Feel free to move this thread if another forum is more suitable.

Just wanting stories/perspectives on a couple things relative to live performance:

1) Where is your ideal position to set up?

2) How adamant are you about "staking out" that territory on the stage?

3) Have you ever "yielded" your preferred stage position, and why, and how did it affect your playing?

Whenever I have the option I set up to the immediate left of the drummer (assuming s/he is right handed). I am right handed so this allows me to see the kick foot (important if you're not getting any through the monitor), also to hear plenty of high-hat and not get the headstock in his/her way (I am right handed as well). If I have to, I will go to the other side (the drummer's right) but it's not as comfortable and I really don't care to have a ride cymbal clanging in my ear all night. Right-of-drummer worked fine for John Paul Jones and John Entwistle but for some reason has always felt "backwards" to me.

I am pretty assertive about this and will even come in early for set-up to ensure I get "my spot" if I'm working with people I haven't worked with before. IMO the worst place to be is on the front line at one of the ends, i.e. as physcially as far away from the drummer as possible. I have really never had anyone challenge me about where I set up and in fact several drummers have said they appreciate having my amp close enough so they can hear me (since bass gets run through the monitors even less than drums do, at least around here).

By way of disclosure I should say I am not the front man in any of my bands so it's easier for me to just hang out on the backline. I do sing some backups but even then I only come upstage a few feet to the mic, and then I'm back to the amp.

If auxiliary percussion is involved, I like to stand between the drummer and the aux player (if the aux player is good), or as far away from the aux player as possible (if s/he is bad).

Others?

I like the the right side of a right handed drummer for some reason. I have no ego problems with being seen and so I am fairly flexible with room and position with but one exception:

I absolutely hate with a passion being directly behind a front person of any kind in a small venue situation. I find it distracting and I feel stupid. I have always felt this way.

Exceptions would include standing behind a sitting keyboardplayer (I rather enjoy that) or behind the drummer which is rare. Am I abnormal? :)

JKT

I play Entwistle/JPJ-side. So, stage right (or to the right of the drummer).

I used to play Geddy-side in high school and college. But for some reason I changed. Now I only feel comfortable stage right.

That said, I will try to accomodate setting up wherever necessary, as limited by stage size, # of players, etc. I only get mildly demanding about my amp being audible to the drummer and about being able to make good eye contact with the drummer.

I find that most guitarists don't really think at all about where their amp should go anyway. So if I get blocked by a guitarist, I simply drop some science about needing the bass to be right up on the drums. Usually no arguments there, and they'll give me my spot. With keyboards, it's usually more of a challenge b/c their junk takes up more space. But in many cases, the same argument will get me my preferred place.

In most of my bands, I do lead or backup vocals too. So that also kinda stakes out where exactly I need to be onstage.

I stand to the left of the singer and slightly behind her. My microphone is about a foot behind her stand. If she moves back then I move back with her so that she is always in front. The only exception is when I am playing a song that is drums/bass intensive, in which case I stand just off the hi-hat.

Another advantage of being on the same upstage/downstage plane as the drummer, is that you tend not to get caught up in the guitarist(s)' amp wash. If they are running a traditional backline, then it's all blowing by you and if they are crossfiring over you can usually stay out of it since they tend to set up their amps more upstage, i.e. in front of the drum riser. I HATE having guitar amps torching my ears so if I can get out of all that, just hear a little from their amp and a little out of the monitor that makes me happy - and keeps me from being tempted to turn my own amp up too high.

One gig recently with a band I sub with, I got there too late and they had me set up in front and to the right of the drummer. Normally that wouldn't have been a problem except he runs his cymbals high and tilts them back and so I completely couldn't see him at all. That made it a little dicey on some of the songs I had never practiced with them...

after reading "101 bass tips" by Gary Willis,
I always try to set up close to the high-hat side of the drum kit, puts you nearest the hat and snare, which usually keep the steadiest beats , and cut thru my bass sound.

http://www.amazon.com/101-Bass-Tips-Stuff-Pros/dp/0634017470

I liked that 101 Bass Tips a lot. I was surprised (pleasantly) to find out I was already doing quite a few of them!

Not sure what I'd do if I was playing with a drummer set up lefty... Probably would shift sides to stay with the high-hat though it would still feel a little odd.

I've noticed on some of the really big touring acts (Brad Paisley for one) the bassist is in a different spot from tour to tour (sometimes even from venue to venue on the same tour). Not sure what's up with that but maybe for the pro's that have state-of-the-art monitoring it really doesn't matter where they stand.

