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Why does the bass player still stand in back?

#143
Dincrest said:
Every band I've been in, I've been in the front thrashing away, headbanging, dancing around, sometimes I'd even jump into the crowd. When I'm on stage, I'm a performer. I could be playing in the most mellow jazz/indie band, and I'd still be going berserko on stage as the music moves me.

If you want a bassist who just quietly stands in the shadows like a shy wallflower, then I'm not right for your band.

I'm a performer, darling, not a Swiss train conductor.
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That's right!
I never stand in the back!
But I guess its a matter of taste, some bassists dig the "bill Wyman" vibe.
 
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#144
Wasnex said:
I ran a band for a couple of years. When I sang I stood right up front with the other singer(s). When I was not singing I took a few steps back. That doesn't mean I stood there like a fence post.

IMHO the primary attention should be focused whoever is singing, but everyone on stage should make an effort to maintain some sort of stage presence. Standing motionless and staring at your fingering hand does not cut it in my book. One should move with the music, smile, and make eye contact with other musicians and the audience. Although I never used it much, choreographed moves can also add a lot to a show.
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Exactly. When I'm singing, lead or harmony, I'm up front. Where the mic stand is, you know?:D When I'm not, I'm in back, hanging with the drummer. We cue each other, make a lot of eye contact, crack each other up with "rock star" moves, make fun of the guitarists, etc.
 
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#145
Probably also depends on the style of music that you play. I play a bunch of metal/metalcore/prog metal and it seems like in those types of bands the bass player and the 1-3 g******ists like to just stand in a line behind the singer. To each their own though.
 
#153
Altitude said:
I hit a Google photos search on the word "stage" today for an unrelated reason - lots of gig pictures came up that I haven't looked at in a long time.

Like a lot of bass players, I'm standing in the back in most of them.

If you're the kind of player who wants to stand in back, chill, and play - sure. No need to rationalize or justify. But maybe some of you, like me, have decided that the fact you play bass should not, on its own, banish you to the back wall.

In fact, in my groups, keyboardists go in the back (they can't move) along with any player who needs to use his or her iPad or sheet music at the gig.

Me, I want to be up front interacting with the crowd - like I sometimes get to on this stage, where I guess I'm in the front and the back at the same time:



Anyone else abandoning the "bass in the back" rule?
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some bands do that. Other bands, like... hey, KISS for one example, have had the bass player up front since the mid 1970s.

So the "still" in back thing is interesting. It's never been about the generation of music, it's always been about the particular genre, the bassist's visuals and their strength as an all round performer, and such.

If you get into "hired" bassists though, take the stones, queen, or any other legendary band who's original bassist opted out of further touring eventually, then the hired gun typically sits a bit further back, in a bit of a darker place, and isn't as showy.
 
#155
I sit on a drum throne when I play (back problems) so I usually set up next to the drummer in my own little "zone". I like using a drum riser when available. Power it out from my comfy spot in the back and let the ego goofballs fight it out in front.
 
#156
Rock band? Wedding band? Event band? Jazz band? Big band?

Every band is different. With large bands with brass sections etc. someone has to be in the back for things to look tidy on stage. In those cases it makes sense to have the rythm section in the back IMO. It's a very "classic" look.

But then of course if the band is the kind where "tidy on stage" is thrown out the window, like Parliament-Funkedelic or Flaming Lips, anything goes. Just elbow your way to the front and have fun, lol.

In a typical rock band I don't see why EVERYONE (except possibly the drummer) can't be up front as long as the size of the stage permits it? And they usually are, aren't they? I certainly don't see this "bass player still stand in the back" thing with most rock bands??? I've done lots of gigs where the drummer was up front too, sideways at one end of the stage. Whatever works.

My favourite spot? Up front, left side of the stage. This allows me to connect with the audience, get the adrenaline going and no risk of knocking other band member's teeth out with my headstock.

But of course, every STAGE is different too. When touring smaller clubs a pre-designed stage plot is pretty much pointless half the time. Listen to advice from the house engineer, improvise, don't get hung up on "this in MY spot", have fun, get the job done. Even if it means the band has to line up in rows of two behind each other to fit on some tiny, weird stage (been there, done that).
 
#157
Gene Simmons is the FRONT man for the band though. I don't see why this is even a discussion point. 1) front person 2) up two two animated supporting players. They have to move and be showmen. 3) people who don't move because they're doing the real work go where 1) leftover space and 2) where they don't block view of the showy bits
 
#159
Altitude said:
Sure, but why would the BL be preconceived to think the bass player should stand in back? Many of them are. It's definitely their prerogative, though I wonder if the logic is current.

I specifically wonder about these choices when bands have horn sections.
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It goes back to the big band days when they put the rhythm section together beside/behind the horns
 

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