Music Stands on Stage

[PauFerro]

I did a search, and the last time this was discussed was in October of 2012. I think it could be worthwhile to discuss this topic.

Should bands have music stands on stage? When you answer this, indicate the kind of band to which your answer applies, or if it you think it's a blanket position that applies to all bands...

 

[the_stoot64]

Show bands and orchestras are fine. I don't want to see music stands or ipads on stage if there are loud guitars.

 

[PauFerro]

My answer -- I think stands are OK in all band situations, except situations where the band has had sufficient rehearsal time to perform flawlessly without stands.

If I was a touring band, I wouldn't use stands. There would be sufficient rehearsal that everyone would know the songs by heart. I notice that when I play songs without a stand, I connect with the audience better, and they clap harder.

But it's not always possible to do this when I have so much else to do. Or if I have a lot of complicated songs with sheet music I don't have time or ability to memorize. Plus, my memory is not great. Having a stand helps me play better.

I also think there are ways of minimizing the footprint of a stand. You can lower it and put a plant in front of it. In my jazz group, I hang a banner from the stand to brand the group, increase facebook likes, and provide a focal point for pictures. Clients take pictures ALL THE TIME of the stand. Works well in a jazz situation.

I saw a killer classic rock band use stands. Everyone had one, and they kept them down low. I didn't even notice they were there until I looked really hard.

 

[El Spearo]

If I went to see Metallica and they had stands I'd be like, really? but a jazz or orchestral or something along the lines, no worries. I used to play in a salsa orchestra and almost everybody had stands in front of them

 

[two fingers]

I answered a simple "no" but I suppose I could let a jazz band get away with it.

Pit orchestras aren't on stage so they don't count. They're in the pit for a reason.

But if you play in a pop/rock/variety/top 20/soul/funk/R&B band with a music stand you may as well go ahead and slap on some shorts, sandals with black socks or bleach white snaekers, stupid backwards beany hat, and every other awful old unprofessional bass player stereotype while you're at it. It's just awful.

If you don't have time enough or talent enough to learn the songs then (my opinion of course) you don't have time or talent enough to be on stage.

If I ever paid a cover charge and walked in to see some guy dressed like he would on Saturday morning looking through his reading glasses at a music stand I would want my money back so I could go see a band that gives a crap.

If I am going to pay you, you should be special. You should LOOK dideferential than anyone I'm the audience. And you should be talented enough to warrant being paid..... which means you know the songs BEFORE you show up.

I play only fill in gigs these days. I may play 20 songs in a given show I have never preformed live before. I do keep a chart book just in casE I have a brain far (or the band surprises me with an "alternative arrangement "). But it stays on the floor behind my wedge monitor and the majority of the crowd doesn't ever know it's there. I turn the page with the tip of my shoes.

But if I were a member of a band you can believe there would be no stupid beany hats and no music stands.

 

[GuiTuber]

As a viewer, if I'm paying to see you play, i.e. I had to buy a ticket, you better have your stuff memorized. The only thing I would give a pass on would be a set list.

I know orchestras use stands all the time. It's basically accepted, or even expected, so nobody complains.

Playing in a bar band, however, it's cheezy, in my opinion, but I understand it.

In our group, the BL and the other guitarist use iPads. They're mounted on their mic stands and are mildly conspicuous. But we aren't a touring band and those two guys have very demanding day jobs (the BL is an SAT tutor and the other guy is a regional mgr for a major department store). They use the iPads as a fall back. They're not reading from them song after song. As the BL says, he sometimes needs a little reminder of the chords, or where the capo should be or the first line of a song. From there, he's usually good. The other guy needs it more to remind him of almost every song we do. He's not playing from it, but he makes sure the song is on screen when we start. He's got the software to arrange the PDF's in set list order, so he's not having to search between songs. He even has the Bluetooth foot switch for scrolling. So while he may rely on the iPad more than the BL, he has taken the steps to minimize the mechanics of using it.

Personally, I have never used anything and don't want to. If I don't know it, then I haven't done my job to learn it. That's just me. I don't hold my band mates to the same standard.

