My favorite stage plot is when I'm in front but have a path back to the side of the drummer. If you're not singing, I can see why bandleaders would be predisposed to put us there.
I spend about 80% of my time in front.
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Why does the bass player still stand in back?
- Thread starter Altitude
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My favorite stage plot is when I'm in front but have a path back to the side of the drummer. If you're not singing, I can see why bandleaders would be predisposed to put us there.
I spend about 80% of my time in front.
I always tell people that it's so I am closer to the drummer and can lock in better. But in reality, I always presumed it was because of the chain. Maybe that's just me, though.
I like to stand in the back by the drummer. We can send subtle signals back and forth. Usually, when a guitar solo fall apart, or the keyboard player gets the limelight and flubs it hard, or the singer forgets the words and goes silent, I can pick up the pieces, throw together something funky in the moment and be the last man standing to hold things together. Mysteriously, there is a band hidden behind the mess of the front line. An impromptu bass/drum jam gives the band a chance to regroup and the audience has a chance to see what really keeps a show going...the rhythm section.
I always liked being close to the drummer because we need to lock together. We do a lot of shows where we have multiple vocalists and dancers, stage managers like to have the band towards the back so there is room for performers to enter and exit the stage safely.
On smaller gigs with just the two vocalists we tend to keep the same setup pattern to make it easy for vocalists to walk on and off the stage. The light guys usually work out where you're going to stand anyway and point a few lights in your direction so you're not invisible in a dark corner.
And then there are the times when we need to fit a six piece band into a shoebox size stage so we're virtually on top of each other. In these cases I like the back of the stage, the less people having to navigate around my gear the better.
On smaller gigs with just the two vocalists we tend to keep the same setup pattern to make it easy for vocalists to walk on and off the stage. The light guys usually work out where you're going to stand anyway and point a few lights in your direction so you're not invisible in a dark corner.
And then there are the times when we need to fit a six piece band into a shoebox size stage so we're virtually on top of each other. In these cases I like the back of the stage, the less people having to navigate around my gear the better.
If any bandleader puts Billy Sheehan in the back he's an idiot.
Just sayin'
But one bandleader does put me in the back...but it's his band.
Not in my own though!
Just sayin'
But one bandleader does put me in the back...but it's his band.
Not in my own though!
What kinda music/what tunes are you doing wit the "multiple vocalists and dancers"?
When I gigged, I would float between the drums and the front line. Just visually focusing on the drummer helped me maintain a groove that the the melodic instruments rode on. I'm also not keen on the idea of staring down crowds on most days, so it also helped my anxiety.
And sometimes if I thought me and the drums were feeling it without maintained effort, I'd go focus on a guitarist or horn player and "musically converse" with them to try and draw out some different energy. And sometimes I just felt like stomping around front and center playing big fat riffs, so up front I went.
And sometimes if I thought me and the drums were feeling it without maintained effort, I'd go focus on a guitarist or horn player and "musically converse" with them to try and draw out some different energy. And sometimes I just felt like stomping around front and center playing big fat riffs, so up front I went.
This is a Greek inspired show but not the traditional Greek music that comes to mind, it's more the modern stuff which ranges from rock to funk to ballads, naturally you always have to finish with "Zorba the Greek". This is a ticketed 1.5 hour show and we usually get about 700 people which is the capacity of the room.
At one of our typical smaller shows it's still two vocalists and we play jazz, latin, funk, rock and trad and modern Greek music also. It's kind of a mixture, our audiences are international. It's fun because there is lots of audience interaction and such a wide variety of genres. We need a large repertoire to change it up from show to show and it's not uncommon in three hours to have performed something like 90 tunes so I keep the charts on my iPad just in case someone calls for a tune we haven't played in a while.
event band = i'm in back, or on the side (stage left).
jazz band = front sometimes, in back of horns sometimes (horns are our 'singers').
in both cases = depends on the stage (size/shape). neither band has a specific 'rule of thumb'. that said: i'd rather be close enough to the drummer that i can work the rhythm(s) effectively.
we play one venue (the jazz band) where all 7 of us are in a line --- we're all in the front!
jazz band = front sometimes, in back of horns sometimes (horns are our 'singers').
in both cases = depends on the stage (size/shape). neither band has a specific 'rule of thumb'. that said: i'd rather be close enough to the drummer that i can work the rhythm(s) effectively.
we play one venue (the jazz band) where all 7 of us are in a line --- we're all in the front!
One more reason I prefer drummers who play with their toms set flat.
I'll stand at the back. I'll stand at the front. I'll sit down and play. Depends on the stage. I've had to sit on my amp when space is tight. Given enough room, I like to move around and even do a little dance from time to time. Seeing a giant clown bopping up and down seems to make audiences more comfortable getting on the floor.
Back in the PR days, I used to jump all over the stage. I've even jumped right through a couple. Finish the song with the bands feet at my waist level. I bet Flea has never done that. You'll be surprised to learn that my knees are not what they used to be. Least I don't have to dance like Peter Garrett from Midnight Oil.
Yes, that’s quite a unique dance style and you need a fair degree of flexibility, especially with a bass strapped on.
