stage set up?

[Michael Matthews]

ok guys, i'm starting to play a little for some local gospel groups and i need you input about where to set up on stage, i'm thinking on the opposite side of the keyboard and guitar player and the bass player on same side as me and also, where is best place for the amp, should it be in front of me or over to the side of me or in behind me and away from everbody else? i've tried the out to the side and a little behind me seems to work best, but it seems no matter where it sets, its allways to loud for anybody around it and i try to use control but then when i ask how it sounded they say they couldn't hear me.. so whats up with that??? help me please!!! thanks in advance, mike

[Ellis Miller]

Couple of thoughts from a guitar player. I like to set up next to the steel so I can alway hear him. It makes it a lot easier when trading fills and otherwise communicating. Most players like to have the amp behind them - maybe a little off to the side.

[Richard Sinkler]

Guitar player next to me for the same reasons Ellis stated. Bass player in the next county... just kiddin'. I do like the Bass at the other end of the stage so I can feel free to play on the low strings of either neck without clashing. Doesn't seem to be a problem with 10 to 20 feet between us.

[Jody Sanders]

When I was a lot younger(LOL) ,I liked for all lead instuments on the same side. Bass on the other side. I would run an extension cabinet with a 15" speaker out of my amp and set it between the bass and drums so they could hear the steel. Jody.

[Billy Tonnesen]

Set up close to the Lead Guitar Player so you both know what each other is doing, especially in playing fills for the singers. Also for playing some rides and riffs together sometimes known as "Twin Guitars".

[Craig Allen]

I TRY TO STAY STAGE RIGHT.. I LIKE THE GUITARIST NEAR ME, SO THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE.. BASS ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STAGE..
I USED TO HAVE A SESSION WEDGE.. (I WOULD KILL TO HAVE ANOTHER).. SO, I PUT MY AMP ON THE FLOOR ANGLED BACK AS IF IT WERE A WEDGE, WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE FACE OF THE AMP AGAINST THE RIGHT LEGS OF MY GUITAR.. CAN'T GET TOO LOUD THAT WAY.. WITH THE SPEAKER POINTED RIGHT AT YOU RIGHT EAR, YOU "WILL" KEEP THE GAIN DOWN.. THIS WAY IT PROJECTS ACROSS THE STAGE, TOO.. IF YA NEED IT IN THE HOUSE, THEN RUN A D.I. AND, IF YOU ARE STAGE RIGHT, YOU STAND A CHANCE OF SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE STAGE.. WE TEND TO LOOK IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PEG-HEAD.. WELL, THAT'S HOW I DO IT.. HOPE IT HELPS

[Roual Ranes]

Stage right and far enough back to see behind the singer to the instruments on the other side.

[Paul Wade]

i always set up next to my guitar player so we can
twin stuff. bass on the other side. also, i set up
close to the drummer to so we can make eye contact.
hope this helps

p.w

[Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)]

Hi, Michael ...
I did a lot of Gospel music playing "back in the day" and our venues ranged anywhere from larger concert auditorium stages to local churches. Although I haven't played Gospel in years it's always been a passion of mine and so, if I may, I'd like to chime in and add my own thoughts with the excellent advice already posted. Like those in the posts above, I prefer stage right.

With only a few exceptions (like small stages where room constraints forced us to make a change in our stage plot), I've always usually been setup on the right side and next to the lead guitarist.

Below is an example of a typical stage plot that most of the bands I've played with (whether Gospel or country) usually followed and this type of stage plot has always worked very well for us:



Of course, based on the many church venues I've played, church stages can often be very different than "regular" venue stages and many times the stage platform can be in a myriad of shapes other than rectangular and there are often many other furnishings that govern the amount of room that is available and where the musicians in a Gospel group can place their gear. In situations like that, I always tried to at least be next to the lead guitarist or as close as possible.

Amp positioning is usually a matter of preference as well as space constraints and consideration regarding stage volume. For myself, I usually let the stage configuration determine how I'll be placing my amps, but whenever possible I like them behind me as in the illustration above and I prefer them always on the floor (though I have, in some situations, had my amps either in a chair or up on a plastic milk crate to elevate them ... but having them elevated is not my personal preferred method).

I've always run with my steel in the house mains and that has always allowed me to keep my stage volume very low. So far, I've never run at church with straight stage volume for the congregation to hear.

I've played in many church situations and the groups I played with often found that the drummer can have a direct influence on everyone else's stage volume depending on how loud a player he is. I've often seen it where those nearest the drummer turned up to hear themselves which incited others in the group to turn up and, before you know it, stage volume discipline is out the window. Suddenly, instead of "joyful music" it becomes "joyful noise".

In situations where we had a very loud drummer who couldn't seem to play softer, we employed the use of a plexiglass drum shield that really helped in bringing his (and subsequently everyone else's) stage volume down.

Back when I first started playing Gospel music, sometimes my local Gospel group opened for a more prominent group and, at one of these venues I asked the headliner's steel player about stage volume issues. I'll never forget what he said as a tidbit of advice. "Whether you play Gospel music professionally or merely love to play in church, there are basically two types of Gospel players: Those who earnestly play Gospel music and those who merely want to make a 'joyful noise' which usually ends up being exactly that. The Catch-22 here? Sometimes it's possible for any Gospel musician to get 'caught up in the moment' and lose sight of the difference. If you're ever in doubt as to which side of the fence you're playing on, just take a good look at the faces of those in the audience. Their facial reactions will tell you more than any words can ever convey. If you ever happen to find yourself on the wrong side of the fence, choke down the adrenalin, pull in the reigns and you'll quickly recapture your audience."

[Michael Matthews]

wow, I appreciate all the response and insight from your experence's, it seems most prefer set up close to lead guitar and I understand your reasoning,and mr Jim Lindsey,your diagram or set if you will ,will be very helpful if I can persuade the rest of the band to go along,however, like I said ,I'm playing for differant groups and and like jim said ,most churches have small set up space, and if going direct in the system or the house speakers will help control volume ,I'll try that at the next set up, as we all know in large or small gatherings, its hard to please everybody, right? ain't this just too much fun!!! thanks everybody...michael

[Danny Letz]

Having a fiddle player changes things. Unless you have excellant intonation and the fiddle player has excellant intonation I think they should be separated. At least that's my experience.

[Frederic Mabrut]

I like to be near the lead guitarist for a better communication, with my amp facing my left ear like a wedge, so nobody can complain about " the steel is too loud". Double bass, rythm guitar and accordion on the other side.

[Marc Friedland]

Michael,
I guess I’m different than most that have already posted here.
I think it works best to be next to the bass guitar.
The bass is in just about perfect tune the whole night and is playing through the entire song, which makes it very easy to play with. Also, the bass guitar usually leads into the various sections, so if you have a good ear and are playing with a solid bass player who knows the song, it’s almost impossible to get lost even on a new song.
As long as I can hear what the lead guitar is doing, that’s good enough for me, I prefer not to be next to them. I believe they can communicate fine without being physically right next to each other.
Additionally, and more importantly, I think it sounds best to the audience if the high-pitched instruments (pedal steel & lead guitar) are separated on stage and not together. It may not matter as much in a large venue where most of the band’s sound is coming through a large P.A. system, but generally speaking I like this set-up best.

Marc

[Steve English]

I second Marc's opinion! Wouldn't have it any other way....

[Smokey Fennell]

I like being near the bass player as long as I can hear the guitar player and see him. I rely on the bass for the root to complete many of the chord I play.