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Stages in bars, no steps..

G

glocke1

Supporting Member
Apr 30, 2002
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#1
Whats up with all these local bars with stages that are anywhere 3 feet or so in height with no steps ?

Was the cost of the stage such that they could not afford to add steps?

Played one last night and they at least had small step stools to help folks get on and off the stage, but even they were precarious.
 
#2
When you consider how much dance floor or serving area real estate steps consume, it begins to make sense. Not to mention if the stage is a DIY project, it’s fairly simple to make a bunch of 90 degree cuts to assemble a frame for a flat stage but it takes knowledge of carpentry and the proper geometry required to build a set of steps.
 
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#3
I used to play in a bar regularly with a stage that had no steps. It was only about a foot or maybe 25 inches high. The guitar player in that band was of poor health due to diabetes, but a hell of a player. He stumbled stepping of the stage one night and fell, injuring his leg. He never fully recovered from that accident. He played for several years after that, but walked with a cane and had to sit down when he played.

Bn
 
#4
bound'n'blocked said:
I used to play in a bar regularly with a stage that had no steps. It was only about a foot or maybe 25 inches high. The guitar player in that band was of poor health due to diabetes, but a hell of a player. He stumbled stepping of the stage one night and fell, injuring his leg. He never fully recovered from that accident. He played for several years after that, but walked with a cane and had to sit down when he played.

Bn
Click to expand...


I could easily see that happening with stage i was on Friday night. It was actually a concern of mine to be honest.
 
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#7
Here's the steps up to the stage at one of my favorite places we play here on the coast.
It's an actual venue with a bar as opposed to a bar pretending to be a venue. So many
of the clubs around here that feature bands just clear out a space in the corner and call
it a stage. :meh:

Rock%20Steps%20TOTB.JPG
 
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#9
Could be to discourage drunken patrons from deciding to "guest" with the band. I'm playing a place tomorrow night that has a step-less stage. It's a decent sized Jersey shore bar/restaurant/marina. They station a bouncer on either side of the stage (which is about 12" high). Last time we were there the bouncers had to step in more than once to keep aspiring vocalists off of the stage :D
 
#13
tkonbass said:
Here's the steps up to the stage at one of my favorite places we play here on the coast. It's an actual venue with a bar as opposed to a bar pretending to be a venue. So many of the clubs around here that feature bands just clear out a space in the corner and call it a stage. :meh:

Rock%20Steps%20TOTB.JPG
Click to expand...

Sounds like The Nick in Birmingham.

nick.jpg.jpeg
 
#14
I’ve seen tavern stages in my city that range from none at all in which a band plays on the bar’s floor to four foot high stages with a built-in staircase and enough room to host a large band.

A city’s dept. of building and zoning might have regulations concerning tavern stages. I checked mine and couldn’t find anything stated about tavern stages. It’s probably because a stage is considered a furniture/furnishing item and is not a permanent part of a building. A city’s dept. of business licenses might have regulations governing tavern stages. Also a tavern’s insurance company might have its own rules dictating stage requirements.
 
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#15
Hi twofer :)

two fingers said:
Heck I'm just glad to know there are still bars with stages!
Click to expand...

In Europe more and more place have no stage at all!

Why? Laws, building specifications and construction codes!!!

Stages higher than 1m need railings! All stages need stairs!

(Looks like poop when you have to play behind something that looks like a fence for cattle!)

Stairs that have more than three steps need handrails! (one step = ca. 20cm! => 3 steps are less!! than 2 feet!)

And of course there has to be access for PRM. A ramp! with a slope of max 1 :12!!!!

Ramps can have a maximum going of 10 m (32 ft 10 in). It can be less in existing buildings (refitting)

To take the OP's example that would mean:

Height= 3ft => more than 3 steps => Steps with handrail!

A little bit higher (1m) and the whole stage must be secured with rails!

3 ft x 12 = 36ft long ramp! :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: Which is only okay in existing buildings.

In a new building there has to be a landing after 32 ft before continuing as a ramp!


The bar of the future has no stage! :(

greetings

Wise(b)ass
 
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#16
Wisebass said:
Hi twofer :)



In Europe more and more place have no stage at all!

Why? Laws, building specifications and construction codes!!!

Stages higher than 1m need railings! All stages need stairs!

(Looks like poop when you have to play behind something that looks like a fence for cattle!)

Stairs that have more than three steps need handrails! (one step = ca. 20cm! => 3 steps are less!! than 2 feet!)

And of course there has to be access for PRM. A ramp! with a slope of max 1 :12!!!!

Ramps can have a maximum going of 10 m (32 ft 10 in). It can be less in existing buildings (refitting)

To take the OP's example that would mean:

Height= 3ft => more than 3 steps => Steps with handrail!

A little bit higher (1m) and the whole stage must be secured with rails!

3 ft x 12 = 36ft long ramp! :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: Which is only okay in existing buildings.

In a new building there has to be a landing after 32 ft before continuing as a ramp!


The bar of the future has no stage! :(

greetings

Wise(b)ass
Click to expand...

If I get a chance to swing by there today, I'll shoot a pic of one of our local stages. It's only a couple feet. But it does have the ramp. I know the owner. He wouldn't have spent the money if he didn't have to. So I imagine somewhere between federal, state, and local regulations it's getting to be the same here.
 
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#18
glocke1 said:
Whats up with all these local bars with stages that are anywhere 3 feet or so in height with no steps ?

Was the cost of the stage such that they could not afford to add steps?

Played one last night and they at least had small step stools to help folks get on and off the stage, but even they were precarious.
Click to expand...



For most small bars/pubs/animal clubs, having live bands is a after-thought, (and not much thought given to it even then!)

Plus, most bars are set-up in a building that was already in existence and they have to work with what they've got.

But I'll go ahead and add to your list of "high stage, no steps" with....to few to no electric outlets....everything wired on one circuit....club owners insisting on bands with 5/6 members all be on a small stage built for a two pcs. acoustic act....tables/chairs/pool tables left on the dance floor (for the band to move and still start on time)....and don't get me started on no thought given to band parking and distance for the equipment to be carried....ect., ect., ect.
 
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