It's the Music Stand Band??!!

[TheReceder]

View attachment 5193876
Forget the music stands. Let's talk cable management.

My guess is that he's not using those cables for the band.

Probably a scientist maintaining control of NASA satilites.

 

[Core Creek]

Let me be clear, there's nothing wrong with using a music stand if you need one. I am doing a sub gig this coming weekend and I'll have one for the ONE song that I need a chart for because I likely won't have time to memorize the changes. But it will be as close to waist level as I can make it go, and it will be off to one side (and perhaps even off of the stage entirely if I can make it work) so no one will really notice it. For most of the time it will not be in use. When I need it, I'll glance at it discreetly. It certainly won't be all up in my face like that

I hear you… they are tools that can be used wisely, but shouldn't be a complete crutch.

I made the switch years ago to an iPad and a small stand to mount it. It takes up a lot less space and makes keeping volumes of music easy to access…. I haven't seen anyone use an actual chart book in years.

 

[coyote1]

Say what you will about an IPad on a mic stand, full blown music stands being used by gigging musicians who have supposedly rehearsed their material is straight up unacceptable. I won't stand for it. I won't! And yes, clean up the cables. A clean stage is a happy stage.

Back in the day, I was a sub drummer for a couple of local wedding/clubdate orchestras. That meant zero rehearsal. It also meant I needed the charts, especially since I did backing vox. And while those bands did rehearse, they took requests** from clients. With sometimes no way to rehearse in short time spans, they also needed charts.

So my experience is that the folks with music stands are, by and large, professionals. They at least can read music, which generally your well rehearsed rock group that only manages one set in a night cannot.

Some of you are in bands that do three sets. If you're not reading and your client calls you less than a week before a gig and requests these five special songs, how do you manage it?


**Not on the spot at the gig, but often just a couple days in advance.

 

[LBS-bass]

Back in the day, I was a sub drummer for a couple of local wedding/clubdate orchestras. That meant zero rehearsal. It also meant I needed the charts, especially since I did backing vox. And while those bands did rehearse, they took requests** from clients. With sometimes no way to rehearse in short time spans, they also needed charts.

So my experience is that the folks with music stands are, by and large, professionals. They at least can read music, which generally your well rehearsed rock group that only manages one set in a night cannot.

Some of you are in bands that do three sets. If you're not reading and your client calls you less than a week before a gig and requests these five special songs, how do you manage it?


**Not on the spot at the gig, but often just a couple days in advance.

I didn't think this thread was about music stands so much as the way they are positioned.

 

[lordradish]

View attachment 5193876
Forget the music stands. Let's talk cable management.

Unless that's a modular synth, just no.

No.

 

[lordradish]

So my experience is that the folks with music stands are, by and large, professionals. They at least can read music, which generally your well rehearsed rock group that only manages one set in a night cannot.

Hell, I saw Larry Carlton, Stanley Clarke and Billy Cobham back in the 90's, and they had charts. I use em too when I have to, but I try to be as discrete as possible.

 

[lordradish]

C'mon man! Give them a break! They are just trying to play some music. I would call the Fire Marshall in on that wiring.

Looks more like an Elks club gig than Madison Square Garden.

 

[lermgalieu]

You and I know full well that the entire intent of this thread was for the OP to mock these folks.

No I don't know that at all. I see a band with music stands right in front of their faces. At any age, this is bad form/practice. I got nothing about age from the OP - go read it again. Yes, a bunch of bad taste comments ensued, and I agree with criticism of that.

 

[GretschWretch]

While I can agree with some of your post, like playing extemporaneous free form jazz for instance, or solos over set chord sequences, you make sense.

But have you ever heard the expression "Everybody on the same page"? As you well know, when you get into larger ensembles playing music that is more intertwined and a lot less repetitive than your basic 1-4-5 progression over and over again, reading off charts is a pretty good idea.

The main reason it is used is it speeds up group learning significantly. Secondly, music gives you a track to follow that greatly reduces the amount of "Clams" tossed to the audience. And finally, playing 800 to 1,000+ linear notes in a piece and playing them correctly every time out multiplied by how many players using their own interpretation is a recipe for disaster.

As for the subject matter of the original post, this band of weekenders probably could get by without the stands.

Actually, I agree with you 100%. But I was referring to anything from trios to sextets, nothing larger. And my principal gripe was not about Real Book arrangements but about the jazz group's absolute neglect to interact with the audience. Not even name that tune? C'mon!

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

What kind do you like?

Bell around the neck, walk through the public square while being pelted with tomatoes

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Actually, I agree with you 100%. But I was referring to anything from trios to sextets, nothing larger. And my principal gripe was not about Real Book arrangements but about the jazz group's absolute neglect to interact with the audience. Not even name that tune? C'mon!

No doubt considering half the people you play for can't understand what you are playing, at least give them something to look at. Right? Me? I offer all the visual stimulation of a potted plant on stage unfortunately. LOL!!!

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Give 'em a break - no one's wearing cargo shorts.[/QUOTE

I see flip-flops.

 

[Nev375]

Dump the music stands and buy some cheap iPads.

Please tell me where to get a functional iPad that is cheaper than a music stand.

 

[sylvanbass]

Man, there is a lot going on with that picture.

 

[bolophonic]

Just to be clear, the joke here is that they're old people, right?

I'm not making any jokes, and I myself, am already old, so let's not get carried away here.

 

[DJ Bebop]

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/good-band-did-everything-wrong.1526098/

With Papa Bear, nice.

 

[LBS-bass]

I'm not making any jokes, and I myself, am already old, so let's not get carried away here.

I'm older than dirt and I don't see any ageism. I'm not shy about letting y'all know what I think, you must know that by now.

 

[Tony In Philly]

I see all of the usual suspects have piled on. This place can be utterly toxic at times.

Exactly. Let's all make snarky comments about another band. If you don't like what they're doing, then don't do it with your band. There's no need to insult other people on a public forum.

 

[LBS-bass]

Exactly. Let's all make snarky comments about another band. If you don't like what they're doing, then don't do it with your band. There's no need to insult other people on a public forum.

So what's the point of a public forum? Are we just here to entertain each other or are we here to learn something? Saying this is ok is not ok in my book. Sorry, it just isn't. These guys don't get a pass, but the point isn't to criticize a particular group of people, it's to let learners know that there is a low bar that needs to be met if you're going to do this in public. And the bar doesn't get much lower than "don't stick your music stand right in front of your face."

Why is that wrong? Are we really just here to pass out participation trophies to everyone, or is there supposed to be some value in this place beyond people just jabbering about nothing?

 

[gln1955]

Exactly. Let's all make snarky comments about another band. If you don't like what they're doing, then don't do it with your band. There's no need to insult other people on a public forum.

This. No one needs to be told that hiding behind a stand is not a good look if you want to be a visually appealing band. This particular band isn't going for that, so is it really necessary to hear about "what every band on earth should do"?