TimR

In a gig situation? Yes. Only a few people will hear them as intended.

House Land and Right. If you're self operating from the stage turn the PA to face the back if you think it may get confusing. Also, it doesn't really matter as everything should be mono.

Yes. We also have 'house lights', and 'front of house' PA.

Stage Right is right hand side looking from the stage towards the audience. House Right is righthand of the stage looking at the stage from the audience (house).

What's the rest of the band doing? They should all sticking to the correct tempo with you?

Well yes, if the band agrees it needs to change, but that change should be rock solid. If the drummer is speeding up or slowing down seemingly at random and not giving any visual cues then the band has a problem. If they know the drummer has a habit of doing it, then they shouldn't let it move.

I think you're missing the point. The band should be rock solid. If the band is rock solid, the the drummer, being in the band, will also be rock solid. If the drummer is not rock solid and the band is, then the drummer will be dragged into line by the rest of the band.

Ultimately you have a band of musicians who can keep time. Or you don't. The drummer can't alter tempo if the musicans don't let them.

No idea. I played with a drummer for several years who couldn't up the tempo gradually because it doesn't work like that. The drummer is human. I refer you to @dclaassen above.

The drummer can't speed up if the bass player doesn't.

As I say. Only if you let them and continue with the mindset they do. 🤷‍♂️ The drummer is just another musician in the band. Everyone has to go along with them for everything to speed up. If everyone else sticks to the tempo, the drummer cannot speed up. It's a nonsense that so many musicians don't understand, the drummer doesn't control the band.

I seem to be in the minority in standing stage right. It does have the advantage of in small stages you can get in the gap just right of the drummer. I've never had an issue hitting cymbals with the headstock. I have had issues standing stage left and hitting the wall.

It's not the drummer's job to keep the band's time. I said I wished more people realised that and understood it. The first paragraph of the link says its the drummers job to keep time. Pretty much proving my point that too many people (mainly drummers) think it is the drummers job. Even the OP realises that the drummer isn't there to keep the band in time. The band can do that themselves - especially when the drummer isn't able to and needs a flashing beacon stuck in their line of sight. I wasted years playing with a drummer who sped up if I stopped playing. Every song we played I had to lean back on the beat in order to keep time. One gig I had had enough and went with him on the final song. It just crashed and burned when it was going so fast the singer couldn't get the words out. The singer tore him a new one afterwards.

See my previous post.

2 guitarists is too many, actually probably 1 is too many but there you go... I'd stand in front of the one using a music stand, or who doesn't do backing vocals, or who looks at his shoes/fretboard all night etc etc.

I ordered an amp last month. Wasn't in stock, said due 28th April on Website. On placing the order, I had an email saying it wouldn't be available until 28th April, and I'd be updated if that changes. Had an email on Monday saying it's now expected 30th April. So can't fault their comms so far. Will update this thread with any more important news as it happens...

Well that's the first paragraph wrong to start with. 😂 No wonder there's so much issues with drummers who think everyone should be following them. 🤦‍♂️

This is what I would do. Alternatively there are online services who can print and bind. Probably your local people would print cheaper. https://www.doxdirect.com/print-and-bind-online/spiral-books/

I don't know why drummers insist on counting in the band. It's not the drummers responsibility to keep the band in time. I wish more drummers and musicians recognised that. If he can't stay in time with the rest of the band he needs to go away and practice drumming.

84 onwards was a pretty harrowing time. Reflected in a lot of songs of the time. I don't remember anything like the violence of the miner strikes or Brixon and Toxteth riots. I don't know what was going on in the states as we didn't have 24/7 International news back then. But certainly AIDS was a serious concern for everyone and not really something that at the time was considered 'profound' to be talking or singing about.

That's the problem nowadays. Kids have no respect for authority. In the old days hardly a day would go by without some kid in the class visiting casualty after getting their scales wrong.

I only have one friend who goes out and watches bands. He does this religiously sometimes three times a week. Everyone else seems more interested in talking about which box-set they're currently watching. This isn't because they're short of a bob or two, it's because live music just isn't on their radar. Lots of them will go to local festivals, and from the looks of their social media, its a massive social event, photos and selfies of each other, no mention or photos of the bands. I've been to see 4 bands in the last 6 weeks. One I paid a lot to see at the Camden Underworld. By the time I'd bought food beforehand and 2 pints inside the venue, including the ticket, but excluding travel, I'd spent £100. A local band I've seen before, was £9 on the door at a local venue and again £7.40 a pint. So that's close on £50 for me and my son on a week night. Another local band at a pub, free to get in and £3.20 a pint (I asked if they'd made a mistake?) We have a local gig (covers) in 2 weeks time on a Saturday night. We have a facebook event and I've started inviting people, hopefully I may get 10 people down. Will see. The originals band I'm in bought 4 people to the first gig. The singers wife, the drumers wife and his parents. None of my friends turned up. When we played the local festival, there were loads of friends, who all thought we were excellent, so maybe they'll turn out to our next gig...

The other thing to remember is that when your friends turn up you have to be really appreciative of them being there. Spend time talking to everyone both before and after the show. Make them feel valued.

If you make all your posts public, every comment and like that your freinds make, gets seen by their friends. So don't knock it, every comment gets more engagement and spreads the word. Originals bands never get much attention from freinds unless you are creating a buzz and a FOMO. So think how you can get more comments and how you can make the event more about a big social meet up not to be missed than yet another gig by your band where you play the same 10 songs again. Every originals band starts this way, it's very unusual for a band to get people to follow on the strength of their music alone.

It's not a phasing issue is it? Maybe caused by speaker position? Does it happen at all gigs?