sit down at a gig?

hgregs · #1 05-26-2010, 06:44 PM

so my last gig, second set, it was late, i was tired, and the slight inebriation had be struggling to stand up. my playing was fine (even listening back to the tape). but i had serious doubts that i would be able to stand through the whole set. i did, with much struggle. and it dawned on me - how much of a faux pas would it be if i grabbed a chair to finish out the set?

edit - it was bar gig and not incredibly crowded.

edit #2 - less than one beer that night. it was the combination of lack of water, lack of sleep, and a small amount of beer.

Exploiter8 · #2 05-26-2010, 06:57 PM

The faux pas lies in the "slight inebriation."

John Herzog · #3 05-26-2010, 06:58 PM

It probably depends on the type of material you're playing.

PastorofMuppets · #4 05-26-2010, 07:02 PM

not wanting to be to harsh but
in my bands like most other jobs that you might go on
like a painter or landscaper etc

getting drunk on the job gets you fired....

LilRay · #5 05-26-2010, 07:05 PM

I have to sit (disability) but I'm never inebriated. Entertaining seated isn't impossible but it is a learning process

God Bless, Ray

CaptainWampum · #6 05-26-2010, 07:10 PM

I have played a couple of shows where I sat down on the front of the stage, legs dangling off, while the rest of the band played behind me. This is generally more as a part of the performance and a way to connect with the crowd than it is an issue of stamina, but that is definitely an advantage.

xgator4u · #7 05-26-2010, 07:42 PM

I have had to sit before due to a leg injury, but not because I was blotto.

Tom_RCJ · #8 05-26-2010, 07:47 PM

It depends. Some people would look down on it I guess. If you play grindcore metal, or whatever they call it now, I guess the energy level would lead a crowd and bandmates to expect you to suffer through it and stand. If you play blues, well sitting can be kinda cool.

I've only been gigging with any kind of regularity for about 4 years now. So I'm not an experienced veteran, and I admit I'm a bit over-biased against the whole "image" thing, but still. If you're tired then by all means sit. No point in not enjoying what you do just because someone thinks it's not cool. If it's a regular thing and it's always cause you get drunk at gigs and keep falling over, your bandmates might get a bit miffed after a few times.

Not that I'm passing judgment on you or anything here. Just covering all the basses.

JTE · #9 05-26-2010, 08:55 PM

Anthony Jackson refuses to stand when he plays. Most jazz guitarist sit down to play (in fact, that's where AJ got the idea). Bob Babbitt sat down on the "Standing In The Shadows of Motown" film.

Only if image is more important than the music would it be a problem...

John

BassScum · #10 05-26-2010, 09:04 PM

I've grabbed a stool and brought it on stage a few times at bars if the crowd is small. If the crowd size picks up, I immediately spring up and stand. I've never had to sit down for being drunk though. You should cut down on the drinks so this doesn't happen again. Got to know your limitations.

Rilander · #11 05-26-2010, 09:13 PM

i like to have 2 beers before the show just to kill the edge. then i take one beer up on stage with me but no more than that. i play in an all original band and we only play 30-40 minute sets. i was too wasted at a show once and it really sucked i played ok but i said some stupid stuff on the mic. after the show it's fun to have a couple more beers and mingle then make the drummer drive me home~!

Sartori · #12 05-27-2010, 03:37 AM

It depends what you're playing. Classical? Most of the time seated anyway. Folk? Yeah, sure, that works. Jazz? May or may not work, same for blues.

Classic rock, punk or any kind of metal? No way.

LilRay · #13 05-27-2010, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Only if image is more important than the music would it be a problem...

John

+100

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sartori

It depends what you're playing. Classical? Most of the time seated anyway. Folk? Yeah, sure, that works. Jazz? May or may not work, same for blues.

Classic rock, punk or any kind of metal? No way.

I disagree with your opinion of "No way". I play Blues, Classic Rock, Oldies etc, and I have to sit.

I guess my response would be "Depends on what you can do with a Bass"

All the image BS goes out the window, when you can't stand and play.

All your left with is the music.

And you've got to ask What can you do with it?

God Bless, Ray

Phalex · #14 05-27-2010, 07:08 AM

I'm a little too "Physical" on stage to sit down. I do know a guy around here that does sit at gigs. Nothing wrong with that at all.

I expect he'll be stopping in to this thread anytime now.........

Hoover · #15 05-27-2010, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Only if image is more important than the music would it be a problem...

^^^ This.

I've sat on a lot of gigs: GB gigs, theater pit bands, big band jazz, dance orchestras, chamber music, folk music, studio sessions, rock bands in bars with really tiny stages... It's all good. If you can play as well (or better) seated as standing, sit the heck down and quit worrying.

Floyd Eye · #16 05-27-2010, 07:16 AM

I can't even sit down during rehearsals.

I'm in the " A couple beers before a show, but water while on stage" camp. Playing drunk is NEVER an option.

73jbass · #17 05-27-2010, 07:17 AM

Robert Fripp has been playing seated since the 60's. I'm considering it myself as our sets are about an hour 15 minutes long,and the 6 string is about 11lbs.Depends on whether you care more about stage presence,or playing music.

hgregs · #18 05-27-2010, 07:34 AM

thanks for all the responses about sitting.

on the issue of drinking... (i tried to make this clear in the orig post) i had less than one beer at set break, and that was all i had for the night. it was about 1:30am. i'm 240lbs, so i didn't think i was overdoing it. it was a freak occurrence that had me struggling to stand.

Phalex · #19 05-27-2010, 07:57 AM

For what it's worth, my drummer frequently gets more than a little tipsy, and he sits down all the time.

pointbass · #20 05-27-2010, 08:10 AM

A recent car accident requires me to now sit at ALL gigs due to some long term injuries to my back. Probably will always have to sit now for the balance of my music career.

This isn't an issue for most of the gigs I do. The jazz gigs absolutely accept sitting down, in many ways it's almost expected in smaller, more intimate settings. I do a lot of duo work now where we both sit, again it seems to be fine since the places are not that big.

Had to give up the funk band gig, though .... too much energy for sitting, luckily I found a cool bass player to take the gig for me.

Sitting down simply because you're blasted? Not cool at all under any circumstance ....