onstage FAIL

[Manticore]

The barefoot thing is strange, but I'm really surprised at how many of the posters here have never just had a last-minute pickup gig where you were given a set with very little notice. Do ya wanna nail it, or not? Not everyone's playing Midnight Hour and Lay Down Sally.

Hell, I saw a Stanley Clarke gig where all the bandmates had charts.

I've subbed on short notice and read on stage to do it. Never has anyone complained; in fact, they tend to be relieved to have someone there and prepared on short notice. (I'm a tad more discrete about it.) I saw Jeff Berlin sub for Chris Squire at the Greek Theater with two days notice many years ago. He was reading charts; no one complained and the band was happy to find someone on short notice. (It was in the news.)

 

[Spectre Gunner]

You hear them too??

Whenever I argue with the voice in my head I always lose.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

The other possibility is that he's showing off. He may be advertising that he's not a hack and can actually read music.

His face seems really close, too close to be reading anything! Just stoopid! ****** Goofy! Put some shoes on!!

 

[BigEarl]

Audience blessing - Face made for radio, prolly.

 

[Clark Westfield]

Over the years and the different bands I've been in I've got well over 300 songs that I play... some often, some only occasionally. The majority of them I have no problem playing without sheets but I have a terrible memory for progressions and occasionally I'll take a quick look at a sheet to remind myself of the bridge or other changes.

I always have a tablet down low beside me as I mix sound from stage and even when we have a FOH person I'll mix foldback. Taking a quick peek occasionally can avoid embarrassment.

I’m with you here.

Between hopping between 2 bands, it’s nice to refresh my memory on the chord progression.

“Now was that F or F# for that intro?” Never do I make those mistakes anymore.

 

[wazzel]

I do not see the big deal with the tablet. Around here a lot of the acoustic acts in restaurants are playing off them. Give me a tablet and all the chord charts and I will play songs I never played with people I never met all night.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Whatever. The dude is gigging.

 

[casualmadness]

I'm more appalled by the lack of shoes.

This...I found I’d disturbing that he’s On stage shoeless

 

[OregonMike]

I will say, I suspect that this is exclusive to mens feet. It is for me anyway, as I'm completely okay with Paz doing it. Hmmm.

 

[turf3]

Well, I don't have much to say about the pad but I doubt anyone who's been in a bar in the daytime and seen what "stages" look like under actual lights, would want to put their bare feet down on that surface. Eeewwwww!

 

[OregonJim]

I’ve never started a thread attacking as ‘fail’ someone reading, or not reading, a chart onstage. But I certainly will respond to a thread where that occurs, and take the liberty of pointing out that, in all likelihood, someone able to read a part in front of an audience and play it correctly almost certainly possesses a higher degree of proficiency in the language of music than the person starting such a thread.

Context is everything.

If you look at the picture in the OP, this is a "live band" situation. One of the expectations of a "live band" is that they engage with the audience. Make eye contact. Interact. You can't do that with sheet music stuck in front of your face.

Sitting in a pit orchestra or a session recording is a different context. It's okay there.

The bass player in the OP does not fit the context of the situation.

 

[ShoeManiac]

It’s quite possible that we’re looking at the sub trifecta:
-Charts for all of the material (which consists of every bar band standard)
-He’s related to Velma from Scooby Doo and can’t see a thing without his glasses
-And the tablet protects the audience from the visage of the world ugliest sub bass player

 

[BassGuyFL]

Context is everything.

If you look at the picture in the OP, this is a "live band" situation. One of the expectations of a "live band" is that they engage with the audience. Make eye contact. Interact. You can't do that with sheet music stuck in front of your face.

Sitting in a pit orchestra or a session recording is a different context. It's okay there.

The bass player in the OP does not fit the context of the situation.

A bass player interacting with the audience

 

[mrjim123]

I see no problem. Better to sound good than look good (although lower is better IF he can still read his music.)

 

[Berger912]

Barmah hats. He was able to hook me up. In the event he didn't have a hat big enough he was going to have someone make one while I waited. Again... the curse of having a huge head.... if only I got more brains out of the deal.

The Original and Best Outdoor Hats - Foldable - Wide Brim - Barmah Hats, Inc.

I have a big head too

 

[fdeck]

Context is everything.

If you look at the picture in the OP, this is a "live band" situation. One of the expectations of a "live band" is that they engage with the audience. Make eye contact. Interact. You can't do that with sheet music stuck in front of your face.

Sitting in a pit orchestra or a session recording is a different context. It's okay there.

The bass player in the OP does not fit the context of the situation.

Indeed. When I've got a music stand on stage, I'm reading the music and interacting with the audience. I can set my stand at a level where I can glance at it when needed, while also participating fully in the performance. I mean, audience interaction aside, the bassist also has to be making eye contact with the band. Even orchestra musicians are doing that.

It can be done. Playing on stage means juggling a lot of different things at once, and having a chart there is just one more thing.

On the other hand, with no shoes, he doesn't have to stare at his shoes. I've seen lots of bassists on stage with no charts, staring at their shoes.

 

[Ken Morgan]

I've seen lots of bassists on stage with no charts, staring at their shoes.

Or someone else’s… that may be a different thread though

 

[DWBass]

I never understood why people sight read live instead of just learning the songs

I recently quit a band and this was one of the reasons. EVERYONE but me was reading music. After 3 years you'd think they'd know the song by now. Nope.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I will say, I suspect that this is exclusive to mens feet. It is for me anyway, as I'm completely okay with Paz doing it. Hmmm. View attachment 4287680 View attachment 4287681

Is Ms Lenchantin actually levitating in that second photo?

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I recently quit a band and this was one of the reasons. EVERYONE but me was reading music. After 3 years you'd think they'd know the song by now. Nope.

If they were all reading music, I'm guessing that was a band with no guitarists.