 

[DWBass]

For Rock and Top40 cover bands..............NO!! If one is paying more attention to the music stand it severely limits the interaction between the band and the audience/crowd. It also means one doesn't take the time to properly learn lyrics/parts, etc. I don't find it professional at all.

Jazz band doing standards or Big Band/Orchestra/Classical..........sure, why not.

I can see having some sort of reference material to help keep things in order. I keep my setlist with key notes on it on the floor in front of me. I don't mind that. That's just something to glance down at occasionally. Having singers with music stands with lyrics is not a good look. Saw a band not too long ago. 3 singers up front all with music stands doing a 2 step while reading and singing. Not engaging the crowd at all! BORING! Not to mention the horrible PA they had with the reverb set so high I thought I was in a damn tunnel! I don't care how good the band is. Maybe the 'regular guy' doesn't care but I, as a musician/performer, do care.

 

[bass12]

Depends on what the focal point of the show is.

 

[MD]

I'm only interested in playing jazz, so yeah, having a stand is SOP. I know there are cats out there that have memorized hundreds of tunes, but i don't have that kind of brain power.

 

[Febs]

I did a search, and the last time this was discussed was in October of 2012.

You need to hone your search skills. The last time this was discussed was last week.

 

[buldog5151bass]

To me, as long as they are not directly in front, I don't have a problem. I"ve seem bands with stands with great stage presense, and bands without them with lousy stage presense.

 

[Pacman]

But if you play in a pop/rock/variety/top 20/soul/funk/R&B band with a music stand you may as well go ahead and slap on some shorts, sandals with black socks or bleach white snaekers, stupid backwards beany hat, and every other awful old unprofessional bass player stereotype while you're at it. It's just awful.

If you don't have time enough or talent enough to learn the songs then (my opinion of course) you don't have time or talent enough to be on stage.

If I ever paid a cover charge and walked in to see some guy dressed like he would on Saturday morning looking through his reading glasses at a music stand I would want my money back so I could go see a band that gives a crap.

I was in what was probably the most popular band in my market, and every single person on stage used an iPad for charts. Nobody even noticed - there's a difference between having an iPad for reference and having your nose buried in a chart. As for not having time or talent enough to be on stage, I'll just say there are plenty of musicians (and audience members) who would disagree with you. But hey, I guess not everyone can be as awesome as you.

 

[ThirstyMonkey]

While I'm not a fan of having music stands on stage, I prefer it to having our singer step away from the mic because she can't remember the next line. If I have a brain fart, I can generally sit out a few bars until I remember what I'm supposed to play without the entire audience noticing. Not so with our lead vocalist. We all have demanding day jobs and if she occasionally has to glance over to the lyrics, I can live with the stand.

 

[FretNoMore]

I think "it depends" - it's nothing strange for a big band for instance, and I'd rather have stands than musicians or singers who don't remember the music or lyrics.

Personally I set the stand low and at the side so I can glance at it in case I need to refresh my memory. A high stand between the musician and the audience isn't that nice, I try to avoid that.

 

[jasonrp]

It's complicated for me. The guy I work with the most has a very musical mind and never forgets the music...words on the other hand are hit and miss with him. He uses a stand with the words at practice and it has followed him on stage before but not too often. Can't say I really like it but it doesn't get under my skin

 

[elgecko]

Anti music stand people, how do you feel about teleprompters?

I was watching footage of George Strait's final concert and was surprised to see that teleprompters had taken the place of floor monitors.

 

[BurningSkies]

Not.On.My.Watch.

 

[Gaolee]

I play in four bands right now. That means I have to remember something like 200 songs. Maybe more. It ain't happening. I use a stand and glance at the chart between songs. So sue me.

 

[DWBass]

I play in four bands right now. That means I have to remember something like 200 songs. Maybe more. It ain't happening. I use a stand and glance at the chart between songs. So sue me.

200? That's all? SMH!

 

[Gaolee]

Yeah. I'm not real bright. And I don't remember squat these days.