I like to setup on the hi-hat side. It is most comfortable for me. I play thru a wireless, so I end up all over, but I always have my space to go back to. Luckily I'm playing in a 4 peice so I get one side to myself.

I hate being in the middle and blasted by everyone! I've had guitar players usurp my spot and I ended up in the middle. They're gone eh and I'm still around. LOL

I'm always on the hi-hat side, close to the riser. I've played one show where I was on the hi-hat side, but the guitarist/singer and his rig were between the drummer and I. It was the worst I've ever played. I couldn't lock in at all. So, now I just groove by the hats and blend in with the kit. I don't think I'd yield that spot again unless I was doubling as frontman, and even then I'd just be further forward.

I tried being on the ride side in rehearsal once or twice, but it never felt right. I'd have to look over my headstock to see the drummer, and I could never see his kick foot. Plus, the ride bell and china crash in my ear all night wasn't exactly pleasant.

you know, i've thought about this a bit, and i think i prefer on the drummers left - hihats side, like most have said. having said that, it really doesn't bother me that much. i think they both have their pros and cons - i feel like i have better communication with the drummer i work with a lot when i set up on the opposite side. not really sure why, might have something to so with the angle drummers seem to sit on.

the thing i've been thinking about more than this lately is whether i prefer the side with keys or the side with guitar. pro's and cons here too - i prefer my bass sound with the keys, i don't seem to get as much clarity setting up next to a guitar stack. however, if the keys player drops into the bass register it can really screw with me. also i seem to enjoy the gig more when i set up next to my guitarist, he's an incredible player and i feel i get a lot of musical satisfaction closer to him!

with all these factors.. i never seem to make up my mind and just settle wherever i end up!

I usually set up to the drummer's right, but I really don't care. On a sub gig I do occasionally, I end up on the other side, sometimes.

And why are you guys looking at the drummer's kick foot?

I don't care too much. I often end up right in front of the drummer as I also handle the lead singing most of the time. In one band I play with occasionally, I don't sing but some backing vocals, and then I prefer standing next to the drummer. Usually on his right side, but it depends a lot on the shape of the stage.

I couldn't care less where I am onstage as long as I get paid. Some people really care about things like that so they can see the drummer's foot or whatever. But I can always hear the drummer just fine without having to be within line of sight of his bass drum pedal, and locking in with the bass drum is very low on my list of priorities (and I don't want to hear any crap about it from you "locking in" Nazis...you want to lock in? Go ahead. I don't). Plus I'm more of an entertainer than most bassists, and I sing as well, and I feel ridiculous singing lead from the back of the stage.

I couldn't care less where I am onstage as long as I get paid. Some people really care about things like that so they can see the drummer's foot or whatever. But I can always hear the drummer just fine without having to be within line of sight of his bass drum pedal, and locking in with the bass drum is very low on my list of priorities (and I don't want to hear any crap about it from you "locking in" Nazis...you want to lock in? Go ahead. I don't). Plus I'm more of an entertainer than most bassists, and I sing as well, and I feel ridiculous singing lead from the back of the stage.

+1

I'm all over the place, I dont feel like just standing in that "bassist corner" right to the drum kit.

I know... I should've been a lead guitarist, right?

Hi-hat side, good view of the kick. And stay clear, I don't stand still. You're in restricted airspace and in jeopardy of an accidental clubbing.Wear a helmet.

Stage left of the drummer. Unless the drummer is left handed.
I'll fight for that spot to the death.
I even like it for guitar.

Preferably the hi-hat side so the drummer is facing me, but I'll do either side. Not a big deal either way.

Generally my amp is on the hi hat side. but, if that happens to be a corner we switch sides as the bass amp stuffed in a corner can sometimes get boomy.

The main reason I run wireless is to allow me the freedom to move around until find a sweet spot on stage where I can hear everyone fairly well without worrying about an instrument cable (it can also be helpful to move throughout the venue during sound check to hear what the audience will hear).

I try to pick my position on stage based on where I can hear myself and everyone else in the band clearly (something monitors don't always provide); hopefully a position that also provides reasonable eye contact, and allows me to hear what's being said off-mic in between songs. I usually like to be at least six feet away from my cabinets, but if it's a small stage I stand wherever there's room and do the best I can. Sometimes, I'll position my cabinets on the opposite side of the stage in an effort to provide a bass sound that works reasonably well for everyone on stage.

