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Appearance of the Stage - Does It Make A Difference?
- Thread starter jaywa
- Start date
I agree. I play in an upscale variety band, and we sometimes accept bar gigs just to rehearse live for some pocket change. We take a more casual approach to the bar gigs, but I think that is not in our best interest. We're trying to attract upscale business everwhere we go, and our live show is our calling card, regardless the venue.
But if I take that to its logical conclusion, I'll have everyone wearing formals at bars, and that ain't gonna happen. I spend enough time hammering these guys about appearance. But we could spruce up the stage a bit even at the bar level.
He caught a ride with the singer to the gig... but somehow neglected to transfer his gear over to the singer's car.
I'd say yes...
BUT... the reality is it's kind of an all or nothing venture.... venues and players notice if your band looks like a yard sale. I can't tell you the number of bands thaty have a pile of distracting cases sitting around.
Average people hear with their eyes
BUT... the reality is it's kind of an all or nothing venture.... venues and players notice if your band looks like a yard sale. I can't tell you the number of bands thaty have a pile of distracting cases sitting around.
Average people hear with their eyes
I go with it depends on the type of band, what level the band plays at, where the band wants to go, the type of shows you do and the calibre of the venues. Also the type of person you are.
Bar band playing on the floor, probably doesn't matter. A show band playing at venues with top notch sound, lighting and management, yes image matters.
Ever see a sloppy looking band with beat gear on Letterman, Conan or Lopez?
Bar band playing on the floor, probably doesn't matter. A show band playing at venues with top notch sound, lighting and management, yes image matters.
Ever see a sloppy looking band with beat gear on Letterman, Conan or Lopez?
jive1
Commercial User
In some of those gigs where there is nothing that really indicates where the stage ends and the audience begins, a tidy stage is important for safety reasons. You don't want a patron or employee to trip over a cable and knock something over, damage equipment, break a cable, or get injured.
My rule of thumb is that if there is any possibility of foot traffic near a cable, it gets taped down.
My rule of thumb is that if there is any possibility of foot traffic near a cable, it gets taped down.
run your cables behind...
For the "On the ground" setups... rope lights make for a quick, safe and classy method to set a boundry
For the "On the ground" setups... rope lights make for a quick, safe and classy method to set a boundry
Yeah, and in my band's case it sometimes just comes down to running out of time. We roll a pretty large P.A. plus a lot of lighting (including trussing for outdoor venues), and we set it all up ourselves. There are times it comes down to troubleshooting a late-breaking light or sound issue vs. taping everything down and in those cases the things that directly impact the audio/visual experience out front are obviously going to take priority over a picture perfect stage.
I don't think I've ever noticed whether or not cables have been taped down. I'm a horrible gear addict, so I notice the guitars and basses and amps. The last couple years I've been noticing PA's alot more. As mentioned on another thread, musiic stands stand out to me, in a bad way. Long before I think about how beat up someones gear is, I'll notice how close to the scheduled start time the band, how long there set is, how much dead space between songs, how long their breaks are.
"Looks" aside, it's a bit of a safety hazard when cords are strewn all over the stage. Also, troubleshooting and finding a "bad" cable gets exponentially more challenging when it is intricately woven through a spaghetti pile of cables on a dark stage.
After MANY years of live gigging I have found that your cables will treat you pretty much the same way you treat them.
After MANY years of live gigging I have found that your cables will treat you pretty much the same way you treat them.
Our stage always looks like we spent a year setting it up. Nice and neat and very pro. People see with their ears and hear with their eyes. Thus if we look great we must be.
I'm just glad we live up to the expectations a great looking stage provides for us.
I'm just glad we live up to the expectations a great looking stage provides for us.
Lettermans final show on CBS, featured Bruce Springsteen, with his very worn Fender Esquire, first example that came to mind.........
We don't go as far as taping down wires, but things are fairly tidy. IMO the sound, song selection, execution, clothes, lights, etc are way more important than a (nuerotically?) tidy stage.
