Rick Davis
1300 posts
Feb 12, 2013
9:02 AM
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Okay, here is my latest gear purchase. It is no coincidence that I just turned 60.
I feel great, work out regularly, and still think of myself as an athlete, but I think it is time to have a place to sit on stage.
I'm getting ready to start gigging hard again and the only thing I dread about it is standing up for 4 hours late at night. So, I found a great deal on this Roc n Soc and snapped it up. The seat height extends up to 30 inches.
So, I'm asking you... Is sitting lame? Do you sit in a band situation?
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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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HarpNinja
3186 posts
Feb 12, 2013
9:49 AM
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James Cotton and B.B. King sit down. I realize they are older, but if it is good enough for them...
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Custom Harmonicas
Optimized Harmonicas
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barbequebob
2196 posts
Feb 12, 2013
9:59 AM
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After Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf both got into a bad car accidents, they were mainly seated on the bandstand and neither of these guys or any listed lost their stage presence.
Before the 50's, in many of the larger urban bands, sitting down on the bandstand was actually the norm and there are several pictures of Little Walter doing this.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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arzajac
983 posts
Feb 12, 2013
10:00 AM
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There are videos of Sonny Boy Williamson II sitting down while playing. He made it look good, too.... Real cool, you know?
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Goldbrick
62 posts
Feb 12, 2013
9:47 AM
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Sure I sit down-I have the excuse that I am usually sitting at my drum kit but why not? Wish I could play drums and harp at same time but-I can't
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Rick Davis
1301 posts
Feb 12, 2013
9:59 AM
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I sat on my Bassman a few times and thought I actually played better. ;-) Not sure what that's all about...
I won't sit all the time, but I like the idea of a comfortable place to perch when my back starts to hurt.
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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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HarpNinja
3187 posts
Feb 12, 2013
10:13 AM
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You're also tall enough no one will notice.
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Custom Harmonicas
Optimized Harmonicas
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Rick Davis
1302 posts
Feb 12, 2013
10:01 AM
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Mike, LOL, I hadn't thought of that.
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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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timeistight
1118 posts
Feb 12, 2013
10:28 AM
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You could be like a big band player: stand up for your solos and sit the rest of the time.
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Playing music... it's a privilege.
Kim Wilson
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Pockets
3 posts
Feb 12, 2013
11:05 AM
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That's a great idea... I like it!
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Rubes
666 posts
Feb 12, 2013
2:18 PM
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It IS a lot easier to work a stomp box (or whatever foot percussion you like) from a seated position.
It MAY encourage people to dance if you're standing up and actually jiving away yourself.
I WISH I could do it all!!!
ps......nice stool Rick!
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One of Rubes's bands, DadsinSpace-MySpace
Old Man Rubes at Reverbnation
Last Edited by Rubes on Feb 12, 2013 2:19 PM
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2chops
111 posts
Feb 12, 2013
2:51 PM
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I'm all for sitting down on occasion. When I do my omb gig I have to so I can work my stomp box. When I play with my group I usually have a stool handy so I can give my feet and back a rest.
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You Tube = goshinjk
I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.
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RyanMortos
1396 posts
Feb 12, 2013
3:22 PM
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Drummers sit down, as do many keyboardist, and a few guitar & bass players I seen. Everyone in a classical orchestra sits down (aside the conductor).
While I think sitting down is probably in the top 5 no nos for stage presence, crowd pleasing theatrics, performance tricks and other showbiz devices And doesn't lend well to singing I don't see why a harmonica player should feel the need to act differently if their desire is to be seated.
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~Ryan
See My Profile for contact info, etc.
Last Edited by RyanMortos on Feb 12, 2013 3:23 PM
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nacoran
6493 posts
Feb 12, 2013
8:35 PM
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You could always buy yourself a cajon and pretend you have to sit!
I'm only 41, and can't stand for extended periods in one place (walking, even a bit of running is fine, but being in one place destroys my back and fires up my heel spurs.)
I was just watching some old MTV unplugged, and they were always sitting. I think you have to make some adjustments in your gesturing to make it look cool. If you are standing and you jump all over the place you look excited. If you stand perfectly still, you look like you are phoning it in. I think it's reversed when you are sitting. If you are waving your arms around you look crazy (not the good kind) but if you sit still, except maybe some gentle rhythmic head movements, you look like you are really concentrating on the music. :)
You could always buy yourself a cajon and pretend you have to sit!
I'm only 41, and can't stand for extended periods in one place (walking, even a bit of running is fine, but being in one place destroys my back and fires up my heel spurs.)
I was just watching some old MTV unplugged, and they were always sitting. I think you have to make some adjustments in your gesturing to make it look cool. If you are standing and you jump all over the place you look excited. If you stand perfectly still, you look like you are phoning it in. I think it's reversed when you are sitting. If you are waving your arms around you look crazy (not the good kind) but if you sit still, except maybe some gentle rhythmic head movements, you look like you are really concentrating on the music. :)
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Nate
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jbone
1189 posts
Feb 12, 2013
9:01 PM
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I sit almost every time I play out. I'm with you man. My fatigue level shoots way up if I stand all night. As it is just getting stuff set up and tore down and back home, with the great times playing in between, I am usually wiped out the next day.
