Have you played on a moving stage?

[Playbyear]

Another active topic about “biggest crowd”, reminded me of playing on moving stages.

I’ve played the slow rotating turntables that turn 360* one direction , then reverse. Those always seemed a bit strange as I could never focus on the audience and it’s hard to get any energy back.

I have played on boat dinner cruises and was far less comfortable on those. The worst was on a modest sized party boat, maybe 100-150 passengers. Were were set up facing backwards and the cruise was up and down a steep banked canal. I always had the reverse motion against the canal bank in my vision. I never seemed to have my normal balance and while not quite sick, I wasn’t right at all. It was a little better when I had some vocals because it required all my attention.

I’ve never played on a trailer or truck bed that was moving, but I’d imagine it’s quite a trip!

Does anyone have experience or stories to share?
Trucks, bus roofs, boats, trailers, parade floats, airplanes?

 

[Winslow]

I’ve never played on a trailer or truck bed that was moving, but I’d imagine it’s quite a trip!

It certainly was:
Got any band pics with the "Po-Po?"

 

[Calebmundy]

I did. I played on a rotating stage in a big arena in Houston. The guy I was playing with was like a successful construction company owner and bought his way into opening for George Strait. Pretty fun time. Very weird deal.

 

[Jared Houseman]

I played on a trailer for a parade a few years back, it wasn't too bad. We were booked to play on a floating stage where the crowd are sitting on kayaks in a lake this summer but it has been cancelled

 

[2112]

Does this include moving stages that weren't supposed to be moving? #rickety

 

[Lesfunk]

On a cruise ship during a storm....
I don’t think it counts because Everything was moving!

 

[rufus.K]

On a trailer and on a float.
The float was slow and sturdy.. no issue
The trailer was large, but clunky, and didnt enjoy it so much

 

[dreamadream99]

Sort of. Revolving restaurant in an observation tower.

 

[zontar]

Does this include moving stages that weren't supposed to be moving? #rickety

That's what I was thinking.

If so--then yes.

 

[QweziRider]

This. Music City Queen. It wasn't so bad. Unless a much larger barge and tow went by, making a wake. Or turning a 180 in the middle of the cruise in the dark. Couldn't see out the windows at night and the "sloshing" in our own wake during the turn was a bit sea sick inducing. It was a pretty good gig.

 

[Oddly]

I've played on a trailer-stage a couple of times...but never while they were moving!

One of them did collapse when the rear stabilisers gave out, and slid about 50 feet down a hill behind us...but luckily we'd just finished!

 

[Bob_Ross]

One of the stages I played on when I was a cruise ship bassist was a round rotating thing. I would try to convince myself that it was like being in Yes during the late 70s, but it really was pretty cheesy. And tbh the rotating stage moved so slowly that it barely registered unless you were trying to make eye contact with an audience member.

Playing on a regular (stationary) stage on that same ship during storm swells was a far more disorienting experience!

 

[staurosjohn]

Does this include moving stages that weren't supposed to be moving? #rickety

^^^ Looks sturdy- but was setup, in haste, and bounced quite a bit- especially during ‘active’ songs!! (RHCP, etc.)

 

[two fingers]

In reality, no. But, technically, yes.

Years ago (late 80s) I played a hotel bar in Franklin, VA that was out in the middle of an indoor courtyard between the rooms. In other words, people staying at the hotel could open sliding-glass doors and watch the band from their rooms. As if that weren't weird enough, the "stage" was a temporary plywood deal ON TOP OF THE HOT TUB. The answer to your obvious first question is "Yes, there WAS water in the hot tub".

And the stage moved. Literally, every few songs, we would all step off of the platform while the sound guy amd monitor guy would shove it back in place. Sometimes it would move a few FEET. And it would even slightly rotate from the vibrations.

To add to all of that, the venue was called "The Teddy Bear Club". You can't make this stuff up.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

How about a train?
It was hilarious to watch the guitar player use his wah for 1 song.
He never touched it for the rest of the gig, balance while playing is interesting.
All gear had to be bunjiied to the car. Drums were moving free and
the drummer was green through the first set, but he got more comfortable 2nd set.

Also done a few smaller boats cruises too.
Dirk

 

[jnewmark]

I played on a flat bed trailer, pulled by a pickup truck in a parade once.

 

[bassicmike]

Played a stage that seemed to have about an inch of bounce once.

 

[voodoobassist]

Played on a moving flatbed trailer way back when I was a kid. Revival circuit band. Had a LOUD generator on the trailer for power, we cruised all through the town "spreading the word". Being a kid, I thought it was kinda cool. At my age now, I'd probably pass.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I've played in a few parades, mostly no issues. There was just the one time that the tractor pulling the trailer was being driven by someone who wasn't too "smooth" with the clutch. Everytime we had to start up again from a pause in moving there was a noticeable "jerk" we knew to be prepared for it after the first couple so it all worked out.

 

[Rabidhamster]

There was this one gig where the whole room started spinning like crazy...