• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Are you the creepy wireless guy?

tshapiro

tshapiro

Gold Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Aug 25, 2015
1,525
3,683
61
Jax Florida
www.last2leave.com
#1
Ok, so let me say right up front that this might be an uncomfortable topic... or humorous depending on how secure you are with yourself.

So, it seems every guitarist or bassist who discovers wireless has to use this new found freedom to wonder off the stage and into the audience. This is, of course, because the audience members are going to be amazed that the the guitarist or bass player is standing right there next them playing, right? They get to see the amazement of your weekend worrier talent and instrument right up close, right? WRONG!!! Look, if you’re some hot notorious talent that fans are clamoring to get a piece of then go ahead and take that glory walk through the crowd. However, if you’re just a bar band guy who gets no attention after the set than keep your butt on the stage and enjoy the fact that you and your fellow guitarists are free to move about without getting awkwardly twisted up. Take this opportunity to up your arena moves and stage presence. If the chicks are not flirting with you between sets than don’t invade their space with wireless abandon. And guys don’t like other guys unusually close either. The only exception to this might be a deliberate gander out front during sound check. Unfortunately, these instructions don’t come with wireless units and someone had to tell you :-)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Garret Graves, Mr_Moo, MarkM13 and 77 others
#2
In my first gigging band, the guitarist had a wireless; at one gig he wandered out into a lukewarm crowd - not dancing, sitting at tables - while he took a solo. It was really awkward, and kind of funny - he's shredding some hard rock tune but it felt like the violinist at a restaurant you have to pay to make him go away.

I do have a wireless, and like not having a cable to trip over. I stopped using it on my last couple of gigs because it seems to interfere with my digital PA mixer. But on gigs when I was using it, I realized to be very sparing about going into the crowd. I have done it a couple of times, but you have to know when the moment is right for it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: twocargar, Korladis, jamro217 and 10 others
#6
I recently saw a friends band (mainly a Bon Jovi tribute act) where the singer, two guitarists and bassplayer were all wireless.
There were times when only the drummer was left on stage!
Now this is definitely a party band, everyone one of them are great showmen and the crowd was well up for interacting with them, so it really added to the show.

Personally, I'd only use one if I was also doing sound, and even then, only leave the stage at soundcheck before showtime.
That said, removal of cabling from a stage is a huge benefit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Korladis, hrodbert696, alaskaleftybass and 6 others
#7
tshapiro said:
Ok, so let me say right up front that this might be an uncomfortable topic... or humorous depending on how secure you are with yourself.

So, it seems every guitarist or bassist who discovers wireless has to use this new found freedom to wonder off the stage and into the audience. This is, of course, because the audience members are going to be amazed that the the guitarist or bass player is standing right there next them playing, right? They get to see the amazement of your weekend worrier talent and instrument right up close, right? WRONG!!! Look, if you’re some hot notorious talent that fans are clamoring to get a piece of then go ahead and take that glory walk through the crowd. However, if you’re just a bar band guy who gets no attention after the set than keep your butt on the stage and enjoy the fact that you and your fellow guitarists are free to move about without getting awkwardly twisted up. Take this opportunity to up your arena moves and stage presence. If the chicks are not flirting with you between sets than don’t invade their space with wireless abandon. And guys don’t like other guys unusually close either. The only exception to this might be a deliberate gander out front during sound check. Unfortunately, these instructions don’t come with wireless units and someone had to tell you :)
Click to expand...

First off, one WANDERS off the stage. One WONDERS where you learned spelling and vocabulary. ;)

Second, "then" and "than" are not interchangeable. Still WONDERING.... :D

Other THAN that, I agree with you for the most part. Sexy man beasts with Rickenbacker basses and long flowing locks like @mellowinman can probably get away with it. Overweight guys in gardening jeans, white New Balance sneakers, and XXL Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys should probably just stay on stage. :cool:
 
  • Like
Reactions: MynameisMe, Mr_Moo, Plectrum72 and 43 others
#8
mellowinman said:
You're wrong. I have had great results playing in the audience. I'm not a great player; no one's astounded, but I have had a ton of enthusiasm from audience members. Interacting with the audience is a great idea, and if it's not working, you're doing it wrong.
Click to expand...

