Me Again

This is probably a no-brainer but I thought I'd get your creative and thinking juices going this early on a monday morning.....(Now there's a thought!)

Many venues I play at (and I mean social clubs rather than nightclubs) have raised fixed staged areas at one end of the room and permanent dancefloors, do you prefer to work in a venue that has these facilities, or do you find them limiting in any way?

Like I said its probably a no-brainer of a question to answer I just though I'd throw it our there.....

My own opinion is that I much prefer a raised area as it acts as a barrier against some guests worst the wear falling into or over my gear even though I have bright yellow tape on all the legs of my stands and never leave cables loose etc. as I'm sure everyone else does but this could be an added question how do you make your rig as visible and as secure as possible whilst maintaining a 'darkened' room for your lightshow?

So one question has turned into two, so I'll leave it there for now!

Morning Tommo

I love venues with stages for the same reason. I feel a lot happier with the security of my gear. The only issue i have from time to time is that unless i setup right at the front, which is a pain getting round the front of the rig to work on setup, i get show offs taking to the stage and dancing, holding my rig to stop them falling off the stage. This happens mainly in schools, which i do quite a few gigs at. With tall stages i can also leave the speraker stands in the van. 1 less trip carrying gear. The lights are also better being that extra few feet off the grund too

with regards to visibility of my rig to stop people tripping etc i have it setup so if they were to trip over a speaker stand leg they would of met with the speaker first at head height and i make it so they cant get between my table and speakers. I leave a clear path for access at usually one side for me and dont get many people trying to make it round the back. If i do need to have things spread apart i tape all cables and try to find suitable positions in corners or next to fixtures, tables etc.

the combined table/light rig is a good idea as its less tripod stands therefore less hazzards

regards
Dave

Prefer a stage, even if it is only a foot or two off the floor.

Makes your area "defined" and gives a barrier of sorts too.

As Dave says above, gives lighting a bit more of a spread out from the height too. If there's a stage 9/10 times I'll use that instead of speaker stands.

Having said that some stages can be a bit too high I find where people's heads are on par with your feet! ( Also loading / unloading the stage becomes more "fun" too..

Cheers

Hmmm , well I have mixed feelings , the word barrier has been mentioned do we really want a barrier between us and the customers , don't we want a easy interaction between us and the audience ? for disco only gigs i dont mind if i am on the "dance floor" for a performance like singing a stage is good but you will notice a lot of performers will come off the stage and walk around the crowd to enhance the performance and interact with the crowd .

many Dj's in the USA use radio mics and announce the first dance etc as they walk around the perimeter of the dance floor they don't stand routed behind the barrier of there deck stand or a stage...now this totally depends on your style of presenting ..me i am not as showy or chatty as that but i hope i am not a plant routed to a spot but i would say there is not right and wrong just the way your most comfortable with so if a stage makes you more comfortable then go for it.

I recently did a wedding where there was a stage - all the points about barriers are correct, the gear is safer, but also you're a bit less approachable - sometimes a good thing.

I don't do the American thing, but if possible, I do like to get out from behind the gear to make announcements. Normally the 1st dance isn't possible, as Carmen may be photographing this, and no other way to start of the track.

Other things to consider;
-Stages that are not that safe/solid. Using a tripod where there is a hidden weak bit of wood would cause the stand to topple! I think I've read of this happening.

-Guests who try to climb into the stage (assuming its not too high) and grabbing your gear for support...! I had this at the wedding. I left a gap in front of the deckstand to help us when setting up (and we had ample room anyway).

-Better visibility of the crowd, so you can see the more guests- and not just those on the floor.

-Gear photos can be better :-) you can show a busy dancefloor, with also your kit in full view (rather than obscured by dancers)

For me, the only worry would be an unsafe stage, you can overcome the barrier thing by being more open in your performance (so welcoming people using radio mic from in front of the rig), and basically making yourself more visible.

Having worked in some lousy venues where you are made to feel like an inconvenience by the staff and are basically bundled into a corner, I always appreciate a dedicated performance area. Stages rock!!!

I find the main problem being on a stage is that people are reluctant to climb the stairs to come up and ask for a song request...
Although if there is loads of people (and kids running about) i do find it safer for myself and equipment

The same goes for playing kids games too.. You need arms as long as mr Tickle's..



Yeah one of the stage pieces at a local school is a collapsible one.. its got a couple of dodgy bits in it. Normally easy enough to work around though (just rotate stage 180 degrees normally sorts that if its in the wrong place)!

Cheers,

David