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Music Stands on Stage??
- Thread starter DoggBisket
- Start date
I'd say if you've been in The Beachboys for 45 years you shouldn't need a music stand.
If you are playing songs in clubs for people that are paying for requests you'd better damn sure have one.
If you are playing songs in clubs for people that are paying for requests you'd better damn sure have one.
It beats the hell out of three guys singing three different verses in harmony. It's better than starting out a song in two different keys. It's better than letting the fill-in bassist wank away until he finds a groove. They have their place. Musicians understand this ...
If needed, then put the sheets on the back of the monitor. Or better yet has some cute chicks in the front row hold up cue cards. LOL. But seriously if someone needs a music stand then put them in the back and don't put a light on them.
For anything other than jazz or classical a music stand doesn't necessarily look unprofessional it looks STUPID.
How do you think it would have looked if he had a big black music stand? At least teleprompters are transparent from the audience view.
+1 IMHO Acceptable for jazz/big band/classical settings.
For club gigs or anything else, they're a distraction on stage.
We throw a 2-page song list of the 70 or so songs we have ready for prime-time on the stage. (we used to try organized set lists, but that's a whole other post topic....). Anyway, we get through a 4 hour gig by calling off of the list whatever fits the crowd at the moment. We work hard to minimize down-time and discussion between songs. Usually the lead vocalist or guitar/vocalist will call the next one and off we go...
I do keep a cheat sheet on the amp head under the other stuff up there in case I have a senior moment during the show. In my defense, I haven't had to look at it lately...
For club gigs or anything else, they're a distraction on stage.
We throw a 2-page song list of the 70 or so songs we have ready for prime-time on the stage. (we used to try organized set lists, but that's a whole other post topic....). Anyway, we get through a 4 hour gig by calling off of the list whatever fits the crowd at the moment. We work hard to minimize down-time and discussion between songs. Usually the lead vocalist or guitar/vocalist will call the next one and off we go...
I do keep a cheat sheet on the amp head under the other stuff up there in case I have a senior moment during the show. In my defense, I haven't had to look at it lately...
d'baggery to me is being so petty as to need to dump on someone elses work because they do it differently than you
"What is your feeling about bands that have a music stand, or stands on stage? Personally I think it borders on douchebaggery. The only exception being a jazz trio or something along that line. But for any other genre, get the music stand off the stage!. A cheat sheet on the floor, or someplace inconspicuous OK, but music stand? No"
I saw Steely Dan last week and most band members had a stand. They killed it though!
I saw Steely Dan last week and most band members had a stand. They killed it though!
The thing is neither me or anyone else I'd guess involved in this thread play with Dave Matthew's. All the situations I play in people come to hear good music. My job is to play the bass and support the group. If a music stand allows me or anyone else to do that better I don't much care if anyone thinks it looks stupid. I remember a time when it wasn't cool unless you wore your bass at knee level and for that I had the same answer.
And I'd agree for a frontman/women to spend the night at a club reading off a stand might not work most of time. In any case the clubs I play in people come to dance not to stare at what the band is doing.
Now if I was playing Sweet home Alabama all night I might think differently, but I'd rather have some music infront of me when the leader decides to call 8-10 motown tunes in a row and I can nail the Jamerson lines note for note on each of them.
Again I don't find anything wrong with those that prefer to not use a stand or to accept a gig where you are required not too. But the misconcption is pretty clear if you don't play classical or jazz you can't do it. I'd say there is a bigger stigma among jazz musicians who need to rely on a fake book and don't know the melody and changes to the more common standards.
- Aug 16, 2003
- 1,130
- 24
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist;Essential sound products,Dunlop, Ergo Instruments
Steely Dan uses professional musicians in a situation where a "few missed notes" is not acceptable
I agree with Wildhorse on this one. Using stands when needed seems more professional to me than going without if that would mean an increase in wrong notes. I recently joined a 50's/60's band on bass and backup vocals, and, having never focused exclusively on this genre before, I never would have had everything learned in time for the first show, so I use a stand. I am working to do away with it, but the earlier comment that they become a kind of crutch also has some truth to it. It is interesting that most guys are willing to give jazz and classical musicians a pass on this, when most major symphonies, string quartets, and jazz combos play a fairly set repertoire that just about all serious students learned, and for the most part, memorized before they graduated music school. I guess it all depends on the state of your memory and your tolerance for clams!
I sub every now and then in a horn band that has a core of about 6 or 7 regulars and the remainder of the band rotates depending on who's available. We all have a "book" and we are expected to use it since the band hardly ever rehearses as a full unit. About half the songs I know well enough that I don't even open the book, but I still bring it with me and that band has stands on the stage for every member, every gig.
OTOH my main band of 3 guitars, bass and drums does your standard "variety" of covers, mostly in bars, and we would never think of having music stands up on stage for that. Our singer uses some cheat notes for a few songs but he keeps them stashed out of public view as much as possible.
OTOH my main band of 3 guitars, bass and drums does your standard "variety" of covers, mostly in bars, and we would never think of having music stands up on stage for that. Our singer uses some cheat notes for a few songs but he keeps them stashed out of public view as much as possible.
