Showmanship video / book?

I'm actually the drummer for our band and I recently got a video (produced by Carmine Appice). On the video, drummer Kato Perigine does an AWESOME job of showing how the drummer can be a better PERFORMER as part of a live show (stick twirls, other visual goodies, etc.). Talk about GOLD in a 55-min package. Wow! I've been using some of what I learned from that video in our shows, and I can tell you it makes a helluva difference. The audience has never been into my drumming as much, and technique-wise I haven't changed a thing. But now I know how to do the "SHOW" part of "show" business (which is what music performances are anyway).

So what am I doing here in a GUITAR form?

Our guitarist is DEAD on stage. He's truly an excellent player -- sometimes I am in awe at what he can do -- but he just stands there the whole show like a deer in headlights. We can't seem to get him to move around. The ONE TIME he did -- we were on a large stage and he felt comfortable enough to emulate what he'd seen on an AC/DC video -- the reaction from the audience was overwhelming. So we told him to do more of THAT, even on small stages, but it just doesn't go through.

Anyway, this drum video is pretty new and there hasn't been anything like it before. So maybe there's a guitarist equivalent coming out soon too. OR....

Is there anything out there already? I'd like to buy it for him as a gift and see what happens.

I have a feeling it's not so much that he wouldn't get more into it up there -- he broke out on that large stage after all -- but just that he has no idea WHAT can be done on a small stage. You know, playing guitar over your head, doing the whole Nigel Tufnel thing, etc. Maybe it would only work if he hears it from another guitar player on a video.

I can understand -- I had no idea how lame my performance was until I got the drum video, then suddenly it clicked and I realized how much more I could do to make it interesting. So I'm thinking it's exactly the same here.

If anyone has any good video (or book) suggestions, let me know. Thanks!

On small stages, I'd just keep on headbanging, and move around as far as I can... also I'd move the guitar when I play bends like Slash... and to impress the audience, playing with the guitar over your head during an easy solo is quite cool, I always get big reaction when I do so.

Yeah, I totally agree! But we've suggested that stuff to him and he nods and says yeah but then forgets during the shows.

So that's why I was hoping a video would be out there... kinda like a "hand-holding" from an expert player telling him: "It's real easy to play guitar over your head during simple solos. Here's something to try..." or "When you're doing a bend on a note, remember that the whole guitar is an extension of that act. Use the mass of the guitar to your advantage, pushing it away and pulling it back. You'll find it not only makes the bend a lot easier and powerful, it also gets the audience really excited."

That kind of stuff.

Well, I can't think of particular videos... tell your guitarist to watch more videos for everybody he admire... I'd suggest some Slash videos, his performance is realy cool, I like imitate his style a lot .

May be your guitarist is a little bit shy... anyway, tell him to do those stuff while jamming lots of times before you get onstage first... also invite some friends that he doesn't know into your jam sessions to make him in a live atmosphere... hope this helps.

Great ideas. You're definitely right about the shy part. I'll pick up one of the Slash videos for him.