As far as setting up closer to keys vs. guitar... it depends on the players. I like to be physically closest to the best players in the band whenever possible, and I ask for my monitor mix the same way. If the keyboardist is kickin it with the drums and staying out of the lower register, I want to hear a lot of that cause it makes my job easier and more fun. OTOH if s/he's going to be pounding out lame bass lines out of time, it is literally just noise. Same with guitars, whether acoustic or electric. Even singers. I've asked sound techs to take the vox completely out of my monitors more than once.

... I've asked sound techs to take the vox completely out of my monitors more than once.

I'd have to have a ton of confidence in the lead singer before I'd do that. I've had too many experiences where the lead singer cuts to the chorus at the wrong time or some such thing and all the band can do is follow him.

I'd have to have a ton of confidence in the lead singer before I'd do that. I've had too many experiences where the lead singer cuts to the chorus at the wrong time or some such thing and all the band can do is follow him.
I take the other vocalists out of my monitor, too. I can almost always hear them well enough without it.

Excuse me asking, but what is the hi-hat side. I've never played live before, so I wouldn't know what this means.

I'm still laughing at the "locking-in Nazi's" comment...lol

(off topic)I guess I should elaborate a bit...I think "locking-in" with the drummer is absolutely essential for some styles of music and particularly for some songs...having said that, if you listen to a lot of old classic rock stuff, the drummer and Bass player were seldom "locked-up"..more often the bass player was locking up with the guitar player, or just noodling around...and that gave that old rock music it's classic vibe...this should open a can of worms...lol

Now back on topic, as far as where on the stage I like to sit up...I like being on the drummer's left...just me...

I should have clarified, I would never want to completely not hear the lead singer, but almost always they are blaring loud enough through everyone else's monitors that I can hear them even if they're not in mine. If I have the privilege of my own mix and am in a situation where everyone pretty much sticks to the script every time, the kick drum and hat are loudest in my monitor, then me, then the next most competent rhythmic instrument (guitar, keys or aux percussion), and the lead singer after that.

However, if I'm in a situation where the singer is known to take liberties with the structure of a song, I'll want more of him or her dialed in. No fun to be playing the chorus while the singer is repeating a verse or vice versa.

I'm still laughing at the "locking-in Nazi's" comment...lol

(off topic)I guess I should elaborate a bit...I think "locking-in" with the drummer is absolutely essential for some styles of music and particularly for some songs...having said that, if you listen to a lot of old classic rock stuff, the drummer and Bass player were seldom "locked-up"..more often the bass player was locking up with the guitar player, or just noodling around...and that gave that old rock music it's classic vibe...this should open a can of worms...lol

Now back on topic, as far as where on the stage I like to sit up...I like being on the drummer's left...just me...
Not only classic rock, but even Jamerson and Bob Babbitt...listen to how many Motown songs have the bass just plow the drummer over. And yet it sounds tight, grooving, and soulful. Locking in is a concept invented by drummers to help make up for having a crappy bassist. But if you're not crappy, there are times when you can dance all over the beat and make it sound amazing.

Excuse me asking, but what is the hi-hat side. I've never played live before, so I wouldn't know what this means.


A hi-hat is part of the drummer's kit.
(looks like 2 small cymbals with a foot pedal).
Anyway, the hi-hat is typically the most 'consistent' part of the drummer's kit.
That's where you should be...right next to it.

...if you listen to a lot of old classic rock stuff, the drummer and Bass player were seldom "locked-up"..more often the bass player was locking up with the guitar player, or just noodling around...and that gave that old rock music it's classic vibe...this should open a can of worms...lol

Good luck 'locking in' with someone like Keith Moon, Mitch Mitchell, Clive Bunker, Neal Smith, etc.
These guys weren't playing to a script...
;)

i put my amp to the left of the drummer and i usually am in the middle because i i do vocals aswell and there is always a guitarist to the left of me and right i like having the guitars panning to the left and right and bass around the middle a bit to the left thats the way i like it (:

I love to set-up right next to a good drummer (right side) and locking in with the groove. That is one of the most satifying aspects of playing bass to me. To each his own I guess.

I'm up front, usually stage right. I have to sing back ups, leads on a few, wink at the girls and all that...

I love to "lock with the drummer" - but I have to rely on my ears to hear his drums. I don't get to stand next to him.

I haven't read this whole thread, but I stand next to the drummer's hi-hat, maybe 2-3 feet away. I really dislike standing anywhere else. Even on bigger stages, I tend to keep within 5-10 feet of that spot.

