I moonlight as a guitarist singer...essentially i play with a drummer that fills impromptu cover gigs...so for instance if he has a guitarist singer, i play bass, if he can't find the guitarist singer I take the lead. We used to use a phenomenal bass player who refused to stand up all night unless he was making $150.00, we typically took home like $100-120 a man. It was okay with me because of the nature of the gig, but also because he was really phenomenal, would sometimes throw unknown songs at him and he would nail them, between a combination of showing him my fingering of the chords and his ear it worked and typically came across better than most rehearsed cover bands in our area at least. So i think its a per gig basis, sometimes it makes the show more relax, but hopefully the talent and music speaks for itself. I would hate to see a bad musician sit the entire night...especially if they are getting paid.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
sit down at a gig?
- Thread starter hgregs
- Start date
I hope you're OK, or at least not living with pain.
Is the Barker bass as awesome for playing while seated as I think it is?
Thanks .... I'm really pretty fortunate, still play as much as I used to, just always sitting down. I have real problems in my C5 & C6 discs as well as some junk in the lumbar that is not as bad. Lots of guys in way worse condition than me, so I feel blessed
And yes, playing the BVB seated is fantastic, even better than standing up, IMO ....
I don't think sitting is a horrible thing. I sit sometimes, depending on 1) type of music, and 2) how much pain I'm in (waiting on knee replacements). If things are pretty mellow or I'm hurting, I'll sit. For some shows, our entire band has been seated. Doesn't seem to make a difference.
so my last gig, second set, it was late, i was tired, and the slight inebriation had be struggling to stand up. my playing was fine (even listening back to the tape). but i had serious doubts that i would be able to stand through the whole set. i did, with much struggle. and it dawned on me - how much of a faux pas would it be if i grabbed a chair to finish out the set?
edit - it was bar gig and not incredibly crowded.
I can't see a problem with sitting down as long as the playing is not affected negatively.
I do it on most gigs I do.
I have no time at all for getting drunk though and those that do it on the job.
If you're not sure if you're going to be able to stand up while playing due to drinking to much, you might want to take a hard look at whats more important to you... playing music, or getting drunk.
IMHO.
IMHO.
I have to respectfully disagree. As musicians, we are entertainers. Music happens to be our medium, but our job first and foremost is to be entertaining. If there was a choice between two bands, with no discernable difference in talent or musical quality, but one band played the entire show seated, or standing staring at their feet and charged $10/ticket, and the other band put on a lively, energetic stage show for $15 I'd gladly pay the extra $5 any day. Granted, playing the style of music that I do lends itself more to a high-energy stage show, but stage prescence always has to be a consideration.
Slight digression: I've seen Robert Fripp perform probably 7 or 8 times over the past three decades, and one of the most memorable shows was King Crimson at Metro in Boston MA circa 1981 in support of their Discipline album ...specifically because at one point in that concert Robert was wailing away on his guitar, utterly consumed in the moment, and in a rare display of emotion he actually stood up from his stool!!!!!
It was only for a moment, but it was clearly an involuntary act, a loss of self-control, a moment where passion completely overtook his rational mind. And the music he was making totally warranted such an outburst. It was stunning, and I think everyone in the audience recognized that we were in the presence of something magical, albeit ultra-brief.
Two seconds later he was back sitting on his stool, and I've never seen him budge from it since.
Further digression:
This thread has made me think that I really want to see a band consisting of
Robert Fripp on guitar (seated, of course)
Anthony Jackson on bass (seated, of course)
and Trilok Gurto on drumkit (who plays not seated; more like squatting on the floor behind his drumkit)
This thread has made me think that I really want to see a band consisting of
Robert Fripp on guitar (seated, of course)
Anthony Jackson on bass (seated, of course)
and Trilok Gurto on drumkit (who plays not seated; more like squatting on the floor behind his drumkit)
LilRay
Commercial User
- Dec 27, 2007
- 4,166
- 39
- Disclosures
- Owner: Cockeyed Cow Custom Leathercraft
I have to respectfully disagree with what I believe is your "theory".
If your theory is that one cannot "entertain" as well seated as those who stand, I beg to differ sir.
Lively and energetic have nothing to do with being upright or seated IMO.
Case and point Jeff Healey put on one of the most energetic and lively shows I've ever seen, all while remaining seated.
Entertaining in and of itself has nothing to do with dancing or flailing about yourself, but making others want to do so.
As my friend Jerry says, our job as "entertainers" is "stacking asses".
Pack the club and put people on the dance floor, and Sitting or Standing won't make a hill of beans difference.
IMO of course
God Bless, Ray
Never sit down. You have to approach it like an athlete. If you're too drunk to stand, then you drank too much. If you're tired, then you need to get in better shape. Practice standing up.
scottbass
Bass lines like a big, funky giant
I have played in several classic rock, country and blues bands over the past 10 years. I always stand - or did until my hip started shooting painful fire up my spine. So I went and got a new hip. During the 6 months or so it took to recover from that I sat on a bar stool to play. No one minded. I think it's preferable to sit on a higher perch so your head is still approximately the same level as the other singers and guitarist(s). Once I recovered from the surgery I resumed standing - three one-hour sets per evening. But I sure do look forward to sitting down between sets! (And it's also fun to watch the drummers pace around between sets because they are tired of sitting!)
As Phalex says due to a disablity I sit a lot. I have cerebral pulsy and trip over my toes someowhat. Hardly ever do I trip and I practice standing in my bedroom all the time with no problem but for some reason when I get on stage I have to sit or lean against a wall as the fear of falling takes over. It really gets at me and I'm trying my best to rectifty it. Its to the point that I'm afraid to audition for bands because I'm afraid they won't like that I sit. JUst got contacted by a heavy metal band that I'd love to play with but I don't know what to do.
Have a major back problem in pain 24-7 after falling off a cliff and I have never sat during a gig I man up and jump around like a 15 year old till the show is over and when I get home I can't even get out the car! So no excuse to sit looks bad you are being paid to perform not sit on your a$$
That happened to me one night, dehydrated from being in the sun all day, Japanese food before the gig, several beers during the night. About halfway thru the 3rd set, I lost the ability to sweat and almost passed out.
My band leader doesn't like anybody sitting, as we're trying to project a very energetic stage presence and songs. At 54, I need to sit every once and a while during the 4 hour show. A bar stool works great, as I'm still a little taller than the drummer.
I saw a gig in which George Porter Jr. sat on stool for the 3 sets. It was all rock and funk and he had no trouble entertaining. His attitude was cool and in the background, so that might count as no stage presence, but what hit your ear sure showed where the energy was at.