Yeah, no.....it’s usually creepy. And most of the guys that I know that do it THINK they are doing it right, but rarely do it in a fun and engaging way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LiquidMidnight, punchdrunk, Burwabit and 11 others
#10
If you have a wireless, you should be required to wander into the audience at least once per set. The audience sees some douche hiding behind his mic stand looking totally indifferent and thinks he doesn't care whether I have a good time or not and he is probably some sort of pervert. It is imperative to go among the masses and schmooze it up with them while you impress them with your amazing licks. They love it. It makes them feel connected to the band. Even a bass player with a wireless can get chics by going into the audience while playing.
I was working on a wireless drum set so the drummer can go out with the other band members, but I abandoned the idea. During testing, the drummer would always wander over to the bar and never come back.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr_Moo, Royal Marine, DaDo625 and 36 others
#11
guy n. cognito said:
Yeah, no.....it’s usually creepy. And most of the guys that I know that do it THINK they are doing it right, but rarely do it in a fun and engaging way.
Click to expand...

Next thing ya know you'll be telling me that propping my foot up on a monitor wedge showing my bleach white New Balance sneakers in all their glory does NOT make me look like a RAWK GAWD!!! :bassist:

I mean, how else am I supposed to show off my knee surgery scar through the hole I ripped in my jeans?????
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr_Moo, Plectrum72, dr doofie and 23 others
#12
tshapiro said:
Ok, so let me say right up front that this might be an uncomfortable topic... or humorous depending on how secure you are with yourself.

So, it seems every guitarist or bassist who discovers wireless has to use this new found freedom to wonder off the stage and into the audience. This is, of course, because the audience members are going to be amazed that the the guitarist or bass player is standing right there next them playing, right? They get to see the amazement of your weekend worrier talent and instrument right up close, right? WRONG!!! Look, if you’re some hot notorious talent that fans are clamoring to get a piece of then go ahead and take that glory walk through the crowd. However, if you’re just a bar band guy who gets no attention after the set than keep your butt on the stage and enjoy the fact that you and your fellow guitarists are free to move about without getting awkwardly twisted up. Take this opportunity to up your arena moves and stage presence. If the chicks are not flirting with you between sets than don’t invade their space with wireless abandon. And guys don’t like other guys unusually close either. The only exception to this might be a deliberate gander out front during sound check. Unfortunately, these instructions don’t come with wireless units and someone had to tell you :)
Click to expand...
Sometimes I wonder on stage, like I wonder if I can hook up with the chic in the red dress, or wonder where I parked. But when I wander into the audience, I will wonder things like, what am I smelling?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr_Moo, Gearhead17, Plectrum72 and 22 others
#13
two fingers said:
Next thing ya know you'll be telling me that propping my foot up on a monitor wedge showing my bleach white New Balance sneakers in all their glory does NOT make me look like a RAWK GAWD!!! :bassist:

I mean, how else am I supposed to show off my knee surgery scar through the hole I ripped in my jeans?????
Click to expand...

No, that move is awesome. It puts you on the edge of the stage so the audience can see your man gut sticking out from under your sleeveless Union Jack/GNR/Rush T-shirt.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr_Moo, Plectrum72, dr doofie and 21 others
#14
The last time I ran onto the dance floor was at a hotel bar gig sometime around late 2001. Everyone except the drummer hit the dance floor right before the set break. The audience thought we were doing our best hotel bar band RAWK out with the audience.... shtick.

What had really happened was the drummer had cleared the stage with the most rotten gas I ever smelled. I seriously though the sax player was going to vomit during the break.

So, in this case, the only "creepy" guy was the one left on stage.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr_Moo, Gearhead17, Plectrum72 and 24 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back