Picture this: your lead singer gets excited and decides to do an Irish river dance during your guitar solo. In an ecstatic frenzy, he leaps and careens. The crowd goes berserk. People scream, people dance, your solo turns into an exalted triumph never-before seen in your state…
…Then the singer tangles his foot in your cable, lurches forward, unplugs your cabinet with a screech, and bashes his forehead through the kick drum. The room is suddenly silent while you wonder why your strings make no sound. The greatest rock-n-roll moment in your band's history? Maybe. But the show is also over - bloody and awesome as it may be.
More often, this foot tangling disaster happens five minutes before go time, in which case you've got no show, no sound, and no epic moment.
This is just one reason you may want to take the time to organize your stage.
Besides trip hazards, there are some other reasons an organized stage is smart. First, you've got a better shot at great sound if you're not running audio cables alongside power cables, due to 60Hz hum. Second, planning your stage setup well can make it easier to hear yourself and keep your loudness in check. An organized stage also looks better, and after all this is a show. Not only that, a clean stage goes a long way to making performers feel comfortable and confident. Finally, a well-organized stage is a breeze to set up and take down.
It's not necessarily rocket science to getting organized, but here are a few tips to get you started.
In the end, organization is the key to presenting a professional show, and to being efficient enough to create a professional act (even if you’re an amateur). Organizing your space and your time will have an amazing effect on your look, your sound, your business, and your level of enjoyment.
So, get organized and while you’re at it, let us know your best space-saving stage tips in the comments!Guitarists are an interesting bunch. Although we strive for individuality in our musicianship, style, and sound, we are shaped by the players and bands who inspire us. As a result, our gear choices lean towards using what our heroes used and, in some cases, purchasing the signature gear of our favorite guitarists. Not only do we buy it to show our love and support but often we believe the signature gear will get us THAT MUCH CLOSER to achieving the tones of our heroes.
Here we’ll give you some tips on getting YOUR sound from signature guitar gear.