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Where do you stand?

#281
I don't mind it much, but I tend to be on the right side of the drummer, mainly because the guitarist likes the other side best. We switch around sometimes thou, it depends a bit if the stage is odd shaped, the guitar gets the best side because he uses a large pedalboard and I use only a small footswitch.
 
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#282
STAGE RIGHT
I'm right handed, and look to my left to the neck. And I usually set up to the RIGHT of the drummer, so I can see him and my neck... also, when I was singing, I could watch for cues from the lead singer / guitarist. I don't think that would've worked if I was looking the other way.

If I was left handed.... hmmmm. Do lefties play stage LEFT?

In English-speaking cultures generally, stage left and stage right refer to the performer's left and right when facing the audience.

SONIC HUMOR
Way back in time, was helping some friends set up on a W I D E stage. They decided to spread their amp gear out to LOOK impressive. Soon as they started playing it became obvious that everything was out of whack. They had increased the distance between each other to the point that they were playing out of sync. Learned my lesson about "TIGHT" sound - a dual reference to spatial and audio.
 
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#285
I've done both over the years and haven't really thought about it. I worked with a jazz piano player who would take off in what he called adventures in harmony and I needed to be next to him to follow his left hand so that put me to the drummer's right. I've seen Fourplay a few times and the drummer is all the way on stage right with the kit facing all the other players. Everyone is in front of him!!
 
#288
I'm on the LEFT. Our drummer has lost of hearing in his right ear He wants me to stand on his left so he can hear me better. We no longer have that drummer but our guitar player got used to looking at me in that direction. Which does save my headstock from banging into his cymbals :)
 
#289
I stand on the right because for upright it's the only way you can see the band with your front to the audience if you're right handed. Also if your guitar player is right handed you'll be able to see what they're playing if you get lost, or can't hear them, or you're jamming.
 
#291
I think I'm usually to the Left, but since we are, or were, primarily playing in NYC I'd usually just go to the side where the backline cab is already set up. The places we played most frequently tended to have the bass cab on stage left, but I've definitely been on the right as well. If we were bringing all our own gear, then I'm not sure, it would probably depend who got to the stage first, I'm ususally opposite the lead guitar with rhythm guitar on my side. I guess I don't have a preference.
 
#292
Zoffy said:
Tonight my band played a party and it occurred to me that I have just always fallen in on the right side of the drummer. I've noticed that bass players generally, but not always, hang out to the right of the drums. Anyone hang out on the left? And would there be any reasons regarding acoustics or sound that I am overlooking as a reason to favor the bass on one side or the other?

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I always did too! But it makes more sense to stand on the left of the drummer,better to hear the high hat and snare drum
 
#293
I've always preferred to stand on the left side of the drummer (as far away as the stage will allow. :P) Though with any gig I've had the past five years, it's always been that I stand wherever I can actually fit. Sometimes it was even behind the drummer.
 
#294
Been playing for 45+ years in Bands. I've always setup to the right of my drummer. Every Bass I own has little nicks in the headstock from banging into the edges of the cymbals on a tight stage. All you bass players know what I mean ...
 
#295
Zoffy said:
Tonight my band played a party and it occurred to me that I have just always fallen in on the right side of the drummer. I've noticed that bass players generally, but not always, hang out to the right of the drums. Anyone hang out on the left? And would there be any reasons regarding acoustics or sound that I am overlooking as a reason to favor the bass on one side or the other?

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I don't have a preference. The size and shape of the bandstand/stage seems to dictate, more than any preference. I like being in a corner, with my cabinet pointing out at a 45° angle, for soundwave development, when possible.
 
#298
I will always choose to be on the hi-hat side of the drummer. That is usually Stage Left. That way, a simple turn to the right allows me and the drummer to lock in. Plus, if I am looking to the guitar or keys on the other side, I look over the drummer.
If I am on the other side, I can't see anything over the ride and that inevitable china that they talk about all the time and use like two times in the show. Never understood why JPJ or Entwistle would want to be on the other side. Puts you on a lonely island.
 
#299
Left of drummer, actually in almost every band / gig / rehearsal situation I can think of. In fact it would probably mess me up to be right. I’m right handed, so are most drummers. Agree on headstock out of cymbals and eye contact as good reasons why this makes sense, although not sure I’ve ever consciously made the decision for those reasons.
 

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