Poll: There is NO STAGE

[dbsfgyd1]

Oh man... one of my all-time favorite “no stage” experiences was arriving at an Oktoberfest party and realizing that the area reserved for the band under the packed tent was set up for a three-piece “oompah” band. Somehow, when they wrapped up their set, we managed to stuff a 16-piece brass funk band in there.

Hilarious.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

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...

That may be the case for some people, maybe even a lot of people on here. But it seems that I've seen lots of TB members gig reviews and most of the bands are average 4 members so there the drummer is the only "back of stage" member.

I sing so get my homely mug right up front, in fact we set up our 3 pc pretty straight across in terms of vocal mics. I tender to wander around and out front a lot just because I run the sound from stage so I like to check it out throughout the night.

So in my case not having to climb up and down from a stage is helpful. But again, either way, a gig is a gig and you work with what the situation requires.

 

[theduke1]

That may be the case for some people, maybe even a lot of people on here. But it seems that I've seen lots of TB members gig reviews and most of the bands are average 4 members so there the drummer is the only "back of stage" member.

I sing so get my homely mug right up front, in fact we set up our 3 pc pretty straight across in terms of vocal mics. I tender to wander around and out front a lot just because I run the sound from stage so I like to check it out throughout the night.

So in my case not having to climb up and down from a stage is helpful. But again, either way, a gig is a gig and you work with what the situation requires.

To coin an old phrase
Right on !
Brother!
Duke

 

[richntiff]

That may be the case for some people, maybe even a lot of people on here. But it seems that I've seen lots of TB members gig reviews and most of the bands are average 4 members so there the drummer is the only "back of stage" member.

I sing so get my homely mug right up front, in fact we set up our 3 pc pretty straight across in terms of vocal mics. I tender to wander around and out front a lot just because I run the sound from stage so I like to check it out throughout the night.

So in my case not having to climb up and down from a stage is helpful. But again, either way, a gig is a gig and you work with what the situation requires.

Preach Brother! I’m right up front. I sing, I play, I make an arse of myself. Truthfully - I couldn’t care less if I have a stage or not!

Ok that begs the question - what exactly constitutes a stage for us TBers? Is it an 8” elevation difference ? 2 feet ? 4 feet? Seriously curious to know so we get some perspective on the widely varying opinions. To me - a stage is anything bigger than 2 - 4x8 sheets of 1/2 inch plywood on a 2x4 frame ( total rise about 4 inches)

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Ok that begs the question - what exactly constitutes a stage for us TBers? Is it an 8” elevation difference ? 2 feet ? 4 feet? Seriously curious to know so we get some perspective on the widely varying opinions. To me - a stage is anything bigger than 2 - 4x8 sheets of 1/2 inch plywood on a 2x4 frame ( total rise about 4 inches)

Not only elevation. I consider it a stage if there's a railing separating the band area from crowds.

Or a gazebo for a public concert, but I suppose that's elevated too so it meets the height requirements.

 

[richntiff]

Not only elevation. I consider it a stage if there's a railing separating the band area from crowds.

Or a gazebo for a public concert, but I suppose that's elevated too so it meets the height requirements.

Excellent points! I’ve actually never played with a railing.....

 

[Eilif]

Folks who are adamant about stages, I don't think you can completely have it both ways.
Do you want to just play gigs on stages or do you want to grow the venues for live music?

Restaurants, "clubs" and all manner of potential venues have been shifting away from live music for decades. That usually means no stage and if they have any kind of "music" events the most you might see is a little half-enclosed DJ booth. I'm not advocating playing for free or nearly-free (that's a completely separate issue) but if you want more venues to open up to the idea of music then you better be willing to play on alot of floors, and often willing to bring your own PA.

It's tough enough to get a bar to pony up $100'ish-per-player. If they don't have or feel the requirement for a stage and sound system, they're certainly not going to pony up for them because some band tells them they have too.

I said it before, but most of my gigs have no stage but I'm happy to cash that check and be glad the bar decided to be open to the idea of paying for live music.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Wow, last guy that crashed through my stuff (on break) magically disappeared before I got back.

The owner offered to pay for any damages tho. ( the drunk was a relative of his)

We were on stage playing at the time. The lead singer was playing congas at the time. I've never experienced a band stopping so quickly in the middle of a song. We all just stood there in disbelief.
In your case, the club owner is a rare exception. Most would blame you and possibly fire you.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

What's a hollow stage? Like, a playing area that's lower than the dance floor?

No, I mean a stage that has a void space under the floor. That, of course, includes almost all stages, but I've seen a few that were actually concrete.

 

[G Aichele]

No, I mean a stage that has a void space under the floor. That, of course, includes almost all stages, but I've seen a few that were actually concrete.

