Where do YOU like to stand on stage and why?

Preferred Spot on Stage

  • Stage left (to the right of the drummer)

    Votes: 36 10.5%

  • Stage right (to the left of the drummer)

    Votes: 73 21.3%

  • Underground, with the carrots

    Votes: 25 7.3%

  • STAGE LEFT (LEFT OF THE DRUMMER)

    Votes: 138 40.4%

  • STAGE RIGHT (RIGHT OF THE DRUMMER)

    Votes: 70 20.5%
  • Total voters
    342
GrapeBass

GrapeBass

Commercial User
Jun 10, 2004
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Graphic Designer: Yorkville Sound
#1
I prefer to stand on stage right (to the right of the drummer) on stage because, I feel, I get a better perspective view of the whole band for visual cues. It's also more natural for me to have my head positioned towards the neck of my bass (RH player).

I've noticed that a many British or European players also stand on stage right (to the right of the drummer) but American (North American) seem to favor stage left (to the left of the drummer) citing that they are on the side of the high hat or so that they can see the bass drum.

Interested in others opinions and reasons, there are no correct answers.
 
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#3
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#4
You’ve got your stage directions backwards. Unless the drummer has his back to the audience, his right is stage right (ie from the perspective of someone on stage) or house/audience left.

Having said that, being left handed, I prefer to be stage right. That makes it easiest to face the audience without closing myself off to the rest of the band. I couldn’t care less which side of the drums I’m on.
 
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#9
To be honest, I really don't care.. I've played both sides.
I'm 100% wireless/IEM, and have plenty kick/hat/snare in my ears.
I'm able to roam larges stages. Occasionally I'll look at the kick, but..

Now, IF I was non-IEM, I'd "prefer" to be stage left, near hat and line of sight w/ kick!
 
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#10
Yes, I was confused by your choices. Stage left means you're to your own left, which would also be left of the drummer. That's where I like to stand and, ideally, with no one else to the left of me. Sometimes I get my wish and sometimes I do not, depending on the size of the band and the clout of whoever it is who wants to be on that side of me.

Bandleaders get to stand there with the standard warning that I'm not responsible for dental bills if headstock meets teeth by accident.
 
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#14
waynobass said:
No one should have to look at the kick pedal to know what the drummer is playing. Your ears should tell you.

OP, please eliminate the erroneous first two choices.
Click to expand...

Except that I prefer to stand where I have a clear sight line to the kick drum. Once stage volume exceeds a certain level, ears alone are not much help.
 
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#18
You forgot Center Stage (in front of the drummer) which is where bassists who are also the lead singer/frontperson are sometimes positioned. I prefer to be at the drummer's right. It often gives me a view of what's going on with the kick drum pedal and is conducive to keeping an eye on the drummer and the rest of the stage while also being able to glance at my fretboard.
 
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#19
Either left or right of the drummer, I don't care which.

What I do have a strong preference about is not having somebody else on the same side of the stage as me, if possible.

I prefer the balanced look of a three-person front line, and dislike having another player, their (usually too loud) amp, and all their gear on the same side as me.
 
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