Okay, but was he professional enough to bring along plenty of clothes pins to keep his charts from blowing away outdoors?
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Music Stands on Stage??
- Thread starter DoggBisket
- Start date
Okay, but was he professional enough to bring along plenty of clothes pins to keep his charts from blowing away outdoors?
I once had a bandleader criticize my cheap folding music stand, then he got out a Manhasset and put it in front of me with his big thick book. I already knew all of his tunes, so I played a joke on him by pretending that I couldn't read.
I play in a cover band that mostly plays weddings. Lead singer/guitarist/trumpeter uses a big music stand in front of him with a light. He's a school music teacher who after almost 25 years of professional music career simply can't keep track of the hundreds of songs he plays.
I use one mostly for someplace to hold my set list. Occasionally, I may look at the music of a particular song I'm not familiar with. At weddings, we don't get too many people checking out the band. They're here to have fun and celebrate.
I use one mostly for someplace to hold my set list. Occasionally, I may look at the music of a particular song I'm not familiar with. At weddings, we don't get too many people checking out the band. They're here to have fun and celebrate.
Who cares of anyone uses a stand? If it fits into what you're doing and if you need to see the info while you're playing - go ahead.
I've changed my mind. Music stands are kitschy/goofy-cool... It looks so hip and synchronized when everyone onstage all disengages from the audience at the end of a song to turn the pages on their stands at the same time. Hopefully, there at least one guy in the band who has the material learned so he/she can keep the show moving while everyone else is page-flipping and clothespinning their cheat sheets, adjusting their little lights and squinting at the changes...
Saw band at a wedding gig a few weeks ago. Bass player/lead singer was dressed all black. Didn't notice his black music stand until way late in the gig. He kept it below waist level and since he was dressed in black, it was camouflaged.
So, I guess the less is, dress the same color as your music stand if you don't want it noticed as much.
So, I guess the less is, dress the same color as your music stand if you don't want it noticed as much.
Forgive me for skipping to the end of this thread and posting. Paul McCartney uses a Monitor for words, The Grateful Dead uses them, Guns and Roses used them.. Music Stands went by the wayside when people started to be computer savy... We ditched the notebooks years ago for a digital display monitor and a couple of laptops. Highly efficient. If you are playing the same 30 songs over and over again, probably not needed. My band has 190+ songs and we will play 10 shows and not repeat a tune. It is the way it is. Mostly lyrics are in there, but new songs and newer tunes get a chart.
This is my theory!
We're a bunch of old farts (mid-50's to mid-60's) and while most of us know the music, we all have trouble remembering lyrics. We all sing so three of use lyric sheets. (Except the guitarist on the left, that's where he puts his set list!) I blame the memory problems on too many illegal drugs in my youth! (That's my story and I'm sticking with it!) In actuality, we're barely good enough musicians to even be playing out. A perfect case of more desire then talent. And while we don't do a lot of fancy stuff, we are able to lay down a killer dance groove and that's what's keeping us in bookings! We play two to three times a month and we rock the hell out of the Holiday Inn!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Night-Shift-Band-NJ/214258335270832
I agree that it depends on the kind of band/show that you're doing. In my rock bands I wouldn't want anyone using a stand as it's distracting for that kind of show.
However, in my (for lack of a better description) comic book band, we all use music stands. The music is pretty complex and the only covers we do are film and television scores (not just themes, full orchestral scores that are revised for a rock band with a horn section). We also play non-traditional venues, like comic cons and events like that.
So, I'd say it depends more on what kind of show you're trying to deliver. And you have to ask whether you're using a music stand because the music is complex or because of laziness.
However, in my (for lack of a better description) comic book band, we all use music stands. The music is pretty complex and the only covers we do are film and television scores (not just themes, full orchestral scores that are revised for a rock band with a horn section). We also play non-traditional venues, like comic cons and events like that.