Some are far more audibly "hollow" than others. Some even seem to move up and down as you walk across them (no, I'm not overweight).

 

[edro]

I'm just glad to see gigs coming back in places where there "wuttin" for years....
If you won't play on the floor, cool beans. Your call.
Just leaves more gigs for others that want to play.

 

[Eilif]

Some are far more audibly "hollow" than others. Some even seem to move up and down as you walk across them (no, I'm not overweight).

Oh man, I know this one. In my last band we played a private festival the last year they were using a particular stage that had been up for decades. It was 6 feet off the ground, soggy as heck and of course I had brought my tube amp and fridge...

Just a little terrifying.

 

[mapleglo]

This is one of those stages that flex as you walk around on it. I couldn't stack my 2x10's - I had to put them side by side. The flexing stage made the stack wobble too much and I was afraid they'd fall over.

 

[fishdreams]

Literally exactly what it sounds like: playing a show in someone’s house. Bands typically set up in the living room of the chosen domicile. A staple for metal, punk, and hardcore bands.

Also, avantgarde improv and modern classical, as it is. I suppose the distaste for anything middle-of-the-road is a shared commodity with aforementioned punk, metal and hardcore scenes.

 

[LowActionHero]

We were on stage playing at the time. The lead singer was playing congas at the time. I've never experienced a band stopping so quickly in the middle of a song. We all just stood there in disbelief.
In your case, the club owner is a rare exception. Most would blame you and possibly fire you.

This was a private party, family reunion type thing and our 3rd year playing it. The property owner loves us. I think they're all good guys, just party a Lil too hardy. We almost lost our brand new mixing board last year, to rowdy dancers.

 

[Downunderwonder]

This is... perhaps.... the best thread I’ve ever seen for identifying the prima donnas.

I will GUARANTEE:

1). Somebody with talent that will make you curl up in the corner and cry has played MANY stageless gigs. Likely many more than you.

2) Nobody is anywhere close to as big of a deal as they think they are, when it comes to the performance level discussed on talkbass.

I’ve played gigs on stages, at ground level, etc. I’ve not been doing this as long as many have, and I’m FAR from the cream of the crop - but is has never, ever, occurred to me that I might be so privileged as to require a stage to perform on. The very idea makes me sick to my stomach. Anybody who thinks they are too good to perform on the same elevation as their audience? Get over yourself.

There are a few genuine bigger wheels on TB but I haven't seen any on this thread. Otherwise, yeah rock on.

Best bar stage I used to play on was a well run ''dive''.

In Ireland the musos take over a ''snug''. A lot easier for the drummer playing a bodhran.

 

[Monzo]

When our gear is set up, then that's our stage as far as I'm concerned. Just happy they're still accepting bands. at least where I live.

 

[7615]

When I was 18 I remember going to bars and when I saw a band standing on the floor with house lights on, I came away thinking that was the best venue ever. No distracting lights - nowhere to hide.

 

[Swampish]

Host: we need to wait until the people at that table leave, and then we'll move it, and that's the stage.
Me: Who booked this? WHO BOOKED THIS???? HEEEYYYYY!!!! AAAUUUGGGGGHHHHH!!!! WHO BOOKED THIS?????
Host: Is there a problem?

WAY back in the day, we had a ground level gig, but decided that we needed a drum riser. So we built one out of old wooden pallets. Problem: None of us had car access, so we did the next best thing. We got two wagons, put the riser on them, called a taxi, asked if it was OK if we roped the wagons to his bumper and pulled the stage to the show (about 10 kilometers away). He said yes. By the time we got to the show (at a crawl on small roads), two wagon wheels had fallen off and the last kilometer, our drummer had to jog next to the stage as it was sliding off the now-lopsided wagons with missing wheels. When we got to the gig, the riser was too big to get in the doors, so we had to cut it in half and screw it back together inside.
All of this was for naught when our homemade pyrotechnics led to a fire (on the drum riser) and shut down of the show.
It goes without saying, never again.

 

[eli]

Frankly, after 40 years gigging, I’m at the point in my life where the unexpected has become the norm- if that makes any sense. Life’s too short for me to worry about mundane annoyances that merely require a bit of creative thinking. I know how frustrating things can be when you’re merely trying to do a great job, as most of us here seem to try to do. But I’ve played on big stages, small stages, really small stages and everything in between. Last weekend we were here:

View attachment 3271196

Temperature = 40 degrees, wind speed +20 mph, heat - nonexistent , pay - almost double the going rate and they let us off an hour early.
Stage? What stage?

With those conditions, was there any audience to speak of? Perhaps that's why the gig ended early??!?