The Case for a Movement Coach

So you want to be an artist. You want to perform on stages across the world singing your hearts out to fans sitting so high in the nosebleeds that they only register as a blurry speck in the distance. You want the road to be your hometown and the microphone to provide a nightly reprieve from the chaos of travel. Well, I think you can do it.

To achieve stardom, you need the songs and the voice and the team and the social media following and the lawyers and the this and the that and the je ne said quois. One oft overlooked skillset - especially in a day and age where we’re constantly performing to a camera - is stage movement. Our most captivating performers know how to work their parties and have created iconic and coherent visual language. 

Think about the way that Beyonce uses her head and neck to communicate on stage. Michael Jackson’s signature moonwalk should come to mind. Elton John sticking his leg up on his piano as he’s performing. Meghan THEE Stallion twerking up and down and down and up. Great stars each have their own unique way of approaching and owning the stage.

Some - but not most - artists are in tune with their bodies and how they move. With hours of stage practice under the belt, they develop their own movement vocabulary. For those of us who are not so lucky, hiring a movement coach can do wonders. They can help you decide what to do with your arms, when to sit and stand and clap, what choreography to implement, and when to simply stand still. For those of us who have trouble getting into our bodies, a movement coach can help us get out of our heads!

If you’re seeking to become a competent stage performer hiring a movement coach in advance of your shows can greatly elevate the quality of your set. Consider adding this team member into your mix!