How many SIT? STAND? Why...

Posted by: cassp

How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 06:44 AM

Ever since I went to drum machines and arrangers I have stood for the entire job, thinking it was better stage presence. Now that I'm embarking on this OMB endeavor I'm trying to decide whether to continue standing because it's mostly a performance - or to go back to sitting because it's more comfortable, especially with reading lyrics and music more often.

Also, I'm presently using an X-stand, but also have an Apex. I'd like to hear about your keyboard stand too - and how do you handle music.
Posted by: ianmcnll

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 07:01 AM

I always sit during my own personal gigs, but generally, I stand during demos...clinics can be either or.

If I was doing vocals, I'd probably stand, because it's easier to sing.

I have a bench and stand that puts the keyboard at exactly the right height when sitting, so there's no wrist issues,(my gigs are usually 3 hours) and I have a heavy duty double X-stand that I use when standing, that also maintains the proper hand position.

I prefer sitting, as I am naturally lazy.

Ian
Posted by: Fran Carango

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 07:27 AM

I prefer to stand, and I also use the Apex stands...I like the mobility..standing gives me..

If you notice ..most ex accordion players prefer to stand on stage...most piano players want to sit...Then there are the old ..out of shape players like John Dileo that want to sit..

Besides..if I sit on a bench seat..I get tired of all the girls that want to sit next to me and chat...when I am trying to work... ..
Posted by: DonM

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 08:05 AM

I think standing is better visually for the audience, and looks more like a "show".
I sit because it's easier to work the pedals and easier on the back. I've carried around a drafting chair with wheels and good back support for many years. In fact I can't believe it has held up so well. I often use it as a dolly even.
I have one foot on the harmonizer on/off, one foot on sustain pedal, and the other ready to hit fills and breaks. Nothing left to stand on.
DonM
Posted by: Fran Carango

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 08:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DonM:
I think standing is better visually for the audience, and looks more like a "show".
I sit because it's easier to work the pedals and easier on the back. I've carried around a drafting chair with wheels and good back support for many years. In fact I can't believe it has held up so well. I often use it as a dolly even.
I have one foot on the harmonizer on/off, one foot on sustain pedal, and the other ready to hit fills and breaks. Nothing left to stand on.
DonM


Hey Don..who's counting....but that is three feet..
Posted by: btweengigs

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 08:26 AM

Sit for instrumental dinner music.
Stand for shows and dancing.
Eddie
Posted by: ianmcnll

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 08:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Fran Carango:
Hey Don..who's counting....but that is three feet..


And you thought you were popular with the ladies...
Posted by: zuki

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 08:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ianmcnll:
And you thought you were popular with the ladies...



It's the MIDDLE LEG that's ready to hit fills and breaks - that's why he's more popular than Fran
Posted by: DonM

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 09:26 AM

I have to sit, it's too embarrassing to stand up!
BTW, with pb wheels and mod wheels, or joystick, sustain, volume fills, breaks, harmonizer and chords and leads to play, I can't understand how anyone could possibly do all this under the influence of alcohol, but a lot of people try.
DonM
Posted by: Diki

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 11:00 AM

I used to stand 100%, but now I tend to sit, simply to be able to work the FC-7, sustains and volume pedal. I still stand for a lot of live band gigs (no need for the FC-7, which primarily does Variation selection etc.) but even there I am afraid I am starting to get a little lazy...

Standing for three hours or so in the Florida heat, even under shade, can wear you out... My problem is that I hate to haul anything more around, especially a bulky piano bench, but most chairs are too low, and most barstools are too high, I can rarely find something at the gig that is JUST right (don't call me Goldilocks ).

I've been trying to track down a ROUND folding seat with little luck lately... I saw one that was a simple folding piano or guitar stool that looked a bit like a slightly shorter barstool, and folded flat. Can anyone help me?
Posted by: cassp

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 11:24 AM

OK, the NH residents are all seated at tables, sitting in their wheelchairs. Do I stand or sit? I'm not much to look at and I'm not very animated most of the time. I want to sit, but am I cheating the residents by doing so and blocking their view?

Posted by: btweengigs

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 11:47 AM

Cass
Put yourself in their position. What would you like to see?

During dinner sets sitting seems appropriate IMO.

If I get tired and don't want to stand, my stool puts me almost at standing height anyway.

It is where I am most comfortable when in front of an audience.

Eddie
Posted by: captain Russ

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 11:55 AM

With an arranger, I sit and use the 13 note Ketron pedal board and separate volume pedal.

With my trio, I play guitar (several different ones, actually...double neck, jazz box and nylon string or hibred (piezo, magnetic pick-up, with two line outs), piano and/or or Nord organ and sometimes alternate with vibes, so that's mostly standing. I use a stool with guitar part of the time, but mostly rotate between instruments. Of course, right now, I'm only using arranger, but that will change soon, hopefully.


Russ
Posted by: 124

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 01:58 PM

Unabashed sitter here. But I do compromise a bit by sitting on a folding stool I picked up at Ikea. It's fairly high so that visually I'm on a level with my wife who stands and moves around. Works for us.
Posted by: travlin'easy

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 04:04 PM

Quik-Lok model D749. Everything is adjustable, it folds flat and extremely rugged.



