I've memorized hundreds of them, and rarely use a stand for combo gigs... my point being that memorizing tunes is not what makes jazz challenging.
But also, in the circles that I play in, it's not the end of the world when a player pulls out a book.
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Music Stands on Stage??
- Thread starter DoggBisket
- Start date
I've memorized hundreds of them, and rarely use a stand for combo gigs... my point being that memorizing tunes is not what makes jazz challenging.
But also, in the circles that I play in, it's not the end of the world when a player pulls out a book.
I saw Lucinda Williams last month, and she was using one, for songs she wrote! 
If I had made a fraction of the $ she has on "change the locks" I think I could remember the words.
The other annoying thing from the show was the guitar swap after every song or two. Yep 3-4 people swapping guitars for ones that sounded just the same, with the same tuning.
But I think it looks unprofessional to look at your hands while you play.....
If I had made a fraction of the $ she has on "change the locks" I think I could remember the words.
The other annoying thing from the show was the guitar swap after every song or two. Yep 3-4 people swapping guitars for ones that sounded just the same, with the same tuning.
But I think it looks unprofessional to look at your hands while you play.....
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,399
- 9,832
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
Hey, you can setup a network for multiple digital prompters. Make it wireless and be cool.
I keep a set list on a music stand with the song name, chords, and key in about 1/2" size, along with where to come in, and tab of my own where the bass leads are. I take it to practice, and to a club. I try not to look at it at practice and screw up. Makes the singer pissed, but he's got his own stand with the lyrics because he can't remember the words. The set list changes all the time. Big deal, like I could care what anyone thinks.
Nobody ever cares anyhow, and I'd rather look lame than play lame.
Some songs are easier than others and I don't need to look at it for a while. As I remember songs, the type gets smaller.
Nobody ever cares anyhow, and I'd rather look lame than play lame.
Some songs are easier than others and I don't need to look at it for a while. As I remember songs, the type gets smaller.
Ultimately, it comes down to this:
Everything you do, say, and even wear says something to your audience, whether you want it to or not. And a music stand says to your audience, "I couldn't be bothered with learning this music. It's not important enough to me to spend my time on. Nor, by association, are you. Engaging you people, interacting with you, and putting on a show... None of these things are worth the time it would have taken for me to learn this music."
Of course, no stand-user means these things literally, but that IS what your music stand tells your audience. Like it or not.
Everything you do, say, and even wear says something to your audience, whether you want it to or not. And a music stand says to your audience, "I couldn't be bothered with learning this music. It's not important enough to me to spend my time on. Nor, by association, are you. Engaging you people, interacting with you, and putting on a show... None of these things are worth the time it would have taken for me to learn this music."
Of course, no stand-user means these things literally, but that IS what your music stand tells your audience. Like it or not.
I'm kind of getting sick of this arguement.
Ultimately it comes down to that for YOU....
I spent a 3 hour rehearsal on Sunday night working out 15 new tunes for 2 gigs this weekend. For me and my band it SAYS to our audience that we don't stand around playing the same 40 tunes 3 nights a week. After this weekend we might not pull out a dozen of those tunes for a few months. We all expect to be able to pull them out at a moments notice and nail them. FOR ME, having a chart allows me to do that!
I'm impressed that you guys add that many new songs to a show each week. That's a great weekly song turnover rate frankly, about triple what ours is. And there are times, sure, when old ones pop up on the set list that I have to go back and re-learn before the weekend... But the reason we CAN'T use stands is because we NEVER just "stand around" playing songs: We're all very mobile and active at gigs (even our keyboard player!). We're all over the stage, off the stage and into the crowd, and, not uncommonly, up on the bar. Can't carry that music stand with me around the room...
For the record we don't learn 15 tunes weekly, maybe once per month depending on our schedule.
Your sytem works for you and that's great, we're all different and do different kinds of gigs. We also don't put set lists together until day of, which doesn't leave time for a rehash...
All I really wanted to point out is that what works for one person or group might not translate to another person/group...
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,399
- 9,832
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
The terms of the usage agreement (and being a moderator) prevent me from replying to this in the manner it deserves.
So let me say this: you are wrong.
(good *GOD* that took some self control)
So let me say this: you are wrong.
(good *GOD* that took some self control)
OK, maybe I should have qualified my statement by putting it in the context of MY live experience, which is, admittedly, limited to live rock, funk, dance, and country music shows where the audience is loud, dancing and partying. The audiences I play for respond in a big way to the band behaving like the crowd. In retrospect, I should have stated that MY area of live performance is only ONE area, and for many, many others, the musicians onstage aren't expected to/rewarded for looking and acting like the bands these crowds are watching on MTV and CMT all week. Our set lists are worked out several days in advance of a show, giving everyone lots of time to prep. And those gigs are two-thirds showmanship and one-third musicianship.
Nobody in my Sunday church band would even try to play without a stand, including me. But if I propped one up in front of me Friday night, I'd get the big ***? from our crowds.
Nobody in my Sunday church band would even try to play without a stand, including me. But if I propped one up in front of me Friday night, I'd get the big ***? from our crowds.
if how you look on stage is more important than how you sound ,you're in the wrong line of work.......
..if i knew how links worked i'd post the marvin gaye "what's goin' on" vid from youtube.......there's a bp by the name of jamerson looking at a.....wait for it....... a music stand
Music stand a problem?
Get yourself some black paper and a silver sharpie. Chart the songs and put them on the floor. The lights will reflect the writing and the crowd can't see the paper (normally).
But I see no problem with music stands when you're playing 4 sets and have a ton of songs that can be played at anytime.
Get yourself some black paper and a silver sharpie. Chart the songs and put them on the floor. The lights will reflect the writing and the crowd can't see the paper (normally).
But I see no problem with music stands when you're playing 4 sets and have a ton of songs that can be played at anytime.
What if you end up getting a random gig and you need to learn 30+ songs in 15 days? This just happened to me and it will be my first gig. It's at a popular bar in town on a Saturday night too so it will be a doosie of a first gig. Anyway I am going to need the changes on stage. There is no way I will learn them all by heart with the time I have before the show. I will probably just set my papers on top of an amp and glance whenever I need it though.
My opinion - Nail the gig no matter what you need to do and whatever makes you comfortable. That's usually a pretty stressful situation and the other musicians will normally expect allot from you. Looking good doesn't do much good if you can't remember the changes.
If your really concerned with having a stand keep it out of view. Sometimes you can put it behind someone or something that allows you to glance over at it without the audience noticing it...