A comment about "locking in"... The only thing I care about is that everyone in the band share the same timing and that the groove is somewhat consistent.

haven't thought too much about my stage position yet (and I definitely did some gigs...), but after reading all this I guess I'm doing everything wrong:hmm:
I prefer standing left to my left-handed drummer. I don't really care that much about that position, but that's basically where I feel best. but more important as my position is the position of guitar and keys, because I just can't stand having them on my side of the stage! I just need a third or quarter of the stage for my own, with nobody standing in front of my bass cab. not that I'm moving around like, hm, let's say boris jeltsin past midnight, but I just need that space.

(and it's horrible to have your keys player standing in front of your bass cab and after the show listen to all the mistakes you made according to him, without even noticing...:rolleyes:)

A comment about "locking in"... The only thing I care about is that everyone in the band share the same timing and that the groove is somewhat consistent.
Ya, that's about how I size it up, too. Everyone keep the time, keep the groove, and everything else takes care of itself. If a song needs it locked up, that's cool, but if not, go nuts!

A comment about "locking in"... The only thing I care about is that everyone in the band share the same timing and that the groove is somewhat consistent.

Wait - I thought that's what "locking in with the drummer" meant...

:confused:

my band always sets up the same, and my bass rig is on the floor tom side of the drummer. this is cool because i almost never hear the snares rattling.

Wait - I thought that's what "locking in with the drummer" meant...

:confused:
I've always defined it as using the drummer's bass drum to define how you play your part and playing with it. YMMV, but what you're talking about is keeping good time from where I come from.

I prefer to play to the right of the drummer, mainly due to the fact that I'm left handed and if I were to stand on the other side of the drums, particulary on small stages there's a danger of my bass neck hitting the drum kit or the cymbals.

That makes sense, if you're a lefty. I'm right handed and have clanged a ride cymbal or two with my headstock when playing on my "opposite" side (i.e., to the right hand of a right-handed drummer).

I don't mind one side or the other, but I like to keep it the same from week to week. It take me a little while to get comfortable after switching

i've been on both sides and don't really care which side I play on. I usually end up standing in front of the drummer more than anything.

It depends. In my sideman gig where I play a lot of folk-rock/Americana stuff, I'm always stage left so I can maintain eye contact with the drummer over his hi-hat. He likes seeing my right hand when we play to lock in tighter.

In my two main bands I still try to set-up stage left because I'm left-handed (even though I play right-handed) and like to keep my pedalboard off to my left, so I can stomp on my pedals accordingly and not be invading someone else's space. Sometimes I don't get that luxury in a six-piece but I certainly try!

Interesting you mention the drummer watching your right hand. I've been fortunate enough to play with some very good veteran drummers in the area and the ones I seem to "lock" with best have all told me they do that. I really think it's important for bass and drums to make at least occasional visual contact as well as listening to each other. Especially important to watch the kick foot if you're not getting enough through the monitors for whatever reason, and also if you've both been laying out and need to come in together with a big hit or build.

Reminds me of a Journey gig I saw where their post Steve Smith drummer was noticeably dragging tempo on one song and Ross Valory turns around and starts nodding his head at the "right" tempo as if to say, come on man, pick it up.

Interesting you mention the drummer watching your right hand. I've been fortunate enough to play with some very good veteran drummers in the area and the ones I seem to "lock" with best have all told me they do that. I really think it's important for bass and drums to make at least occasional visual contact as well as listening to each other. Especially important to watch the kick foot if you're not getting enough through the monitors for whatever reason, and also if you've both been laying out and need to come in together with a big hit or build.

Reminds me of a Journey gig I saw where their post Steve Smith drummer was noticeably dragging tempo on one song and Ross Valory turns around and starts nodding his head at the "right" tempo as if to say, come on man, pick it up.


Drummers tend to follow me rather than me follow them. I have a pretty aggressive index finger! :o

The drummer in my one main band doesn't give a lick about being able to see me which is cool because I'm too busy going crazy to sit back and give him visual hints. He pretty much ONLY has bass in the monitor and listens closely to what I'm doing. We're always taking turns leading and following and, incidentally, that's the best musical relationship with a drummer I've ever had.

in the "pocket"...

That leading/following thing is a weird thing with me. I personally don't like the drummer to be TOO dependent on me (or anyone else in the band for that matter); I've played with a couple of drummers who are technically very sound and very musical but almost listen too much and try to fit in and embellish on what everyone else is doing when what the band really needs is for them to just say "OK it's going to be like THIS" and lay it down.

The drummers I lock with best seem to be the ones that lay down a real solid, steady beat and don't let anyone in the band knock them off of it. I guess "playing with authority" would be the term.