So, I'd say it depends more on what kind of show you're trying to deliver. And you have to ask whether you're using a music stand because the music is complex or because of laziness.
If you need cheat sheets but think music stands look cheesy on stage - load the music score into your Ipad and mount it onto a mic stand - it’s similar to having a hidden teleprompter.
I play in a jazz band and rock band. The rock stuff is pretty simple, all originals, only about 5 songs. No need for a chart, even as the song list expands. The material is harmonically simple enough and riff based as that i really don't need the guidance. That said i don't have a problem with people that use them even in a rock setting.
Now if i'm sitting down to play 20 jazz tunes, while i may memorize a few of the more common ones, a stand will always be with me. This is for the benefit of myself, and more importantly, the audience. I want them to hear the songs spot on. Also, if a request were to come up, i'd like to have a stand and standards book to be able to play it. So it in effect increases our repertoire well beyond the songs we routinely rehearse.
Now if i'm sitting down to play 20 jazz tunes, while i may memorize a few of the more common ones, a stand will always be with me. This is for the benefit of myself, and more importantly, the audience. I want them to hear the songs spot on. Also, if a request were to come up, i'd like to have a stand and standards book to be able to play it. So it in effect increases our repertoire well beyond the songs we routinely rehearse.
There is a lovely youtube video of Jamerson onstage with Marvin Gaye doing What's Going On . Guess what James has in front of him ? And the Funk Brothers re-union with Bob Babbitt guess what Bob has in front of him ?
There should be no qualms at all , as all professional musicians use them.
There should be no qualms at all , as all professional musicians use them.
Yes, issues like a full time job (with overtime), family (wives and kids can be such attention hogs), going to night school, you know, these time-wasters that keep people from practicing.
Or musicians in multiple bands. I try not to use a stand for most of my bands, but it's hard to keep so many songs straight. I play in 5-10 bands per month depending on my availability.
jive1
Commercial User
When I only knew 40 songs, it was easy to memorize them. But after all these years, and all these songs, I find a chart to be very handy. On my iPad I probably have charts for over 250 songs for the gigs I've done, and I haven't had the iPad for a year yet and I know I will be adding more. I also don't think it's worth it for me to memorize a bunch of songs for a band I may only play with once with material that may never be played again.
+1. I make charts as a memnonic for gigs, and in the process of charting out a song I learn it. By doing that, I don't have to practice as much to pull a song off with reasonable competency at a gig. Heck, at church, I don't even listen or practice a song until the service. I just use the chart. Without the chart, I'd have to put in much more time, which will inevitably cause me to sacrifice something equally or more worthwhile. How can I dismiss an object that will let me save time and energy while increasing effectiveness, and let me spend more time with the family in the bargain?
jive1
Commercial User
You don't need a music stand to disengage from the audience. I've seen plenty of acts full of shoegazers and fretboard starers that didn't use music stands. I've also seen guys who spend time messing around with their gear to get their sound during a show, which takes much longer than flipping a single page. I've also seen guys with music stands who interact with the audience more than guys who don't. Just because you have a chart, doesn't mean you have to stare at it the whole time.
BTW, 90% of my charts fit on a single page. Depending on where you punch holes, you can put charts on a binder so that you can see 2 pages at a time.
I don't use a stand often personally but I have an absolutely awful memory and therefor in some stuff am basically forced to.
For example, my teacher has been trying to make me memorize the same melody for literally 4 months. I still can't memorize it. I played the piece with a music stand for an audition for that reason.
For example, my teacher has been trying to make me memorize the same melody for literally 4 months. I still can't memorize it. I played the piece with a music stand for an audition for that reason.
Meh, Jordan Rudess uses a music stand. People pick the oddest things to fuss over. What's next, hating on people who use rack tuners instead of pedal tuners? Or people who use tuners at all instead of tuning "by ear"? Korg vs. Peterson?
If I need a music stand, I'm going to use one.
If I need a music stand, I'm going to use one.
