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Poll: There is NO STAGE

Will You Play if There is No Stage?

  • Total voters
    737
#242
Paulabass said:
Not long ago I was hired for a BIG BUCK wedding. For a show like this I would always do a site inspection. I didn't cause the lead singer told me we had worked this room before without problem, and to bring the full lighting and sound system.
I got to the convention center, and was sent a direction I had never been before. I found the room manager, and was shown 'the stage'. The lack of stage. The VERY SMALL lack of stage. They had cordonned off an area between tables that was about 8' square!! and floor level. I tried to explain that it was a five piece band, with a 5 ton truck full of equipment (lighting trusses, 4x double 18" subwoofers, 32 channel board.....). Deaf Ears. This was our area, and there was no two ways about it. I called the wedding planner that had booked us. There was NO WAY to back out of the gig.
I called our sound man and cancelled him, and set up two of our mid-hi cabinets (of six) on top of the guitar and bass amps (no monitors, two lights), and we packed in around the drums (muting every cymbal cause someone was leaning against it) Nobody but the dance floor could hear us, and that was fine.
We got paid, and rebooked by the same wedding planner.
Click to expand...

A night at the improv, each and every night.
 
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#244
I'm showing my noobiness (is that a word? it is now...), but after a dozen or so gigs, I've never been without a stage... Would like to do one, just for the experience... Would be nice to get closer to the crowd, as long as they somewhat behave.
 
#245
I do want to point out that most people posting to this thread are coming from the perspective of the BASS PLAYER, who usually stands courageously at the back of the stage, away from the frontline of drunk a-holes contended with by singers, some of whom are attractive women.

Just adding perspective...
 
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#246
mellowinman said:
I do want to point out that most people posting to this thread are coming from the perspective of the BASS PLAYER, who usually stands courageously at the back of the stage, away from the frontline of drunk a-holes contended with by singers, some of whom are attractive women.

Just adding perspective...
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Or, from a perspective of gigging for part or all of your living.
 
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#247
mellowinman said:
I do want to point out that most people posting to this thread are coming from the perspective of the BASS PLAYER, who usually stands courageously at the back of the stage, away from the frontline of drunk a-holes contended with by singers, some of whom are attractive women.

Just adding perspective...
Click to expand...

Maybe in a dad rock band. Certainly not the case for rock and metal.
 
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#250
mellowinman said:
I do want to point out that most people posting to this thread are coming from the perspective of the BASS PLAYER, who usually stands courageously at the back of the stage, away from the frontline of drunk a-holes contended with by singers, some of whom are attractive women.

Just adding perspective...
Click to expand...

What about the attractive men?

I've never been at the back playing bass, always at the front. Have I been doing it wrong?
 
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#254
This is a huge pile of responses, but you know where everybody is coming from? Want a stage every night, book it yourself. Problem solved. Clean up, aisle primadonna without the chops/balls to play a wedding gig.
 
#258
retslock said:
When you’re doing it for a living you just set up, play and take the money and run.
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:thumbsup:

lat said:
I've never been without a stage... Would like to do one, just for the experience...
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:laugh:
it's not too different from standing in your kitchen.


mellow: i like stages if they're 'done right' for music/musicians. but i've played a lot of piano-trio receptions on the floor in the corner where they put the grand piano. i'm good with a little wiggle room. big gigs are big gigs --- never an issue.
 
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