However, I do get peeved when bandmembers start creating small mountains of beer bottles, shot glasses and other trash lying around, leaving gigantic fast-food drink cups on the drum riser, etc... stuff like that looks pretty amateurish.
(I'm talking small-time weekend bar coverband here. Bluewine is right, it all depends on the band, the venue, etc.)
However, I do get peeved when bandmembers start creating small mountains of beer bottles, shot glasses and other trash lying around, leaving gigantic fast-food drink cups on the drum riser, etc... stuff like that looks pretty amateurish.
(I'm talking small-time weekend bar coverband here. Bluewine is right, it all depends on the band, the venue, etc.)
Definitely agree with that. Just last weekend the utility guy put a jello shot on our BL's keyboard and somehow it got knocked over so our BL had to scoop blue goop out of his keyboard.
I'm not above parking a beer bottle or a water glass on my amp for a set... but once I empty them, they're off the stage at the next break.
And AFAIC, food of any kind on stage during performance is an absolute no.
I think it's all important, especially song selection and the way the sets are geared up.
But...
The question was about stage appearance though?
But...
The question was about stage appearance though?
I'd have to say that having good stage hygiene is the same as keeping a building site clean or a mechanics workshop clean. It affects your own attitude toward your work .. which is playing your music.
I've been playing for years and I always go over the stage and make sure everything is in order. I dont care if the gear is a bit old so long as it sounds good but having leads untaped just irritates me. And I used to do this before a gig when I was just the lead singer.. doesnt take long
I also absolutely hate tripping over the guitarists lead .. or mine for that matter .. in the middle of a twirl .. or when I'm trying to launch and dont quite get there .. its embarassing. And if it can be avoided it should...
It can also be bad when some audience member jumps up on stage to dive off ... or to grab you .. and they trip ..
it really doesnt take long to gaff it all down
I've been playing for years and I always go over the stage and make sure everything is in order. I dont care if the gear is a bit old so long as it sounds good but having leads untaped just irritates me. And I used to do this before a gig when I was just the lead singer.. doesnt take long
I also absolutely hate tripping over the guitarists lead .. or mine for that matter .. in the middle of a twirl .. or when I'm trying to launch and dont quite get there .. its embarassing. And if it can be avoided it should...
It can also be bad when some audience member jumps up on stage to dive off ... or to grab you .. and they trip ..
it really doesnt take long to gaff it all down
Tend to agree for most bar-club gigs appearance may not be much of an issue. Safety always is a concern.
A neat appearance can't hurt especially if you are looking to move up in venues.
I agree, if possible, running cables behind equipment and taped down is a big help for players, and the occasional audience member who wants to share the stage.
If equipment is ratty looking, at least taping loose pieces on cabs until they can be recovered. Moving them in and out, transit, and accidents can happen and make things look worse. Torn grills can be replaced easily enough.
Also agree that an accumulation of bottles and glasses is not attractive and who needs the spills or broken glass on stage or equipment, or worse, on my axe.
I was in several bands that had a one drink per set limit. Was not a bad idea for the band and was respectful of the audience especially if they paid at the door. Party hearty after the gig. With today's DUI laws, it probably isn't such a bad idea.
A neat appearance can't hurt especially if you are looking to move up in venues.
I agree, if possible, running cables behind equipment and taped down is a big help for players, and the occasional audience member who wants to share the stage.
If equipment is ratty looking, at least taping loose pieces on cabs until they can be recovered. Moving them in and out, transit, and accidents can happen and make things look worse. Torn grills can be replaced easily enough.
Also agree that an accumulation of bottles and glasses is not attractive and who needs the spills or broken glass on stage or equipment, or worse, on my axe.
I was in several bands that had a one drink per set limit. Was not a bad idea for the band and was respectful of the audience especially if they paid at the door. Party hearty after the gig. With today's DUI laws, it probably isn't such a bad idea.
This reminds me of the early years of Jefferson Airplane, by their own admission the messiest most chaotic stage in the business, and most every cover band playing at any bar.
