how do YOU setup your stage area?

mward69 · #1 04-27-2011, 12:37 PM

My other post about people coming to your corner of the stage got me thinking, how do you setup your "area"?
For me....we're a cover band so most stages are small to Med. sized.
I am on the hi-hat side. my 410 is setup off the stage on a box I built as a "sidefill" behind the PA cabs so the speakers are not at my legs, and it gives me more stage room.
I put the monitor in between the PA cabs and my amp off stage also, I used to put it in front of me on a small stand, but after yrs of drunks knocking into it and what not, I found that to be the best setup. I put my vox. and a little lead guitar in the mix

Next to my Amp, I snag a small table for drinks and leave just enough room for the server to get to it so that he or she doesn't set my drinks on amp or the stage to get knocked over.

And Finally, I have a small rug I put down just because of my weirdness

I will post pics after my next gig

jaywa · #2 04-27-2011, 12:42 PM

Pretty simple for me.

- IEMs, so I don't have a wedge.

- I don't sing, so there's no mic.

- Big rig (SWR 810) or small rig (Line6 LowDown Combo) gets placed as close to the drummer on his left hand (hi-hat) side as possible, firing straight forward.

- Wireless receiver goes somewhere close to the bass amp and is connected by as short of a cable as possible.

- The stands for my two basses get put either right in front of the bass amp or ideally stage-left of the bass amp if the stage is wide enough.

That's it.

gustobassman · #3 04-27-2011, 01:32 PM

well, it takes a while to unroll the barbed wire and set up the IED's. I always have my Fighting Hawk perched next to me as well.

actually it's kinda like the previous post. Get my cab as close to the high-hat as i can, depending on drum riser, etc. larger stage i run the sansamp further out to get more running room, smaller stage it sits on my head so it won't get crushed. I only do a couple of backup vocals so my monitor mix is a little guitar, me, and lead vocals because i'm usually right next to the singer/guitarist.

Elrend · #4 04-27-2011, 01:36 PM

- Shove amp wherever it fits
- Put sheet music stand somewhere that allows me to face everybody else

MatticusMania · #5 04-27-2011, 02:24 PM

1 PA speaker on each side of the drummer (for bass & keys).
I usually try and get a spot stage left (when facing the audience), often arguing with the keys player for space, as he likes the same side of the stage.
Boom Mic stand in front of me, booming over my small pedalboard.

Nakedfish · #6 04-27-2011, 02:34 PM

I place my rig immediately to the right of the drumset, usually sat on top of a gramma pad, facing forward.
Two basses on stands mostly nestled between the drummers crash and hi-hat stands. When space allows I will position them the right of my rig.
When space allows I also use a WAV bass which is positioned at 2pm relative to the drumset

Monitoring comes from the vocalists monitors.

Our on-stage volume levels are usually nicely balanced and not too loud so it's easy to hear everyone.

jaywa · #7 04-27-2011, 03:24 PM

My lead guitarist (whose side of the stage I share) brings a ridiculous amount of gear: Mesa Boogie half-stack, 5 to 7 guitars (depending on the gig) and a pedalboard that's not much smaller than 2x3 feet. All of which gets used during the gig but it makes me have to keep my footprint as small as possible on smaller stages, at least.

Fortunately the drummer plays a small kit so I can usually set up pretty tight to him and make up some ground that way.

sobie18 · #8 04-27-2011, 05:10 PM

Roll my 810 next to the drummer and claim my spot of the stage...

BigOldHarry · #9 04-27-2011, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gustobassman

well, it takes a while to unroll the barbed wire and set up the IED's. I always have my Fighting Hawk perched next to me as well.

actually it's kinda like the previous post. Get my cab as close to the high-hat as i can, depending on drum riser, etc. larger stage i run the sansamp further out to get more running room, smaller stage it sits on my head so it won't get crushed. I only do a couple of backup vocals so my monitor mix is a little guitar, me, and lead vocals because i'm usually right next to the singer/guitarist.

LOL

Get them hmmwv's circled up, set up security and start PLAYING!

