The #1 Mistake Artists Make On Stage (And How to Fix It)

Candy Ferguson
4 days ago
2 min read

The #1 Mistake Artists Make On Stage (And How to Fix It)

By :The Performers Suite

There’s nothing more exciting than the energy of a live show. The lights, the crowd, the adrenaline. But as a live performance coach, I’ve seen time and time again that many artists fall into the same trap on stage. And it has nothing to do with vocal ability or choreography.

The biggest mistake artists make during a live performance is focusing more on how they look or sound than on how they’re making people feel.

Let’s be real, we all want to sound good and look polished on stage, but when that becomes the priority, it’s easy to lose the very thing that creates a powerful performance: connection.

What Happens When You Focus Too Much on Yourself

When you're overly concerned about nailing every note or hitting every move perfectly, here’s what tends to happen:

You stop being present.
You lose your authenticity.
You miss opportunities to connect with your audience.

The result? A performance that feels technically solid but emotionally disconnected. And your audience can feel that.

The Fix: Shift Your Focus to the Audience

The best performers know how to bring people into their world. They tell a story. They let their guard down. They treat the stage like a conversation, not a presentation.

Here’s how to shift the energy:

1. Make Eye Contact

Even if you’re nervous, look out into the crowd. Pick a few people and connect. This makes your performance feel personal.

2. Tell a Story Between Songs

Your audience wants to know why your music matters. Share a quick story about what inspired a song or how it connects to your life. This creates emotional resonance.

3. Use Your Body to Communicate

It’s not about perfect movement or choreography. It’s about intention. Let your body express the emotion behind your music whether it’s stillness, intensity, or playfulness.

4. Let Go of Perfection

Audiences don’t remember perfect vocals, they remember moments. It’s okay if your voice cracks or you forget a lyric. It just makes you more human and relatable.

Your Presence Is More Powerful Than You Think

When you show up fully, flaws and all, people will remember how you made them feel. That’s what turns a listener into a fan and a fan into a supporter.

So the next time you hit the stage, ask yourself: