Persona to People
Own a big onstage persona, but be gracious offstage. Confidence sells the show; humility protects your brand, your fans, and your next booking.
'‘Your behaviours may make you prominent, but that’s a far cry from being significant’ - Dr. Alan Zimmerman
Having a strong stage presence is half your live show. Many artists create a persona that’s louder, brighter, and braver than their everyday self - and it works onstage. Offstage, the same “larger-than-life” energy can read as arrogance and undo the goodwill you just earned.
Your audience - especially fans - will see you as special. That comes with responsibility. You don’t owe endless access, but you do owe basic respect. If you’re confident enough to take the stage, learn to be comfortable with the attention that follows you to the bar, the merch table, and the car park.
Remember: you were in the audience once. Treat people how you wanted to be treated. A little humility keeps you grounded; a little arrogance can turn into a reputational wildfire - especially online.
Personal story: meeting a hero who treats you like nothing can kill your love for their band in a heartbeat. People unfollow, skip gigs, stop buying merch - and tell their friends. If a key industry person is on the receiving end, the cost is even higher.
Solution: let the ego out of its cage for the show, then lock it back up for the chats. Confidence, not contempt.
Do confidence. Skip contempt.
Onstage: exaggerate presence. Hit your marks. Tell the story.
Offstage: two minutes of eye contact + thanks > ten minutes of bragging.
Boundaries: it’s okay to time-box photos/chats. Be clear, be kind: “Let me pack down - happy to grab a pic in five.”
Crew & venue: kindness travels. Techs, bar, door - your reputation runs through them.
Social: thank publicly, complain privately. Don’t subtweet venues or fans.
When challenged: de-escalate. Listen, thank them for the feedback, offer a path (“Catch me after the set?”).
Where persona ends and person begins
Design the through-line, the qualities that stay in both places (e.g., joy, humour, respect). Let the volume and swagger belong to the stage. Offstage, be the same human who writes the songs.
Remember…
Don’t act like you know it all, no one starts at the top.
Don’t pretend success is effortless, you worked for it, others are working too.
You’re not better than other musicians, fix your faults first.
You’re responsible for what you do and don’t do - mentoring others often grows you fastest.
Persona to People: define where your stage character stops and your offstage self begins. Set one simple post-show habit: two names learned, one thank-you said.
If you’d like my one-page Stage Persona & Presence Planner, Offstage Engagement Guidelines, and Ego Check card, just say the word and I’ll send them over.
This series, the content and any observations or suggestions made are based on my personal experience, anonymised to protect privacy. Nothing here is financial, legal, or medical advice - please seek professional guidance for your own situation.