Why Commanding the Stage Matters + How to Do It

It was Aaron’s 10th voice lesson with me. He had promising talent, and such a heart for singing. But he struggled with consistency. One day, he’d have great pitch. Come next lesson, he wouldn’t. “How can that be?,” I asked myself. Musically, it just doesn’t make sense.

That’s when I realized it had more to do with Aaron’s mindset than with Aaron’s talent. When his confidence and trust in himself wavered, so did his results.

“Aaron, it’s time you start taking up space when you sing.” That’s what I heard myself say. “You’re hesitating. You’re singing apologetically.” I continued on: “You’ve got to learn to stand fully on your own two feet, open up through the chest, and put it all out there. You owe it to the people listening. They don’t want to hear half of what you’ve got. They don’t want you to apologize for being in front of them. They’re waiting for you to command the stage.”

Command the Stage.

Take Up Space.

Sing Unapologetically.

These are things I say often. But what does all of that mean, and why does it matter?

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COMMANDING THE STAGE:

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Aaron, like many of my students, wanted to perform but struggled with the idea that maybe he shouldn’t. This imposter feeling limited his presentation as well as his musical execution. To be fair, it’s easy to convince yourself that you shouldn’t be up there. Why? In an effort to be polite, we become timid. With a fear of being prideful, we abandon our boldness. As a result, we underdeliver. We hold back thinking, “who am I to be doing this anyway?”

There’s one problem with this line of thinking: it’s all self-focused.

I know, I know, we see bright lights and a tall stage and think that owning that kind of space must surely be selfish. But here’s the surprising truth: standing on that stage (and doing it well) requires an outward focus.

This is why I say that “commanding the stage” is far more about serving the audience than it is about elevating the singer.

Singers have to see the audience. We have to understand what they need. And what do they need? A feeling of safety.

Have you ever sat in the audience and watched a fearful performer? Have you seen a nervous singer forget all the words? How comfortable did you feel in that moment? It’s awkward. It’s tense. It reverses the roles and make the audience feel as though they need to serve the fearful singer.

But this is not how it’s supposed to be.

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COMMANDING THE STAGE:

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

Commanding the stage is not about a singer elevating herself; It’s about creating the security and safety needed to serve her audience well.

She takes charge of the moment, so that they don’t have to.

An audience needs to feel safe, and it’s a singer’s job to create that feeling. So if you desire to give something worthwhile to an audience, then you, dear singer, have a job to do. You have a gift to give. But you’ll never be able to give that gift well if you’re too busy being afraid, hesitant, or timid. Music is powerful, and you have the privilege of releasing it into a room. But in order for your audience to receive this gift, you must first make them feel safe.

You must let them know that you’re capable of being in charge of this moment, so that they can sink fully into their seats and experience the music for themselves. They need you to sing without apology, so that your performance can reach beyond your insecurities.

This puts the heart of performance in a whole new light. This kind of perspective changes the attitude from “Isn’t it silly for me to get up here and make this moment all about me?” to “It’s my job to serve them in this moment.” This understanding gives us the courage to offer the audience everything we have…without hesitation. Without apology. It makes the art we carry less about us and more about the message, the music, and the people listening.

After all, they don’t want your apology. They want your best.

Are you inspired yet?

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COMMAND THE STAGE: HOW TO DO IT WELL

So how do we execute at this kind of level?

The answer is easier than you’d think: Posture.

Our hearts tend to follow our bodies. This is why “getting into character” works. This is why “fake it ‘till you make it” works.

When we set something in motion in the body, our potential tends to rise to the occasion.

When I encourage my voice students to “take up space,” I’m asking them to stand fully and boldly. I go into this in more detail and demonstration in the Posture Module of my Vocal Technique Course: Singer Set Free. In Episode 1: Posture, I’ll teach you how to build your posture from the ground up and sing from a place of power and confidence. Here's some great basics to start with:

1. Plant your feet with strength and intention. Own the space you’re standing in.

2. Open up through the chest. Lead with the sternum. This helps you sing with both courage and vulnerability (the two most essential ingredients in art).

3. Stand tall. So much of singing is being able to trust yourself. Posture lays the foundation for that trust and sets the tone for the confidence you'll need when you command the stage!

I sing primarily from a heart of worship, and I work with singers who take the stage for a variety of other reasons as well.

No matter your motive as you take the stage, I can tell you this: Singing is not something you can do apologetically.

When you give an audience all of your boldness, all of your honesty, and all of your vulnerability, then you're not just singing; You're making art! That kind of presence starts with the way you stand on that stage.

I'd love to help you take the stage and deliver your heart to an audience. To learn more about posture, sound-changing vocal techniques, and setting your best voice free, check out my course Singer Set Free.

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Hey, I'm Jenny. I songwrite, perform, and teach. I help singers break through vocal barriers, rock auditions, and become one-take vocalists. I love making great singing easier and more attainable than you thought it could be. This blog is my place to dig into vocal technique and unpack what it takes to connect and communicate honestly with an audience.

Everything about my musicianship and teaching is outside-the-box, instinctive, and fun. That's what makes this such a great place to hang out. I invite you to stay a while, check out my music, and see how this blog can impact your vocal skills and refresh your love for performing.