Music Stands on Stage??

[Mihel]

I've never cared for a music stand onstage (where it can be easily seen) especially for the front-man\front-woman. As far as the other members are concerned, as long as it's not a distraction to the audience (or in the way of other musicians) and it makes the musical performance better, why not? Personally, I use an Android tablet attached to my mic stand at about waist level. I have charts, created in PowerPoint, on it for the tunes we don't play often or for new stuff (if needed). I use the AirTurn system for hands free scrolling and page turning. The tablet is obscured from the audience's view by a mandolin attached to the mic stand as well as two strategically placed bandannas. I've had fellow musicians come to our shows and say that they could never tell that I had charts until they got up onstage to sit in.
That said, I have been in bands where the lead vocalist stared at her notebook, on a big black stand with a light, all night long....even for songs she had been singing for decades. It all went to hell one night when a drunk knocked over her stand, the notebook went flying, the rings came unclasped, and lyric sheets scattered all over the dance floor. Needless to say, we had to stop the set and it took her about 45 minutes to get everything put back together.

 

[nojj]

I have been in bands where the lead vocalist stared at her notebook, on a big black stand with a light, all night long....even for songs she had been singing for decades.

Yep, that's my current band. Drives me crazy.

 

[Brad Johnson]

For gigs where we're playing songs we've individually done a ton of times before, there's rarely any need for notes (reminders, etc.) so I don't typically use a stand. For my other gigs, which not coincidentally play far better, I usually have a music stand.

So when I have to do a song I probably will never play again, I don't have to waste long term storage on what key the song is in, timing issues, format, whatever. I do notes or a chart and I'm on the exact page as whatever we've agreed to do. It's one less thing to have to think about.

Does it "look professional"? Considering most amateurs probably don't read or even bother to take notes...



I did a wedding Saturday night. We had three requested songs so I had my stand there, with a chart with lyrics for one song and the key for another. That's all... and I nailed them. I seriously doubt that anyone on the dance floor who had worked themselves into a frenzy even notices the stands, iPads, whatever that were being used. Some musicians do, probably because they like to get hung up on stuff like that

I have the ability to commit to memory any of the music I perform. I don't have the time to waste doing that when it really isn't necessary. In the course of a typical week I might be presented with ten new songs I'll need to perform within a short period of time with little or no band rehearsal. I do my homework and use my stand when needed. So do my bandmates.

 

[Flashback Bass]

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.

On my two page charts I punch the holes so both pages are open. I also try to flip pages during the "big" ending, like right before the drummer hits the final cymbal crash. That way I'm ready to go right into the next song!

 

[Factor88]

People pick the oddest things to fuss over. What's next, hating on people who use rack tuners instead of pedal tuners?

You missed the thread a month or so back where some guy posted how he gets really annoyed when he sees a guitard with one of those detachable headstock tuners left on during the entire performance. So yeah, we've already covered that.

 

[walldaja]

It's not just using stands, it's how you use them. There is nothing worse than a musician having their stand elevated in front of their face. You don't have to stay glued behind it either--the charts should refresh your memory, not provide your sole knowledge of the piece. The best place for you stand is as low as possible and some distance from you so it's not a distraction. If you use glasses, get a set cut to focus at the distance you need. The single best thing I did to improve my playing (I'm also a horn player, so I get a pass on a stand) is get a set of glasses just for reading the music. Look at pictures of big bands, their stands are set low to appear as consoles in front of them. That said, you connect much better with an audience without a stand.

 

[fastplant]

It's not just using stands, it's how you use them. There is nothing worse than a musician having their stand elevated in front of their face. You don't have to stay glued behind it either--the charts should refresh your memory, not provide your sole knowledge of the piece. The best place for you stand is as low as possible and some distance from you so it's not a distraction. If you use glasses, get a set cut to focus at the distance you need. The single best thing I did to improve my playing (I'm also a horn player, so I get a pass on a stand) is get a set of glasses just for reading the music. Look at pictures of big bands, their stands are set low to appear as consoles in front of them. That said, you connect much better with an audience without a stand.

Excellent point. When I do use a stand I usually put it low and to the side. And I even try to put it behind something/someone if the stage allows for it.

 

[bigswifty1]

Excellent point. When I do use a stand I usually put it low and to the side. And I even try to put it behind something/someone if the stage allows for it.

If your eyes will reach that far, a spare wedge makes a very discrete stand.

A friend who uses an iPad for lyrics keeps it down propped up against a wedge. He has some sort of "clicker" thing in his pocket that takes him to the next page/chart so he doesn't get seen bending over and fiddling with stuff all the time.

