Playing bass, located behind the drummer

[John Stephen]

Have a gig coming up, just finished the rehearsal. For various reasons too detailed to go into, I will be playing behind the drummer, and next to the piano. So the piano is to my left, the drummer is in front of me. I'm relying on my amp, there is no house sound system available to me. Theater seats about 350 people or so. I've got a 400-watt amp and speaker cab. I'm plenty loud enough for the pianist to hear me, and the drummer can hear me. Not sure the audience will be to. Any tips on this? I don't know that there's much that can be done (besides turning up as loud as the pianist and I can stand it). Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

[Wasnex]

Have a gig coming up, just finished the rehearsal. For various reasons too detailed to go into, I will be playing behind the drummer, and next to the piano. So the piano is to my left, the drummer is in front of me. I'm relying on my amp, there is no house sound system available to me. Theater seats about 350 people or so. I've got a 400-watt amp and speaker cab. I'm plenty loud enough for the pianist to hear me, and the drummer can hear me. Not sure the audience will be to. Any tips on this? I don't know that there's much that can be done (besides turning up as loud as the pianist and I can stand it). Thanks in advance for any insight.

I doubt it will be a problem or even make much of a difference for the audience. Probably the biggest issue will be whether the drummer likes to hear the bass clearly or not. Also how the drummer responds to hearing the bass clearly.

IME how much high end the drummer hears can have have an impact how how they perceive the pocket.

It may be helpful to talk about it...or it may be a waste of time.

I suggest not getting too worked up about. Just do the best you can.

 

[John Stephen]

Good advice, @Wasnex, I'll just do what I can. Fortunately the drummer is not a loud drummer, he's pretty reasonable with his volume. I'll try EQing on the high end as well, and see how it goes.

 

[eniac]

Have a gig coming up, just finished the rehearsal. For various reasons too detailed to go into, I will be playing behind the drummer, and next to the piano. So the piano is to my left, the drummer is in front of me. I'm relying on my amp, there is no house sound system available to me. Theater seats about 350 people or so. I've got a 400-watt amp and speaker cab. I'm plenty loud enough for the pianist to hear me, and the drummer can hear me. Not sure the audience will be to. Any tips on this? I don't know that there's much that can be done (besides turning up as loud as the pianist and I can stand it). Thanks in advance for any insight.

The upside, if there is one, is that now you know never to accept that gig again. And you have one more item to add to your list of minimum requirements for accepting any live job.

I had a similar situation about a decade ago at an outdoor job. Five-person band. No bass in the PA, which actually was fine because about the only thing it was good for was public service announcements. But wait, it gets worse. I was told that my amp had to be at a "reasonable" volume and the drivers couldn't face the audience.

Never in my life did I expect such an absurd, event-sabotaging situation would arise. But it did. Proof that stupidity is still traveling the world on a free rein.

 

[Slevage]

Is the piano mic’d ? If yes, then play at a comfortable volume and don’t worry about the mix.
If the piano is not mic’d, play at a comfortable volume and don’t worry about the mix.

 

[Michedelic]

Have a gig coming up, just finished the rehearsal. For various reasons too detailed to go into, I will be playing behind the drummer, and next to the piano. So the piano is to my left, the drummer is in front of me. I'm relying on my amp, there is no house sound system available to me. Theater seats about 350 people or so. I've got a 400-watt amp and speaker cab. I'm plenty loud enough for the pianist to hear me, and the drummer can hear me. Not sure the audience will be to. Any tips on this? I don't know that there's much that can be done (besides turning up as loud as the pianist and I can stand it). Thanks in advance for any insight.

Are you playing jazz, or jazz adjacent material? Are you all providing some sort of ‘background’ music while the focus is on other, upfront performers? The only thing I could suggest is to have an extention speaker placed near whatever PA cab(s)there may be.

 

[John Stephen]

Are you playing jazz, or jazz adjacent material? Are you all providing some sort of ‘background’ music while the focus is on other, upfront performers? The only thing I could suggest is to have an extention speaker placed near whatever PA cab(s)there may be.

Accompanying a choral group of about 40 singers. Piano, bass guitar, drums. All I’ve got is my one speaker cab. So, I’ll just show up, play, and hope for the best.

 

[CryingBass]

Tilt it up so you can hear it. Everyone else will too. Good Luck with the Gig!

 

[walterw]

Tilt it up so you can hear it.

big +1

endeavor to aim the cab so you hear it clearly but it's not pointed at the other players if you can help it

 

[buldog5151bass]

Best part of being behind the drummer - you can see his hands and feet. You'll k ow where "1" is at least.

 

[John Stephen]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Unbeknownst to us (the band), after the rehearsal, the music director had bass and drums swapped, so when I got to the gig tonight I found that I'm in front and drums are in back. Piano behind me and to the left. We had our first show tonight, and the pianist and drummer could hear me fine. So......problem solved.

 

[Mike Caldwell]

Where did they position the choir in relation to band?
Had one time where they thought it would be a good idea to put the choir around the drum kit.
Asked them if their choir could sing louder than the drums.

 

[Aidenn7]

I would of just put my ear plugs on and followed the drums, playing lighter, saying oh well take the money and run. A gig like that is what it is.. outdoors is usually horror for hearing yourself. so in-ears is a better method..

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Have a gig coming up, just finished the rehearsal. For various reasons too detailed to go into, I will be playing behind the drummer, and next to the piano. So the piano is to my left, the drummer is in front of me. I'm relying on my amp, there is no house sound system available to me. Theater seats about 350 people or so. I've got a 400-watt amp and speaker cab. I'm plenty loud enough for the pianist to hear me, and the drummer can hear me. Not sure the audience will be to. Any tips on this? I don't know that there's much that can be done (besides turning up as loud as the pianist and I can stand it). Thanks in advance for any insight.

Odd stage plotting but survivable. After looking at a ton of music videos, as the bassist, I’m surprised they didn’t set you up in the parking lot…LOL..

At least you have your keyboard player to your left where you can keep an eye on their left hand utilization. Seriously I absolutely hate being on stage right

 

[John Stephen]

Where did they position the choir in relation to band?
Had one time where they thought it would be a good idea to put the choir around the drum kit.
Asked them if their choir could sing louder than the drums.

Our band is in the center, with half the chorus on risers to our right and half on risers to our left.

 

[walterw]

Unbeknownst to us (the band), after the rehearsal, the music director had bass and drums swapped, so when I got to the gig tonight I found that I'm in front and drums are in back

so somebody in charge figured out that it was stupid and actually fixed it? good news

 

[Kevin Hailey]

Accompanying a choral group of about 40 singers. Piano, bass guitar, drums. All I’ve got is my one speaker cab. So, I’ll just show up, play, and hope for the best.

You will have zero problems.
Play to and for the choir. They don’t want or need high volume.
You’d be amazed how quietly you can play to a listening audience.