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Music Stands on Stage
- Thread starter PauFerro
- Start date
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Or use the high-tech teleprompter types.
I use one if I have to sing because I'm not a singer and I can't remember lyrics very well. I don't mind seeing cover bands with them. Most musicians work full time jobs and don't have time to make everything perfect.
Guitarist uses a think pad for the set list, actually small than the old 8.5x11 piece of paper. Singer uses a think pad for lyrics. attaches to mic stand.....so in a way, we have no stands on stage except the ones that hold our instruments
I just saw a video of John Mayer on YouTube and noticed a teleprompter at his feet, right next to a monitor. It was from a concert he did in LA and it appears the video was professionally done and likely for sale. A number of recurring camera angles showed the teleprompter so I would guess that even John Mayer didn't care that anyone might notice (I'm sure he or someone in his entourage approved the video before distribution).
The reasons to use a stand are many, but the reasons to not use a stand are largely aesthetic, i.e. concerns over whether it looks dumb, and that varies widely among genres. There's a world of difference between a subtle place to glance at your charts and a folding metal stand (I've seen both), but in the end, I'd rather listen to a band that has access to the music they need, even if it means they have visible music stands.
Or you could go with these: Invalid Link Removed
Or you could go with these: Invalid Link Removed
when I mainly played keys/sang ... I'd use a few cheat sheets ... which are easy to use laying on your keys ...
playing bass ... just a song list on the mic stand or floor monitor ... occasional cheat sheet for new song lyrics ...
hiding behind stands if you're a bar band ain't good ... !
playing bass ... just a song list on the mic stand or floor monitor ... occasional cheat sheet for new song lyrics ...
hiding behind stands if you're a bar band ain't good ... !
I can't remember ever seeing any kind of rock band using music stands on stage, or anywhere else for that matter.
Jazz or orchestral, no problem.
Jazz or orchestral, no problem.
jive1
Commercial User
Just because you don't have a music stand, doesn't mean that you automatically get additional stage presence. I've seen plenty of bands where they did not use music stands but the performers stared at their feet or fretboard the whole time, while I've also seen plenty of bands that use music stands or tablets that move around and engage the audience. One doesn't necessarily preclude the other.
To me a music stand is like any other tool you would use for a performance. Simply, if it's improves your performance, then use it. If it doesn't then don't. Some guys need a specific pedal to get their tone, some don't. If the pedal helps you create a better performance, then awesome. If you just stare at the floor and tweak the knobs on the pedal all night, then it detracts from the performance and needs to be reconsidered. Similarly with a music stand, if it helps you to create a better performance without detracting from it, then please use it. I'd rather have a music stand than a trainwreck any day, so if you're not sure about the material, please use a chart.
In the last 5 years, I have performed over 700 different songs with over a dozen bands. I have to use an iPad for charts, because there's no way I can remember all that material. I love playing requests, but I can't remember every tune that I have performed, so it's nice to have a reference so that I can play someone's favorite song.
To me a music stand is like any other tool you would use for a performance. Simply, if it's improves your performance, then use it. If it doesn't then don't. Some guys need a specific pedal to get their tone, some don't. If the pedal helps you create a better performance, then awesome. If you just stare at the floor and tweak the knobs on the pedal all night, then it detracts from the performance and needs to be reconsidered. Similarly with a music stand, if it helps you to create a better performance without detracting from it, then please use it. I'd rather have a music stand than a trainwreck any day, so if you're not sure about the material, please use a chart.
In the last 5 years, I have performed over 700 different songs with over a dozen bands. I have to use an iPad for charts, because there's no way I can remember all that material. I love playing requests, but I can't remember every tune that I have performed, so it's nice to have a reference so that I can play someone's favorite song.
Any time someone says there is one answer to cover all situations, they are being foolish. I think that in general for rock bands, everyone should memorize the music, but I can think of a LOT of situations where that just isn't possible. There was a time I had wife, family, full-time job, grad school and band. I just didn't have time to memorize everything. Bravo to those that do, but we aren't all full-time musicians and/or have unlimited time to devote to our music.
I play in fours bands also... one is a fairly avant-garde jazz band where we all use charts, one is a power rock trio no charts allowed, one is a reggae band - but one with complicated songs, and I used to use charts and the other is an industrial improv band... no charts there.
So, I guess I'll go vote now for "it depends."
I guess in the 50's ole Blue Eyes had trouble remembering lyrics. So in the orchestra pit he had handwritten cue cards where the lyrics fit on one large cardboard sign. When the song changed, so did the cue. Now all the big bands on stage use teleprompters, and sometimes like John Mayer at their feet a video monitor with their lyrics on them.
Sometimes even national acts forget their lyrics. And they wrote the songs!
I often play in an old folks home as a volunteer and do charities. I have a huge book of songs I know but have to pull out the lyrics and put them on a stand. For a paid show or wine tasting I have a discreet tablet that I operate with a laser pointer mouse so I don't have to touch it.