Stingray89 · #10 04-27-2011, 06:42 PM

Put the 8x10 on stage next to the drummers high hat. Place bass or basses in front of or beside the amp. Simple enough for me.

skwee · #11 04-27-2011, 08:25 PM

I'm stage left of the drummer. To my left is the keyboard player, who doubles on every other instrument ever invented. Guitars are on the other side of the stage. My amp is up on a stool, and is the "bass monitor" for me, the drummer (who is behind a shell), and keyboard player. We go direct from the amp's SLR output so the house and monitors can have it too. Since I have to run up to sing, I also ask for bass in my monitor, which is behind me when I'm at the mic, and in front of me when I'm busy as the rhythm section.

vin*tone · #12 04-27-2011, 08:31 PM

Most of my gigs are through a PA so when I can, I fire the bass amp ACROSS the stage from the side. The people who need to hear it are my band members, not the audience. I think this convention we have of facing our amps forward is a throwback to an era when stage sound was the venue sound.

jaywa · #13 04-27-2011, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

Most of my gigs are through a PA so when I can, I fire the bass amp ACROSS the stage from the side. The people who need to hear it are my band members, not the audience. I think this convention we have of facing our amps forward is a throwback to an era when stage sound was the venue sound.

That, and it just looks cooler. Especially when everyone's got nice big stacks.

mward69 · #14 04-27-2011, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

Most of my gigs are through a PA so when I can, I fire the bass amp ACROSS the stage from the side. The people who need to hear it are my band members, not the audience. I think this convention we have of facing our amps forward is a throwback to an era when stage sound was the venue sound.

Yup...I started running my amp facing this way a few yrs ago...plus as stated, since it's a 410 I put it on a black box I built to raise it up to head level. I use that for my bass mix,

rtslinger · #15 04-28-2011, 08:44 AM

Okay I use no amp after injuring my back in a accident so it is a small laptop table with velcor for my pedals and wireless.
Bass driver, compression, wireless direct out to our PA, (Bose) 3 subwoofers one back by the drummer two stacked on the floor (floor tom side of the drum kit) everything goes to FOH No mic stand I do not sing, Only time I use a stage amp is for larger outdoor shows which I use a Crown XTI2000 head (all of 17lbs) into the FOH with IEM support

6jase5 · #16 04-29-2011, 03:44 PM

For awhile I ran additional lights with my feet along with my effects pedalboard, and then set up a theremin and korg monotron. I also sing back up. About 15 extension cables and cords to wrap up after the show. Most of the effects were for the theremin.

I'm much better now.

NWB · #17 04-29-2011, 05:03 PM

I'll be on the left side of the drummer and right next to the chicken roasters.

Fassa Albrecht · #18 04-29-2011, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NWB

I'll be on the left side of the drummer and right next to the chicken roasters.

Geddy?

Anyways, to answer the OP:

I usually run the DI box from the mixing desk to wherever I'm supposed to be playing, then set-up from there. Both basses and stands are usually put in racks just a little to my left and behind me.

mowburger · #19 04-29-2011, 05:34 PM

I like stage left of drummer (hi-hat) bass amp halfway between drummer and edge of usable stage, facing me.

Backup Vox mic & mon upstage directly from amp.

BDDI and Tuner or other pedals if I bring them are usually by my amp on the ground. (30 foot cord for large stages) 20 foot for everything else.

Usually there is Marshall 100w tube halfstacks on both sides of stage, stage right lead, far mid stage left rythym aimed at singer (rythym). When I step up to sing I'm in the path of his
412!, otherwise I'm closer to the drummer and in my sweetspot.

Sometimes if theres no drum mon, I'll point it a lil more at the drummer trying not to set off his snare too bad.

JimmyM · #20 04-29-2011, 06:35 PM

i set up where anyone wants me to set up, except i hate playing on a riser. risers are for stationary musicians, not me.

in my regular band, i set up far left with my amp about even with the drummer's stool, and me down front of the stage. my pedals go to the left of my vocal mic on small stages and to the right on larger stages. in my monitor, i only want to hear my vocal and nobody else's since i can hear them out of their own monitors.

with bowzer it's the same, except i'm pulled back halfway from the front of the stage. sometimes i get a monitor and a mic if we're backing up people where we have to sing, but when it's just bowzer i don't have any mic or monitor back there since he has singers.

but honestly, unless they try to stick me on a riser, i don't care where i go.