I never said I wouldn’t, I obviously will. I just said I greatly prefer to have a stage - some kind of stage, any kind of stage - than to be on the floor amidst the ferns and tables and drunks.
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Poll: There is NO STAGE
- Thread starter mellowinman
- Start date
I never said I wouldn’t, I obviously will. I just said I greatly prefer to have a stage - some kind of stage, any kind of stage - than to be on the floor amidst the ferns and tables and drunks.
To be fair, that’s 2 pedal boards. And the bassist’s is bigger! And I am ok with that. In fact, I like that.Maybe your guitar player should remove one of those pedal boards? You could get a couple of tables and another musician or two in the space it would free up.
I'm a guitar player who likes his pedals too, but come on man. The accessories departments at my local GC's are jealous.
- Sep 4, 2010
- 3,304
- 2,730
- Disclosures
- Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
The one band I played in that always had a dedicated stage was a circus band. Also the only band where someone (who was on a stepladder changing some bulbs and slipped) crashed into, while trying to hold onto, my hollowbody guitar in its stand. RIP hollowbody guitar.
The best no-stage gig I remember was an empty swimming pool. I was 1/3rd of the pitband for an avantgarde 'opera' booked to play on the Oerol open-air festival on the island of Terschelling, NL, and they put us on the bottom of that pool. It was cloudy, it drizzled and they had to keep mopping the pool tiles. The 'opera's' subject matter consisted of earnest Freudian repressed memories and not-too-subtle sexual innuendo involving members of the clergy inside a convent. If i recall correctly, someone claiming to represent Type O Negative (or some act in that vein), had actually tried to book us as a support act when touring Holland and Germany.
But who on earth is going to come out for something like that on a rainy afternoon in the open air in the middle of nowhere?
So we were a bit flustered upon showtime to find the stands loaded with families with children from the campsites in the nearby area, in matching rain ponchos, rubber boots and umbrellas, buzzing with pre-show exitement. Oh boy.
Luckily the actors/singers picked up on the cues, going for big laughs and laying it on super thick. The audience was in stitches, and presented us with a standing ovation, much to the director's chagrin. So you never know where success can be found. Good times.
The best no-stage gig I remember was an empty swimming pool. I was 1/3rd of the pitband for an avantgarde 'opera' booked to play on the Oerol open-air festival on the island of Terschelling, NL, and they put us on the bottom of that pool. It was cloudy, it drizzled and they had to keep mopping the pool tiles. The 'opera's' subject matter consisted of earnest Freudian repressed memories and not-too-subtle sexual innuendo involving members of the clergy inside a convent. If i recall correctly, someone claiming to represent Type O Negative (or some act in that vein), had actually tried to book us as a support act when touring Holland and Germany.
But who on earth is going to come out for something like that on a rainy afternoon in the open air in the middle of nowhere?
So we were a bit flustered upon showtime to find the stands loaded with families with children from the campsites in the nearby area, in matching rain ponchos, rubber boots and umbrellas, buzzing with pre-show exitement. Oh boy.
Luckily the actors/singers picked up on the cues, going for big laughs and laying it on super thick. The audience was in stitches, and presented us with a standing ovation, much to the director's chagrin. So you never know where success can be found. Good times.
You're right!
I thank you for the report. I think it's excessive and probably completely unnecessary, especially when space is at such a premium.
To each his own, belly buttons, and all that jazz...
I don't mind if there is not a dedicated stage. But I do require the Management to have some concept of what it takes to support the band.
Years ago, our singer booked a gig at a trendy pub in an upscale community. Gig was 3 sets - 8 p.m. to 11:00 pm. $100 per band member. As we had never played there before, I showed up at 6:00 p.m. to scout the room. No stage. No P.A. No nothing. So, I went home, got my personal P.A. and board and returned to the pub. Its now 7:00 - one hour before showtime. Place is pretty dead. I ask the bartender about setting up and she says the manager is "out." So, I start the load in, move a couple tables in the corner nearest the dance floor, set up the P.A and my bass amp, help the drummer with his load in as well as guitars and keys and start checking levels at 7:30.
AT TEN MINUTES TO EIGHT, the manager shows up all upset that we set up without him and starts ranting about how unprofessional we are for doing so. I start packing everything up. Now his attitude changes, as it is Friday night, and he says that we can stay "if we can handle it." Band votes to play, even though I vote to leave. We kick off right at 8:00.
