Stage-left or stage-right? What is your preference?

[Santraginus]

On my drummer's left hand side. I'm a lefty - so it makes it easier for me to get eye-contact with him while taking the occasional look at my bass neck...
Also, I like to hear the hi-hat well.

 

[xxDavidxx]

so far, i've actually always stood right in the middle.
no idea why though.

 

[nellie48]

thanks for all the responses. I would like to do a poll as well to learn the sheer numbers of what people prefer. But, I like hearing the reasons why people play where they do.

 

[Craigmartini]

Whatever side the hi-hat is on. Right handed drummers on my right, left handed drummers on my left. If I have a choice. Sometimes you have to play where they put you. In that case I just put hi-hat in my monitor.
Craig

 

[Howlin' Hanson]

I have to face the microphone most of the time, so I am down stage and just to the right of the center. Between glances at my own fretboard hand, I can glance up to watch the guitarists' fretboard hand, or grin at the other singer.

I can't turn much to the right without hitting my mike stand with my head stock, but I can swing back to the left to cue in with the drummer on endings, etc. The rhythm guitarist gets to watch my back.

 

[john turner]

i always like to be on the hats side of the drummer, and since i've always played with righty drummers, that's stage left.

 

[JazzV]

Stage Right...

It just seems more natural to me to have the drummer on my left so I can glance toward the drummer or my fretboard (when I get lost...) with the same motion.

 

[Ric5]

Stage Right ... so I can see what chord the guitar player is playing ...

 

[rapturebass]

Right Side. Not sure why. I think its because the audience naturally looks right, and that is where the guitarist traditionally is; on the audience's right.

 

[xgator4u]

Stage left=hi hat, also no guitards or singers crashing into the head stock of my bass.

 

[Tomass]

Hi-hat side, for every gig we've done so far.

 

[MSTRKRFT]

Stage left=hi hat, also no guitards or singers crashing into the head stock of my bass.

+1

 

[cowsgomoo]

stage right... I can make eye contact with the drummer and see my fretboard at the same time.. not too bothered about seeing him play because I can hear that from anywhere... but y'know.. you unspokenly develop a series of strange expressions between you that convey various performance requirements on an ongoing basis...

 

[Deacon_Blues]

As a bassist, I'm most happy on the right side of the stage. However, since I'm singing lead too I usually stand in front of the drummer. The bad thing with that setup is that the communication suffers a bit...

 

[amphlett7]

I usually go stage left
next to the high hat, and when i saw next to I mean NEXT TO
yeah i play in my schools big band and im always squished in next to my amp
between the percussionist and the drummer
i always have sore ears
but i never really get a choice

 

[Tony In Philly]

Being beside the hi hat on the left is obviously better, but I have to sing a whole lot, so it doesn't really matter. Some of the stages we play on are so crammed and in the corner that its layout determines more how we locate around the drum kit.

 

[edbass]

I'll go anywhere. Makes no difference.

+1
I watch the drummer with my ears.

 

[funkbass88]

I prefer to have my amp on stage right. Just feels comfortable and always happens to end up that way. But because I'm also the vocalist for the band, I stand in the center

 

[TheBassPreacher]

I usually stand stage left, but I'm standing stage right at this weekly thing I do because the stage is a bit lopsided and there isnt enough room on the left side for two people. I usually like standing stage left so I don't accidentally run into a drum stand or something on a small stand, though it isn't as big of a deal right now because my current drummer plays a left handed setup.

 

[Bassstud1]

I started on the stage right 33 yrs ago. I have on occasion played in 1 night sit in situations where I have played on stage left. At this point in the game I have lost so much of my high end hearing ( from cymbals) in my left ear I use an ear plug in my left ear. I have have a getard on my right side but he's a mature lead player who doesn't crank it up to 11 all the way across his amp. Now the problem is the drummer has purchased a set of electronic drums running thru the monitors. Young players should look into a good set of ear plugs so you can hear your grandson playing guitar (or bass) clearly. Stage right for me.