Yep. We usually get gigs like this with no stage or house PA. One place we played actually moved a pool table to make room. That was a pretty bad one.
We need to get better gigs.
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Poll: There is NO STAGE
- Thread starter mellowinman
- Start date
Yep. We usually get gigs like this with no stage or house PA. One place we played actually moved a pool table to make room. That was a pretty bad one.
We need to get better gigs.
I've played stages where I wished there was NO stage. The old Jewish Mother at the Virginia Beach oceanfront comes to mind. IIRC (the venue was demolished during renovation), the stage was ~7-8' deep and wrapped backwards on an interior wall so the performers pretty much had to stand side-by-side, elbow-to-elbow. I finally stepped down onto the floor behind a sub bin. On a more positive note, I became accessible to the waitstaff who took my dinner order (bagel/lox, cup of coffee) and served it on top of the enclosure during the set.
Riis
Riis
Played a particular place many times that we could not setup until all the high tops were moved and people were done eating at them .... they don’t move them till 9:00pm and wanted us on at 9:30... ummmm setup a full PA and all our gear and instruments which we couldn’t load in until 9:00 either and be ready to go in 30 minutes ??? Thanks but no thanks I have a day job and when my gig becomes a stressful job I’m done 
I won't play if there isn't a proper stage and a bowl of exactly 500 red M&Ms in our dressing room.
What? There's no dressing room? What am I...an ANIMAL?
What? There's no dressing room? What am I...an ANIMAL?
The stage is wherever the band sets up and plays.
The only time i would demand a stage is if it was outdoors and in the grass(not on a patio or pavement). This is primarily when the ground may be wet and it would be a hazard. Other than that, don't really mind. I play tons of gigs where the band is just setup in a corner and even level with the audience.
To each his own, if you feel you are so important that you'll only play on an elevated stage that's your business I guess.
Been playing since high school, a few nice big stages, some medium sized but usually there isn't one. I can't honestly remember any bad time playing that was caused by the presence of, or lack of, a stage.
Been playing since high school, a few nice big stages, some medium sized but usually there isn't one. I can't honestly remember any bad time playing that was caused by the presence of, or lack of, a stage.
I always like playing without a stage. It's kind of cool to be up close and personal with the crowd. Though I've never had this opportunity, I did see an electro group once that set up in the centre of the venue and had the crowd dancing all around them. It was incredibly fun. I'd like to set that up sometime.
I finally found this gig story from Paul Desmond of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. They had a stage, but probably wished they hadn't.
I like both. Stage mostly for larger gigs, floor for smaller and private gigs as I like to get involved with the crowd. Rock on.
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big stages are great but I’d rather play with no stage and be able to create our own “area” than be stuck on a tiny stage where the band has no freedom to move around at all. This gig is from a few weeks ago. We played on the concrete floor of a firehouse. There was no stage but we did create our own area by not allowing people to come inside the floor monitors. Had a good time.
We play a (well-paying) bar/restaurant gig where they move tables to make a space for the band. But that's not the worst part. The manager will often delay our load-in until those tables clear. That's still not the worst part. There's minimal parking and we load in from the front, so the entire band and gear are stacked on the sidewalk outside waiting for the 'go' signal. The worst part is if it's raining or snowing...
No, I'm not going to complain. I'm not going to book it in the first place!
Whaddayouse? Some kinda primadonna? We move the table at 8:30. You hit at 9. You got a problem wit dat?
He was just dancing and lost his balance. I miss that band because we only played really good venues, but we were the second highest paid band in the Tidewater Virginia area. Only Bill Deal and the Rhondells made more money.
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I bet half of my gigs are at places like that, and have been through the years. It is what it is.
What does suck is when you find yourself as the band in a situation where there should really not be a band. This happens in restaurants mostly, where the play is to keep the diners there late for drinks rather than leaving to get the drinks somewhere else.
IME, that play does not work. Instead, the band starts and chases off the people who were there for conversation, even if they try to play quietly. And you end up playing for the bar staff all night because it's a restaurant and nobody comes to eat after 10PM.
It's better to play in a situation where the patrons expect there to be live music, stage or not.
What does suck is when you find yourself as the band in a situation where there should really not be a band. This happens in restaurants mostly, where the play is to keep the diners there late for drinks rather than leaving to get the drinks somewhere else.
IME, that play does not work. Instead, the band starts and chases off the people who were there for conversation, even if they try to play quietly. And you end up playing for the bar staff all night because it's a restaurant and nobody comes to eat after 10PM.
It's better to play in a situation where the patrons expect there to be live music, stage or not.
Moving tables... I'm ok with that. I once had to move 2 pool tables. That... well, it sucked.
The picture below... I would have preferred no stage. My amp.... well it's on the roof below the stage. It wouldn't fit.
The picture below... I would have preferred no stage. My amp.... well it's on the roof below the stage. It wouldn't fit.
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