By the second set, the dance floor if full, they are two-deep at the bar and there is a line outside. A--hat Manager tells the bouncer to start charging a cover?! Singer tells me he has never seen this (it is a regular hang spot for him) and there was never a discussion about a cover or a share for the band. Place stays packed all through the third set and 4-song encore, which takes us to nearly 11:20 - beyond our agreed time. We finish breaking down and are now waiting to get paid. Manager claims he needs time to count receipts and help with the bar, because it was so busy tonight. Ends up making us wait until last call - 1:45 - to get paid.
Then, after all the BS with set up and the cover charges (which were never accounted for) and the wait to get paid, this DB Manager asks when we want to play there next. I told him when hell freezes over. Never did play there again. For me, no stage - even no P.A. - can be overcome if you have the right support. If the owner/manager has no respect for the band - that is what I cannot tolerate.
Years ago, our singer booked a gig at a trendy pub in an upscale community. Gig was 3 sets - 8 p.m. to 11:00 pm. $100 per band member. As we had never played there before, I showed up at 6:00 p.m. to scout the room. No stage. No P.A. No nothing. So, I went home, got my personal P.A. and board and returned to the pub. Its now 7:00 - one hour before showtime. Place is pretty dead. I ask the bartender about setting up and she says the manager is "out." So, I start the load in, move a couple tables in the corner nearest the dance floor, set up the P.A and my bass amp, help the drummer with his load in as well as guitars and keys and start checking levels at 7:30.
AT TEN MINUTES TO EIGHT, the manager shows up all upset that we set up without him and starts ranting about how unprofessional we are for doing so. I start packing everything up. Now his attitude changes, as it is Friday night, and he says that we can stay "if we can handle it." Band votes to play, even though I vote to leave. We kick off right at 8:00.
By the second set, the dance floor if full, they are two-deep at the bar and there is a line outside. A--hat Manager tells the bouncer to start charging a cover?! Singer tells me he has never seen this (it is a regular hang spot for him) and there was never a discussion about a cover or a share for the band. Place stays packed all through the third set and 4-song encore, which takes us to nearly 11:20 - beyond our agreed time. We finish breaking down and are now waiting to get paid. Manager claims he needs time to count receipts and help with the bar, because it was so busy tonight. Ends up making us wait until last call - 1:45 - to get paid.
Then, after all the BS with set up and the cover charges (which were never accounted for) and the wait to get paid, this DB Manager asks when we want to play there next. I told him when hell freezes over. Never did play there again. For me, no stage - even no P.A. - can be overcome if you have the right support. If the owner/manager has no respect for the band - that is what I cannot tolerate.
So the ginormous pedal board is the problem but the 610 is ok? I mean it all looks to be of the same scale. If the space issue ever really gets to them they’ll downsize then. That drummer must hit pretty hard!
Boys and their toys.
It's an observation, not an indictment or criticism, and I tried to leverage a little humor, which is no doubt lost on some.
But as a practical matter, if my drummer showed up with his Peart kit on a postage stamp sized space, I'd have the same reaction.
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.
I'm not here to impress anonymous strangers on the internet.
I am here to impart some wisdom to band members how much they should take.
I'm always going to try and "be better."
You?
At 219 to 6, the poll is a lot closer than I expected...
Ah, it's all good - I don't take it as an indictment. Definitely not the first time I've been told my equipment is excessively large.
Whatever suits the gig, right? Hey, at least I'm out there playing! Cheers!
D
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I once did a gig in a commune in Totnes (wealthy designer-hippie town in England) where not only was there no stage but all the Tarquins and Fenellas sat on ethnic cushions so close they could touch the singer's mic stand. I hid behind the antique grand piano.
This is a very aristocratic take on the stage-less gig.
Everyone's experience is different? In mine, that would be the worst possible time situation. Starting at 8, you still have a large dinner crowd and a bunch of people who frankly are not there to see live music. They all flee by the third song, leaving you playing for the waiters and your 3 buddies. Then at 11, when people want to watch bands, you're done.
I can see though how something like this could be promoted well as a dinner/live music experience and work well. The management would have to understand what they were after.
LOL I don't even want to go into some of the ridiculous places we were asked to set up when playing private parties and wedding dances. You wouldn't believe some of it.
