Be confident and stand tall
A great way to build rapport with the audience is to stand tall and be confident. When you don’t have confidence, even if you play correctly, if you’re an introvert, that might show up and people might not be as interested in your performance. There are some exceptions, such as if you are a great guitarist or singer like Guns and Roses or Gary Marie are Slash. You should make sure you show a sense of confidence on stage when people see you.
Attitude Onstage
Keep a general musician attitude, but don’t be a douche. Musicians are supposed to have attitude, but at the same time they are supposed to be humble and down-to-earth. It’s great to have an attitude on stage, but don’t forget that there is a thin line between being rude and having an attitude on stage. Be courteous and humble enough to thank others who help you. If someone is not working properly with you or not working according to you, insist on requesting them to work properly with you. Do not engage in any rude arguments, unless you’re Motley Crue.
Announce what’s in store for the evening!
Announcing that your audience is going to have a good time is a great way to build rapport with them right from the beginning. Hopefully if you are prepared well, you’ll also be able to listen to some George Michaels or maybe even some covers of your favorite songs, just like if you were an indie singer. Your audience must be involved from the very beginning, no matter what you do. Make sure you connect with the audience at some level when you begin the stage show. It will help you break the ice with the audience so they can respond more to you afterwards.
Thank the audience for joining in with you
Thanking your audience for joining you on the evening or night is a great way to establish rapport with them. In the case that the audience understands your music, great, a little thank you will go a long way to make them feel at home and comfortable with you so they can better connect with you and have a sense of likelihood for everyone in front of them.
Be courteous and Humble
It might seem like an extra extension of the first point, but being courteous can often mean making sure that your gestures are exactly how they should be. It might be necessary for you to show a little bit more of an attitude that goes with your persona unless you’re an rock and grant singer. Be courteous, be down to earth, and that’s the best way to approach this.
Give credit to the people who support your gig!
Helpers and sound guys deserve credit. Many musicians tend to ignore this. It’s the sound guides and the people at the back of the stage who are editing your sound on, maybe equalizing what you’re making in the mixer, who should be credited for making the evening enjoyable. It is important to give credit to the sound guys who are with you as well. They might often be supplies since not many artists do, but I promise you this is true.
Can add punchlines before a song and don’t be boring about it
There might be times when you find it boring to just announce the name of the song and play it right away. You might surprise them by mentioning something interesting about the song instead of letting them know every song. A good example would be, During the recent Ukrainian War, the next song was played at the Ukrainian and brought both sides of the nation together and joined forces; this song was called knocking on heaven’s doors.
Announce your social media handles, but do not over-do it
You have decorated your work beautifully on your social media handles. You would also want people to check out your social media even on the coast after the show, and if they are loyal to you and like what you are listening to live, they might become a follower who sticks around. If you work with those people, great. You can help them make your social media handles look like your social media, but don’t overdo it. Pro Tip: Best yet, use QR Codes!