That leading/following thing is a weird thing with me. I personally don't like the drummer to be TOO dependent on me (or anyone else in the band for that matter); I've played with a couple of drummers who are technically very sound and very musical but almost listen too much and try to fit in and embellish on what everyone else is doing when what the band really needs is for them to just say "OK it's going to be like THIS" and lay it down.

The drummers I lock with best seem to be the ones that lay down a real solid, steady beat and don't let anyone in the band knock them off of it. I guess "playing with authority" would be the term.

The drummer and I tend to be way busier than the guitarist or the vocalist. But it suits the music we play which is stylistically all over the map, but the rhythm section definitely stands out more than what's considered "normal".

:bassist:

Certainly. A bassist and drummer can be "busy" and still be tight. The guys from Spin Doctors come to mind, also Tower of Power.

I prefer to play to the right of the drummer, mainly due to the fact that I'm left handed and if I were to stand on the other side of the drums, particulary on small stages there's a danger of my bass neck hitting the drum kit or the cymbals.

I'm a lefty and also patrol the right side of the stage.When I played on the left side running into the drums wasn't the problem it was crossing necks with right handed guitarists playing on the right side. I've skewered the odd lead singer playing on the left side as well. ;)

Ehh anywhere relatively close to the drummer is fine by me. I don't like standing in front of people though, because I play a lot of improv and I like to see everyone for cues and hand signals. I have been guilty of hitting crash cymbals with my headstock on occasion :ninja:

Over the years I have switched from Stage Left to Stage Right. I have been on Stage Right now for the last 8 years and I am pretty comfortable with it.
Funny, the second question. This last Saturday I got thugged off my stage by another GUITAR player. We called him up on stage for our last song and he just took over my whole side of the stage. After about 1/2 a song, I had enough so I wandered over to Stage Left. This is no easy task in my 6 piece band (now with a guest)! I spent the last 20 minutes of the song on the wrong side of the stage. People on myspace have pictures of me from that point in the show saying "What are you doing on the wrong side of the stage?"
All in all it is pretty funny, but I was nun to happy getting thugged like that.:spit:

i used to stand to the left of the drummer.
now i stand to the right of the drummer in an attempt to even out the amount of tinnitus in both ears.
those bastards and their cymbals.....

OK this may be a really basic question,...but what do you consider "Stage Right" and "Stage Left"?

I was taught way back in high school that stage right and left means "from the audience's point of view. So when you are standing on stage, from your perspective it's backwards. (ie stage right is to the left of the drummer, stage left is to his right).

help me out here...

My $.02

I play whichever side is okay. Sometimes the stage may be too small, and I just fit wherever I can. I don't carry lots of equipment and feel I need to be flexible with the stage manager (if there is one).

Seriously, I play wherever someone points me to. If I have any issue due to the ambience of the place, I'll ask for a change of location.

Besides...I hate checking out my drummer...he's a dude, man.

Jeesh!

OK this may be a really basic question,...but what do you consider "Stage Right" and "Stage Left"?

I was taught way back in high school that stage right and left means "from the audience's point of view. So when you are standing on stage, from your perspective it's backwards. (ie stage right is to the left of the drummer, stage left is to his right).

help me out here...

WIKIPEDIA says the opposite:
To an actor facing the audience, "left" and "right" are the reverse of what they are for the audience. To prevent confusion, actors and directors never use the unmarked terms left or right for the sides of the stage. Rather, they use a phrase specifying the viewpoint. The terms "stage left" and "stage right", respectively, denote the sides of the stage that are on the actor's left and right when the actor is facing the audience, while "house left" and "house right" are the reverse, denoting the sides of the stage as viewed by the audience.

Back in the Day: I was always to the right of the drums. I liked watching the guitarist's left hand to remind me of what chord I was supposed to be playing....

Now: the guitarist/band leader sets up on the drummer's right. Can't see his fretting hand as well from there, but it's OK. Now I try harder to lock in with the drummer; since he faces slightly left towards me, we can make eye contact more than I could with the other drummers back in The Day. I can cope either way.

Stage right for me. The reason is that playing lefty I'm not pranging someone in the head with my headstock like I would/have being stage left.

I realise this hasn't been active since May, but I wanted in :D

I've never really been one to worry about which side of the stage I'm on, I usually go wherever seems easiest to set up. Since we've started playing slightly bigger stages I tend to be able to move around a little more. just a case of finding something that suits how you want to play I guess.

i go wherever i fit and take it from there.

i like having one of my cabs next to/slightly behind the drummers ride cymbal, just because when im on drums thats what i prefer. nothing specific, though..

It normally ends up stage left but I don't care really as long as I end up in front of the guy with the money at the end of the night.