Why do people complain when I don't move around in a solo?

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I'm getting really tired of this. Often, when I solo, what I play sounds really great, but people keep asking me why I play them with no changing facial expression or without moving around... it's getting REALLY annoying... why does it even matter that I don't move around?

Some also think its weird that I'll hum/slightly sing exactly what I'm playing in my solo, or sing/hum another part to the song, but thats just good musicianship if you ask me

People are obsessed with showmanship, and yeah - if your in a rock band or whatever people have this unrealistic expectation of you to be this wilding out sort of guy; its part of why I stick with electronic, no demands as such.

Does the rest of your band move around a lot?

What kind of music do you play?
If its metal or punk etc then others will expect you to move around a bit. Maybe they don't think your enjoying yourself, something I get a lot because I don't often smile or say much in company and unfortunately some people interpret this as meaning I must be unhappy when usually I feel fine, I just can't think of anything to say. But don't worry about it, there's no unwritten rule saying you have to be energetic on stage and you shouldn't have to justify yourself to anyone who hassles you because your not like this. How you choose to express yourself on stage is up to you.

I studied (classical marimba) with a guy who treated all those unnecessary motions that most musicians make as performance skills. He was no fan of spontaneity on stage, but also realized that the audience will enjoy the performance more if it LOOKS like the performer is being spontaneous & is moved by the music. So he would actually rehearse every motion that he planned to do on stage - even the ones that had nothing to do with the music. The most important thing is to know WHY you are moving.

I have to tell you that it works - his performances are brilliant. It works, because people tend to mimic what they see - and if they see the performer "carried away by the music" - they will subconsciously join in.

As for the humming - don't worry about it. You're in the company of many great musicians (Glenn Gould, Oscar Peterson, BB King, etc.)

That's weird. Most people I've seen doing a solo rarely move much at all, maybe just sway a little or something. That part's supposed to be all concentration, not gymanstics. Watch old music videos or something, there are rarely good solos in most stuff nowdays anyway.

No offense people, just saying that a guitar solo was standard for a lot of songs back in the 80's- early 90's especially.

i used to get tormented for the exact same thing. i would NEVER move on stage while performing. ever. i would find my place, and i'd just stand there and play. and sing. and that was it. the other guys in the band were quite the showmen...and i was just that weird chick in black who never moved...actually, i did tap my foot. that was about it. and it wasn't that i didn't love performing - i loved being on stage more than anything. it just didn't really seem...necessary? i dunno.

and yeah, i sing/hum with the music too. nothing weird about that. (i don't think...)

Its ok to be a shoegazer if I like the music

I actually do mostly jazz, however I also do a lot of metal and new-ish (but influenced by old-ish) trippy rock music with a friend of mine who has a small recording studio in his home.

I might start some sideways swaying/rocking. (almost like Jaco )

Start with you back facing the audience like Miles Davis then decide whether you feel like acknowledging them.

btw I don’t mean the genre shoe gazing, I meant the stereotype it was named after. Or as I call it stare at the wall music. Bliss