Where do you stand on stage? Why? I prefer being on the hi-hat side, so I can hear the drummer's "pulse" better. Of course it doesn't matter if you play with in-ear monitors!
Hi-hat side, best place to have good contact with the drummer IMO, both for the (hi-hat) pulse and for visual cues (I watch the drummers sticks to synch in after breaks, for ending crash hits and what have you).
behind the keyboard player. the drummer and i are starting to be come telepathic on good gigs. he and i are getting a better groove the more we work together. we just have to look at each other most of the time and we just adjust.
Anyway, I stand near the front of the stage because I like the attention. I've NEVER had a problem with not being able to hear the drums and guitar. My only issue has been with not being able to hear vocals to songs I barely know.
It really has nothing to do with what side of the drummer, but on the Tom side. The Guitarist is left handed, so it works best for him to be on stage left, which happens to also be the high-hat side. That leaves me with the "other" side, not that I resent it but it does seem like left-overs.
I tend to stand at the front, alongside the singers (or, sometimes, even in front of them!). However, the main thing is finding a set up that gives good eye contact between all the band - we're not yet playing stages that are large enough to make hearing the problem. Now, all fitting on is a different matter... Wulf
I prefer the hi-hat side, because the tom side is also often the 'earsplitting crash cymbal' side. The hi-hat side has always been occupied by a percussionist in my main gig, but he quit this week, so maybe I can steal his spot...
I try to stand on the tom side, so then when I look at the bass neck the drummer is in my field of vision too, it's kind of convenient that way.
I confess I have stood directly in front of my amp, so I could turn around, plink a harmonic, turn it to 10 or so, stand in the speaker node, and draw out the feedback note, driving the guitar player to premature orgasm. The sound guy loved it too, chasing around trying to figure where the feedback was coming from. Especially effective on those extended finales!
Excuse my ignorance but when you say stage left/stage right are you looking at the stage from the audience or from the stage out?I'm a lefty so I'm on the right hand side of the stage? My guitarist is from the darkside(a righty) and I learned long ago that it's not a good idea to cross guitars
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