Mike

 

[fishtx]

I have no problem with stands on stage at all...I don't use one...but they don't bother me in the least...and I don't get the comments about them being "unprofessional". I would much rather have someone with a stand "nailing" the gig, than someone noodling his way through something he doesn't know...

 

[sean_on_bass]

Guess it depends if your at the show to hear music or be wowed by some stage antics. I personally go for the music, so music stands don't bother me in the slightest. In fact i think they look rather professional. The only ones who disagree seem to have some sort of rock star syndrome. I am not a rock star, i am a musician, and musicians read music.

Sean

 

[bluewine]

Guess it depends if your at the show to hear music or be wowed by some stage antics. I personally go for the music, so music stands don't bother me in the slightest. In fact i think they look rather professional. The only ones who disagree seem to have some sort of rock star syndrome. I am not a rock star, i am a musician, and musicians read music.

Sean

Yeah, it depends if your band is going after that rock look, then a music stand might look out of place.

For other stuff I guess using one is fine, especially if your reading music.

blue

 

[PauFerro]

One of our best dance bands in town uses music stands. But they keep them down really low so you barely even know they are there.

We use music stands in my smooth jazz group -- we have small banners that hang down with our name on them. I'm also getting new ones made up eventually for my other jazz trio that have our mailing list sing-up link and QRR on it as well. It's good advertising.

For me, it's not whether there is a music stand there, it's whether you can connect with the audience using eye contact.

I also think music stands are highly useful when you have had to learn a lot of new songs and the chord changes shift every two beats like they do in jazz.

 

[BigRedBassPlayer]

I don't have a problem with them. If it's a cover band playing 3 or 4 sets of songs, or a musician who just gets brought into a band and doesn't have the proper time to prepare. The latter happened to me in my last band. So, I set a music stand between the singer/guitar player and I . If your playing a 45 minute set with multiple bands, then that's a different story. But, overall, I wouldn't judge.

 

[Floyd Eye]

Obviously it depends on the type of band, type of gig, etc..

For my band it is absolutely not allowed. I would rather be onstage with a guy who has to make up a few of his own words on the fly then a guy with a music stand in front of him.

 

[podiumboy]

Many professionals use lyric monitors. U2, Dave Matthews, Bruce Springsteen, etc. Michael Stipe of R.E.M. would just have a music stand with lyric sheets printed out. At the end of each show, he'd toss the papers out into the audience.

 

[Floyd Eye]

Many professionals use lyric monitors. U2, Dave Matthews, Bruce Springsteen, etc. Michael Stipe of R.E.M. would just have a music stand with lyric sheets printed out. At the end of each show, he'd toss the papers out into the audience.

This might help make your case with some people, but I think every single one of those people you just named are supreme douchebags.

 

[Depth_Charge]

I prefer to see a musician refer to sheets on a music stand instead of standing with his back to the audience, hunched over some papers on the top of his amp.

 

[Tx Basser]

I have no problem with stands on stage at all...I don't use one...but they don't bother me in the least...and I don't get the comments about them being "unprofessional". I would much rather have a something with a stand "nailing" the gig, than someone noodling his way through something he doesn't know...

I agree 100% with fishtx. After 40 years of playing out, I have "almost" seen it all. Our band uses stands out front, set low and between the monitors and we set them where they appear to be part of our stage set up. We haven't had any complaints.

I once worked with an incredible guitarist. Songs went in this guy's ears and instantly came out his hands......a phenomenal player. But he could not remember the lyrics to "Mary had a Little Lamb" if he tattoo'd them to his inner left fore arm and he always would set his music stand up so high that you couldn't see him from the front row! And he would not listen to anybody about lowering it.

 

[Tony In Philly]

After you get to certain age it gets harder to memorize the words to songs. Trust me, I know. If I heard the song in my youth every word is burned into my head. After that, well it takes a loooong time with having some kind of prop around to get it right. Also non-musicians don't give rat's behind about music stands; only other musicians do.

 

[Baird6869]

I have a huge problem with it. even if each band member makes $100 it is still a business and the stand doesn't look professional IMO. For rock cover band, I should add for clarification.... Jazz and big band may be different.

We even got rid of a singer as it was such a security "blankey" that he would forget where he was on the page and screw up worse by singing the wrong verse, singing over a solo, etc.

Our new singer uses an iPad Mini on his mic stand and that doesn't bug me. He has full lyrics but also runs the music between sets with it. The crowd barely sees it and they likely think it is for the setlist, tuner, music during breaks, etc.