes you nervous and prevents you from giving your best, then you don't have to hold any individual's gaze for more than a passing glance. It can be rewarding for both the performer and the audience if you can look individuals in the eye as you sing and/or play an instrument. But, yeah, by all means, try to include the whole audience, not just a few individuals.
posted by fikri at 8:29 PM on August 15, 2013

This is a great question. I've played some intimate venues and I basically close my eyes and concentrate on the intensity of the singing. That works for me.

I have a couple of friends who do the opposite, the whole eye contact thing, and in a really intimate venue it FREAKS PEOPLE THE FUCK OUT. My wife and I went to see a good friend of mine doing a showcase in a venue where we were about four feet from him, and my wife was really disturbed by the way he kept looking at us.

The problem is that in a small venue you can tell EXACTLY who the performer is looking at, whereas in a bigger venue you don't feel singled out. (Well, there was that one time Natalie Merchant stared at me through the whole gig, but I digress).

These kind of venues are hard and you have to figure out what works for you. I find that it's great to build a rapport with the audience BETWEEN songs, but once you're into the performance, it needs to be about the song. The exception would be anything with audience participation, or a comic element.
posted by unSane at 9:47 PM on August 15, 2013

As St. Peep said, up to you. I'd say back of the room and up. I imagine it depends on the song and venue though. (I'm a violinist not a singer so you can take that for what it's worth.)

If it helps, try to see if you can find other people who do what you do and see if it looks natural, and if it does, do exactly that.
posted by Busoni at 12:47 AM on August 16, 2013

Sweep your gaze across the room, and instead of making direct eye contact, look at a person's eyebrows.
posted by evoque at 6:31 AM on August 16, 2013