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STME58
359 posts
Feb 12, 2013
10:51 PM
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Most orchestra members sit down to play. Posture is just as important sitting as standing. I find the posture I was taught to play trombone works well for harmonica. Sit away form the back of the chair (no problem for your stool), both feet flat on the floor, one slightly in front of the other, back straight, head up, bring the instrument to your mouth, don't dip you head down to the instrument.
Sitting or standing I notice a degrading of tone if my posture is not right.
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blueswannabe
176 posts
Feb 13, 2013
1:46 PM
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It's good to alternate between sitting and standing. Sitting acutally lets me relax more and my breathing appears to be better. And, not to mention, I'm not as self-conscious of the gut either.
Only issue with sitting is trying to stay connected.
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lumpy wafflesquirt
690 posts
Feb 13, 2013
2:40 PM
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hey Nate
I bought myself a cajon :^)
but only one :^)
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"Come on Brackett let's get changed"
Last Edited by lumpy wafflesquirt on Feb 13, 2013 2:40 PM
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wolfkristiansen
167 posts
Feb 13, 2013
4:24 PM
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I'm older than most of you. I play occasionally, not regularly. Usually 3 to 4 hours on stage when I play.
I've never sat down. Reasons have to do with stage presence and playing. Stage presence-- sitting conveys a certain lack of vitality, in my book. It's like wearing a hearing aid. Playing-- I play better standing up, I think because my diaghpragm moves more freely.
Cheers,
wolf kristiansen
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Rick Davis
1308 posts
Feb 13, 2013
4:48 PM
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LOL, I am not worried about anybody thinking I lack vitality. ;-)
I don't plan to sit through the whole night... just have a way to take some of the pressure off my back from time to time. Being 6 feet 7 inches tall can be a bit of a pain! I have some old sports injuries that can be nagging if I stand in one place for too long. If I could jog around the stage it would be cool, but there is no room for that.
I appreciate all your perspectives.
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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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Leatherlips
184 posts
Feb 14, 2013
12:28 AM
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I think it's sometimes really appropriate to sit, especially when playing acoustic. Seems to fit that style of playing.
I always stand when playing electric and I'm glad when there is a break and I can take a seat and take a beer.
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BronzeWailer
882 posts
Feb 14, 2013
4:11 AM
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Used to busk with a guy who played a steel resonator and we both sat down. It was my job to "borrow" milk crates to sit on. I stand now and prefer standing but my doc tells me it's not good for my varicose vein. Maybe I should sit down again so I can do more foot-stomping stuff. I like your idea, Nate. Maybe that's what I need for my birthday....
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My YouTube
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Martin
240 posts
Feb 14, 2013
5:34 AM
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A punk band where they´re all sitting down is rather hard to imagine. For me, like for nacoran above, sitting down indicates (apart from obesity: Solomon Burke, BB King) "unplugged". Maybe MTV is responsible. Fact is, when I´ve played unplugged I think it´s now become more or less a prerequisite to sit down.
Your notion of alternating between the stool and standing upright is probably a good way to go. If the rest of the gang are standing, you´ll avoid people thinking "What´s wrong with him?"
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CarlA
258 posts
Feb 14, 2013
5:50 AM
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Lol!
This thread is starting to sound like a good spring-board for an "Aleve" commercial. "Before taking Aleve, I would have to sit down while performing my harmonica solos. But now, after taking two Aleve, I can now STAND, dip, dodge, swing, and shake about stage like a fish out of water Thanks Aleve"!!!
Ps.. BTW, it is a pretty sweet chair Rick.
Last Edited by CarlA on Feb 14, 2013 5:54 AM
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Rick Davis
1312 posts
Feb 14, 2013
7:43 AM
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Most blues jams look like a Cialis commercial: Lots of salt-n-pepper goatees and receding hairlines. ;-)
But I won't be using the stool at the jam I host... I only play two short sets and feel great. It's those three long sets on cramped stages that torture me.
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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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walterharp
1039 posts
Feb 14, 2013
6:38 PM
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hey, adam sits with his one man band thing.. and rocks the house! you just gotta get a foot drum..
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jbone
1191 posts
Feb 15, 2013
3:44 AM
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Having been diagnosed and in treatment for Plantar Fasciitis in my right foot, it's probably a good idea for me to sit mostly when on stage. I generally play in a duo, but with sound reinforcement.
Believe me we do get people moving, and I know the trick of eye contact and actually pointing at patrons if they are looking our way, including them in the music.
Sitting lends a laid back vibe which is great sometimes, and even with the rhythm guys on stage, it's kind of funny, Jag, the bassist, and I sit, but the drummer- with a kick drum and snare only- stands. It works is all I know.
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