Try playing in a variety band that has nearly 500 songs to choose from. Everything from ABBA to ZZ Top. Theres no way to remember that many lyrics but if we get a request for "Ode to Billy Joe" (like last nite) just flip over to the "O's" and there it is. No problem..........
It sounds like the main variable for the "typical" bassist would be the variety or number of songs you have to be ready to play.
For me, in a cover club band, it means playing 45 or so songs out of a 70 song list. We have another 20 or so we can do in a pinch if specifically requested.
Obviously, having to be able to call up something out of a 200 to 500 song list is another thing altogether. A book on a stand would be a necessity!
My noodle is full at 70. Every time time we add a new song, one falls out the other side....
For me, in a cover club band, it means playing 45 or so songs out of a 70 song list. We have another 20 or so we can do in a pinch if specifically requested.
Obviously, having to be able to call up something out of a 200 to 500 song list is another thing altogether. A book on a stand would be a necessity!
My noodle is full at 70. Every time time we add a new song, one falls out the other side....
I play in a cover band where the two singers have music stands because we get requests etc but they just awful looking ... I'm all for having a music book or cheat sheets but I try to make it blend in or whatever.. Makes pictures look awful with those big ugly stands there...
To add to a comment I made earlier.
I have filled in on DB for some jazz gigs and when I openned my fake book for some standards I got the death stare from the band leader. It was a clear and obvious sign that I was not a seasoned jazz player who has mastered the repetoire.
When was the last time you saw a classical concerto soloist walk out on stage and had a music stand set up in front of them? Did it ever dawn on anyone that a classical orchestra has nuances in the score that go well beyond what someone would be expected to memorize?
In any case my point is that the idea that it looks 'stupid', 'unprofessional' or whatever is a blank statement that without qualification is wrong.
I have filled in on DB for some jazz gigs and when I openned my fake book for some standards I got the death stare from the band leader. It was a clear and obvious sign that I was not a seasoned jazz player who has mastered the repetoire.
When was the last time you saw a classical concerto soloist walk out on stage and had a music stand set up in front of them? Did it ever dawn on anyone that a classical orchestra has nuances in the score that go well beyond what someone would be expected to memorize?
In any case my point is that the idea that it looks 'stupid', 'unprofessional' or whatever is a blank statement that without qualification is wrong.
CrashClint
I Play Bass therefore I Am
Hmm Douchebaggery, I think I have just added a new word to my vocabulary.
Thanks Dogg!
I think it's worse for the frontman and the players on the frontline than it is the rhythm section in the back. Generally, it's annoying for an audience member to have to see stands in front of the people they came to see (and I do mean "see"), and if that's the case, a stand is only going to interfere with audience interaction.
If your job is to play TO the audience instead of simply playing FOR the audience (one isn't better than the other here, they're just different), a stand will absolutely get in the way. For you AND your audience.
This is the case for concert soloists in orchestra settings as well (plus if the soloist doesn't have their part memorized by now, they're in big trouble). There's a certain amount of "I'm playing RIGHT TO YOU, audience" that comes through in this situation. And turning pages in the middle of your solo piece would simply get in the way of the performance... let's face it.
A final thought: Stands are annoying, but they're MUCH more annoying if you stare at it all night. If you must use a stand, don't forget there are people out there with eyes as well as ears. Oftentimes they want to know that YOU SEE THEM as much as they can see you. So decide how much people want to SEE YOU when you play, and let that govern how badly you need a stand on the gig.
If your job is to play TO the audience instead of simply playing FOR the audience (one isn't better than the other here, they're just different), a stand will absolutely get in the way. For you AND your audience.
This is the case for concert soloists in orchestra settings as well (plus if the soloist doesn't have their part memorized by now, they're in big trouble). There's a certain amount of "I'm playing RIGHT TO YOU, audience" that comes through in this situation. And turning pages in the middle of your solo piece would simply get in the way of the performance... let's face it.
A final thought: Stands are annoying, but they're MUCH more annoying if you stare at it all night. If you must use a stand, don't forget there are people out there with eyes as well as ears. Oftentimes they want to know that YOU SEE THEM as much as they can see you. So decide how much people want to SEE YOU when you play, and let that govern how badly you need a stand on the gig.
I play in a group that's covering southern rock and R&B type stuff. We use stands and don't think twice about it. We're a four piece with no dedicated singer, we're playing SRV, Clapton, Allman Bros. but opening up the form. Adding an extra solo after a chorus, taking out a piano solo. Hardly any of our songs are as recorded and I can't remember all those road maps. It doesn't stop me from connecting with the crowd or dropping my white man boogie on them. There's no tabs or music, just Verse-chorus-bridge... the stand's pushed as low as it will go and points straight up, nobody's commented on it yet. I'd rather be able to glance down at the map and give a good lead in to the next verse/solo.
Plus the guys I play with are 10 - 15 years older than I am, I have to help them find their cars after the show.
Plus the guys I play with are 10 - 15 years older than I am, I have to help them find their cars after the show.