So the wealthy and well cared for do cheat and have their lyrics fed to them. The difference between them and us is we have to be more creative and use what technology we can put together, and I've done that.
I'd rather see music stands on stage and a lively performance than a bunch of guys without a stand zoning out and standing stone cold.
Having said that, I don't think people should sit with their heads buried in the stands, they should perform and entertain, using their whatevers only to help cue them up for the next set of lyrics. Discretion.
Sometimes even national acts forget their lyrics. And they wrote the songs!
I often play in an old folks home as a volunteer and do charities. I have a huge book of songs I know but have to pull out the lyrics and put them on a stand. For a paid show or wine tasting I have a discreet tablet that I operate with a laser pointer mouse so I don't have to touch it.
So the wealthy and well cared for do cheat and have their lyrics fed to them. The difference between them and us is we have to be more creative and use what technology we can put together, and I've done that.
I'd rather see music stands on stage and a lively performance than a bunch of guys without a stand zoning out and standing stone cold.
Having said that, I don't think people should sit with their heads buried in the stands, they should perform and entertain, using their whatevers only to help cue them up for the next set of lyrics. Discretion.
Having an ipad to quickly look at changes is not a crime. Many of the bands I play with do music for a living unlike me (weekend warrior) and we never practice as a band so we have no issue looking at the changes for this reason: set lists are stupid unless your packing theaters or bigger. You have to play to your audience, not a prearranged piece of paper you decided would fly best for the night. Songs get called on the fly so you connect with the people you are entertaining. In doing this though, our repertoire of songs is ridiculous and some of them we haven't played in years but with a glance over at a stored chord chart, boom ready to go in 2.2 seconds.
I don't use a stand per se - I use one of those "stands" that clamps on to the microphone stand, which is there anyway because I do some singing. I don't use the stand for anything but the set list and maybe two or three songs per night that have a lot of lyrics. The music itself, I know.
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
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I think stands are fine. I have seen bands even use improvised teleprompters at live gigs before. Even if you aren't going note for note reading, it is helpful to know where you are if somehow you get distracted. I literally have had tab taped to the side I could see, of a roof support pillar with the changes we were doing highlighted... Kept me from truly bombing the performance. A lot to be said about not bombing a show...
As a piano-ist, I got into using charts a lot, since the music was always changing up and the gig demands were diverse. However, since getting into bass, I've been forcing myself to not use charts, except for putting a song's start key next to the title on a set list. --- I was reading charts so much that I was almost losing my memory and instincts for playing without them.
When I learn something, I'll chart it immediately, so that I can get away from from it asap. -- So often we get too dependant on them when we actually have the music in head and heart already.
Use 'em when you have to. Otherwise, test yourself by trying to play through as many songs as possible without them, then focus on your weak spots to conquer them. -- Plus, it's okay to have a cheat sheet on hand when needed, but it's soooo much better for your brain if you can make that grey squiggly thing work.
When I learn something, I'll chart it immediately, so that I can get away from from it asap. -- So often we get too dependant on them when we actually have the music in head and heart already.
Use 'em when you have to. Otherwise, test yourself by trying to play through as many songs as possible without them, then focus on your weak spots to conquer them. -- Plus, it's okay to have a cheat sheet on hand when needed, but it's soooo much better for your brain if you can make that grey squiggly thing work.
Stands are lame outside of a music class or orchestra. They got no place on the rock stage. If you use 'em it means you dont know the songs or need something to hide behind.
I was playing in a "Celtic-folk pub-rock" band and one member starts using a music stand for chord charts and lyrics. What this did was make him lazy and eventually our number of rehearsals decreased. It also made me get lazy over remembering the lyrics and I started peeking at his lyric sheets, really bad for our whole stage presence. Orchestra/pro backing band/TV type stuff-it's required. A rock group, folk combo, etc...you really ought to watch a video and see just how lame the music stand looks, it's important to look good onstage, a music stand is as lame-ass as it gets in this musician's opinion! Never again.
Nope. It's not about being as "awesome" as me. It's about being good enough for YOUR GIG (whatever talent level that may require). And, again, even I keep a chart book on the floor some gigs. I stated that in ordinary English. I can have the court reporter read that back to you if need be.
Believe it or not we agree. "Having your nose buried in a chart" was exactly what I was talking about too. And that's just awful. Anything used "for a quick reference" is not a problem as long as it blends into the stage (as would a chart book on the floor behind a monitor or a tiny iPad mounted to a mic stand or sitting on your amp). But (to stick to the OP's topic) a big honking music stand right out in the open just looks dumb in my view. Hey, the OP asked for our opinion so I gave it. No biggy.
I saw a guy last week who had one right in front of his mic stand, pretty much at face level almost 5 feet off the ground. You couldn't look at the lead singer without seeing it. Dumb.
I thought the lead singer for REM looked stupid when he had one on stage too. Stared at it all night the night I saw them. He never got more than 5 feet away from the thing.
So, although nobody likes strong opinions anymore these days...... my style probably rubbed you wrong as much as content, you and I actually agree more than disagree.