Works for me,

Gary

[This message has been edited by travlin'easy (edited 07-15-2009).]
Posted by: tony mads usa

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 05:03 PM

I generally stand, but I use one of these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation?q=gibraltar+drum+throne&src=3WWRWXGB&ZYXSEM=0
- with the backrest but with a regular round seat, not the motorcycle style seat - set at a height that I can 'sort of' sit for a while if I get tired of standing ...
t.


[This message has been edited by tony mads usa (edited 07-15-2009).]
Posted by: Bill in Dayton

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 05:51 PM

I sit 100% of the time...too many things going on to stand...

I use an quiclock L stand...a little heavy but zero wiggle and very sturdy...

------------------
Bill in Dayton
Posted by: hellboy44

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 07:38 PM

Stand - %100 of the time, every gig.

The main reason really is that we (maybe more me) are an animated "high energy" kind of act, and I find myself moving around a lot either in front of the keys, or even around the stage doing sight gags when I can/if appropriate.

Nice seat Gary!
Posted by: Stephenm52

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 07:51 PM

I sit all the time



[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 07-15-2009).]
Posted by: Diki

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/15/09 09:00 PM

I have a deluxe drum throne with back support and all that, but it's WAY too heavy and bulky to carry around (OK, OK, yes, I know... this from the guy that lugs around a G70 ).

This is about the closest I have found to what I am looking for http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Farleys-Stage-Player-Guitar-Stand-Stool?sku=452031

Does anyone know of something like this, but without the guitar rest?
Posted by: Scott Langholff

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/16/09 12:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bill in Dayton:
I sit 100% of the time...too many things going on to stand...

I use an quiclock L stand...a little heavy but zero wiggle and very sturdy...



OK, it's late, but you've got me on the L stand. i've heard of a Z stand. So, I'll bite
Posted by: Bernie9

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/16/09 02:48 AM

I have one of these in my studio.
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/p...tand?sku=450048
Posted by: Bill in Dayton

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/16/09 02:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Scott Langholff:
OK, it's late, but you've got me on the L stand. i've heard of a Z stand. So, I'll bite


Duh, I meant T stand, actually called a s550:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Quik-Lok-Hea...source=4WWRWXGB

------------------
Bill in Dayton

[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 07-16-2009).]
Posted by: Diki

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/16/09 08:42 AM

Yeah, that looks like it, Brian... I guess I kept searching for guitar stools or piano stools, and never thought about 'bar' stools.

Thanks.
Posted by: GlennT

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/16/09 02:16 PM

Up 'till 4 years ago I would stand. Now I sit... it saves my legs for tennis. I'll occasionally stand if I'm playing heavy R&R or Blues. It just feels better.

Glenn
Posted by: zuki

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/16/09 02:44 PM

Stand 100%. Love to move around and can sing much better. I memorize everything and hardly look at my keyboard. Don't think the audience cares either way
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/17/09 10:18 AM

I use one of these :



Weighs next to nothing and folds flat.
Posted by: ianmcnll

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/17/09 10:33 AM

I use a bench similar to Seamaster's...mine is a little heavier duty, and has all chrome hardware, but basically the same idea...I've used for the past 20 years..I have a special gig bag that it fits in to protect it, and it has held up very well.

My double X-keyboard stand was also a heavy duty model...I got it at the same time as the bench...it too is still like new....it also fits in a special gig bag.

Together, they weigh less than 25 lbs.
Posted by: Bernie9

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/17/09 12:23 PM

For this price you can't go wrong. Very sturdy and compfortable, lies flat and adjustable to about 6 heights.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/On-Stage-Stands-KT7800--Keyboard-Bench-100898030-i1172134.gc
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/17/09 12:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BBBB:
Diki: I have one WITH a back support similar to this but the store is in Canada and no longer in biz. Saw this Amazon version
http://www.amazon.com/Central-Park-Products-Black-Folding/dp/B0000TQISO

Brian


That is exactly the one I was trying to find on the web in order to let diki know. I have one of those and it works great. I either found it at Meijer or Walmart. But I recently saw them at Bed Bath and Beyond although this webpage doesn't show that particular stool. But the other ones that are shown were pretty nice also.

Best Regards,

Dave

------------------
Wm. David McMahan
LearnMyKeyboard
JazzItUp Band
The Modulators
Posted by: cassp

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/17/09 12:43 PM

Today I sat at my NH gig. No problem seeing the people or them seeing me. It's an extra piece of equipment, but I think I'll keep it. I like sitting when I can.
Posted by: Bernie9

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/17/09 02:44 PM

I prefer to stand when I'm singing,but I have pedals to contend with.
Posted by: Songman55

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/19/09 10:41 AM

I sit, but am very annimated. I take the mic and walk around after about the 3rd song to greet and BS with the audience. I'll tell them a joke or 2 and just in general kid around with them. Then I'll sing a song, usually one with a really nice arrangement and walk around the room. Then it's back to sitting for awhile, then back on the floor. I try to pace it so they are never bored. It works.

Joe

------------------
Songman55
Joe Ayala
Posted by: Diki

Re: How many SIT? STAND? Why... - 07/24/09 04:28 PM

Really weird... I found exactly what I was looking for at Walmart's, but can't find it anywhere on their website to show you. Only thing I could find was this http://tinyurl.com/no3xc7 which looks identical, except here it is $36 and I got mine from Walmart for $17!

Just the right hight for a shorty like me to play on...

Weighs 6 lbs., folds flat seems pretty stable to play on. Love the price!

[This message has been edited by Diki (edited 07-24-2009).]