where should bassist stand (on stage)

[your idol]

im always left of the drums. that way the singer dosent take an inadvertant headstock to the mouth if we get close and my right ear is my best ear

 

[countrybass007]

Our drummer likes me on his right side, that's his personal preference. I usually let the drummer decide where I should stand, and in the past 40 years the right side has been the norm. I have seen bands with the bass player on one of the far sides, with someone in between the bass and drums. That's a big mistake in my opinion.

 

[somegeezer]

I'm not aware of any "should" or "tradition" to this. It's really a matter of personal preference and convenience for the band as a whole.

Being right handed, I naturally prefer playing stage left, so that the headstock of my instrument points away from the drum kit (and especially the cymbals). And so I can establish eye contact with the drummer much more easily.

This topic has been hashed and rehashed here many times before...

MM

+1
Not necessarily from the drum kit... but from the guitarists and singers too... I just feel comfortable stage left.

 

[kickstand22]

I think in this forum, "where should bassist stand" should have the same answer as the "where does the 300 pound gorilla sleep" joke -
anywhere he wants to

+1 bro

 

[Hoover]

In one of the bands I've been playing with lately I avoid the whole "don't poke the singer with your headstock" issue by setting up as far stage right as possible, but facing across the stage rather than at the audience. So my headstock is pointing upstage perpendicular to the proscenium, the audience sees me in profile, and I get eye contact with the entire band at all times. It actually works out pretty nice, and I may start doing that with more ensembles I play with.

 

[BassyBill]

Another vote here for hi-hat side of the drummer, whenever possible.