Fighting For Space At Gigs

[DirtDog]

Thought this might be cool to show. Birds eye view showing how my band is spread out onstage. If you compare our heights (no one in the band is taller than 6’) you can see there’s only about 6 feet between our Amps which were in front of the next bands Amps and the front of the stage. But because there’s only 4 of us it wasn’t too bad. That was probably the least amount of room I’ve had this year as far as front of the stage to my rig. Played a few stages that were a lot deeper but more narrow where I’d keep an eye on our singer and move forward or backwards to give him space. When the singer plays guitar he’s at the mic stand for the most part and Im able to cover more area.
View attachment 2820638

Nice! That’s about twice as big as 75% if the stages we play.

 

[Stewie]

I've gotten along well with the drummer in every band I've ever been in. Usually it's "How much space do you need?" or "Where do you want me to set up?" It helps that I am usually pulling drums out of cases and setting up hardware with them.

 

[Korladis]

Like this I guessView attachment 2821065

...but why?

Its that second guitarist that's the issue. Just cut his break lines one day, problem solved.

Can't remember the last band I played with that had dual guitars. Maybe 1 in my 15 years playing.

I actually prefer bands with two guitars. I feel less compelled to stick to root riffs in them.

 

[LBS-bass]

I always try to set up just to the left of the drummer on the hi-hat side, although years of that has left me with a good bit of high-end hearing loss in my right ear. Because I also sing, I'm normally set up toward the front of the stage, but I usually have a pocket to fall back into on that side when I'm not singing or when I want to let someone else have the full spotlight. I've played a lot of small stages and you make do as you need to. Whoever is to my left is in a danger zone, though.

 

[Mr.Ace]

My whole band uses in-ear monitors. That’s freed up a lot of room. Still can be tight sometimes. I’m reasonable to a point as far as where I set up. But, if someone is going to hog the stage with multiple guitars and a pedal board, maybe just be assertive. Tell them what time it is.

 

[Sixgunn]

One of the few good things about being left handed. As long as I am on the right side I can pretty much play facing the "right-handed" guitar player in the iconic "Paul and john" set up which also allows to use of only one microphone to sing.

Yuck! No thanks!!!

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Re: Rugs on stage....

...but why?

Sorry to get a little OT here. I love having something to stand on besides a concrete stage. For this gig the stage crew provided rugs for us. Sometimes I will bring a rubber mat to stand on.

These 60 year old bones start complaining after a couple of hours when standing on concrete in boots.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[pbass2]

...but why?


I actually prefer bands with two guitars. I feel less compelled to stick to root riffs in them.

I actually just read that Lake used that carpet for several reasons, one of which was to help prevent being electrocuted!

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I just tell them to move their $#!+ off my way and no one has been brave enough not to do so.

 

[jbybj]

We play tight stages often, and I don't ask for a lot of room, but I do move around to the music and play a long scale ABG. If I'm not given sufficient room someone's gonna accidentally get smacked with a headstock

We are about to do our second gig on the tiniest stage. I made a new mini pedalboard and I bring a headless bass. Very economical use of space

 

[Korladis]

Hi,

Re: Rugs on stage....



Sorry to get a little OT here. I love having something to stand on besides a concrete stage. For this gig the stage crew provided rugs for us. Sometimes I will bring a rubber mat to stand on.

View attachment 2821256

These 60 year old bones start complaining after a couple of hours when standing on concrete in boots.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Ah, okay. The vast majority of stages I'm on are wood. And our sets aren't usually two hours long.

I actually just read that Lake used that carpet for several reasons, one of which was to help prevent being electrocuted!

That makes sense.

I guess just from my perspective, gigging on wooden stages, a guitarist bringing a carpet to every gig to stand on would seem kinda prima donna-ish.

 

[DenverKen]

Similar situation - my old band that hogged all the room played on concrete stages all summer long. For all of us late 50s types (then) that's a killer on yer feets. We all had rugs/mats.

 

[Joebarnes]

If those gals sound as good as they look, y'all are gonna get contracted

I'd say at the very least they sound as good as they look lol

 

[pbass2]

Ah, okay. The vast majority of stages I'm on are wood. And our sets aren't usually two hours long.


That makes sense.

I guess just from my perspective, gigging on wooden stages, a guitarist bringing a carpet to every gig to stand on would seem kinda prima donna-ish.

Well yeah, I was joking---it's ridiculous that these guitarists are bringing "carpets" as per the OP. Holy cow I've been playing for 35+ years and have thankfully never schlepped a rug to a gig. Drummers, sure, it can be a different story, but for guitar/bass--sorry, that's just silly . . .

 

[Korladis]

Similar situation - my old band that hogged all the room played on concrete stages all summer long. For all of us late 50s types (then) that's a killer on yer feets. We all had rugs/mats.

I don't think I've ever played on a concrete stage, honestly.

 

[DaveDeVille]

this is our typical set up at this small restaurant/bar .
- guitar { stage left } has a pad for all his little gizmo's ,
but i have plenty of room to roam ...

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Seems like no matter what band I’m in, I’m always fighting for room to play. After the guitarists put down their carpets, racks of guitars, effects boards the size of my kitchen table, and other crap, I end up wedged in back standing sideways with my butt up against my cab. Any other bassists out there feeling the squeeze at a gig and sick of being shoved in the back?

Always. I have a tendency for playing in larger band, 8+ members. Well, when you have 2 1/2 feet of neck sticking out, it’s going to be cramped. The last time I had ample room was playing in a power trio back in the early 70s.

 

[Gaolee]

Whoever is to my left is in a danger zone, though.

That's absolutely true when I play the Precision.

When I play a Thunderbird, I can rotate it up so the headstock isn't a head seeking missile. Then there's the upright. It has to have some space, otherwise it feeds back. The Precision? It clears space. If I didn't keep it on a leash, it would beat up the neighbor's guitar, steal cigarettes, and generally make a nuisance of itself. It has such a sweet voice - go figure. Moving doesn't help space issues, but my take is that musicians who don't move are often the musicians who can't keep time. That makes the Precision even more lethal.

 

[BrotherEarl]

I always find this happens consistently when the drummer shows up early and sets up at his leisure.

Over time I've perfected a "for shame" face just for the occasion that produces results. It helps when accompanied by sitting on a cab with my arms folded and asking if he intended to spend the night sitting on my amp or if he had been listening to RUSH on the ride over.

It resolves the issue but it also means I need to factor in time for drummers to move their stuff before I get setup.

 

[Spectre1966]

I always find this happens consistently when the drummer shows up early and sets up at his leisure.

Over time I've perfected a "for shame" face just for the occasion that produces results. It helps when accompanied by sitting on a cab with my arms folded and asking if he intended to spend the night sitting on my amp or if he had been listening to RUSH on the ride over.

It resolves the issue but it also means I need to factor in time for drummers to move their stuff before I get setup.

The funny part is the drummer is on my side...we chatted after the last gig and weren’t thrilled with all the extra guitars and lighting equipment the rest of the band brought. Haven’t had practice in a few weeks but plan to discuss it next time we are all together.