I'm Getting Old and Knackered, should I sit on a chair?
I'm an aging rocker, both knees have seen better days and the pies have taken their toll. I'm still playing live and using a bar stool for little rests during breaks between songs mainly. It's getting to the point where I can no longer get through a whole gig on my feet, even hitting the pedals is a chore to keep balance, Loading in and out is a killer!
So the quesiton is: Give up or sit my fat bottom on a chair* for the gig and take the weight off. Not very rock 'n' roll at all!
Thoughts please, give up for the sake of being cool?
Cheers,
Mark
* chair would be some sort of cool leather thing, maybe with some studs.
Comments
In one of my short lived bands the keyboard player used an ironing stool. Light, folds up and visually disappear to quite a large extent whilst he still looked like he was standing. I guess you could cover one in leather and studs.
What about a nice rug (for the floor, not your head)? Helps relieve pressure on your knees, run cables underneath it,etc.
What about a nice rug (for the floor, not your head)? Helps relieve pressure on your knees, run cables underneath it,etc.
EricTheWeary said:In one of my short lived bands the keyboard player used an ironing stool. Light, folds up and visually disappear to quite a large extent whilst he still looked like he was standing. I guess you could cover one in leather and studs.
What about a nice rug (for the floor, not your head)? Helps relieve pressure on your knees, run cables underneath it,etc.
I've got the rug already (not on my head, I wear a hat for coolness purposes when playing). The stool I'm using lets me sort of stand but its just getting too much even with that. Perhaps I should trim it in leather and studs and it will work better.
Sitting down will help a lot, I'm just torn with the whole, I'm sitting down in a rock band thing,
Sit. It's never worried Robert Fripp.jamcoops said:EricTheWeary said:In one of my short lived bands the keyboard player used an ironing stool. Light, folds up and visually disappear to quite a large extent whilst he still looked like he was standing. I guess you could cover one in leather and studs.
What about a nice rug (for the floor, not your head)? Helps relieve pressure on your knees, run cables underneath it,etc.I've got the rug already (not on my head, I wear a hat for coolness purposes when playing). The stool I'm using lets me sort of stand but its just getting too much even with that. Perhaps I should trim it in leather and studs and it will work better.Sitting down will help a lot, I'm just torn with the whole, I'm sitting down in a rock band thing,
Very good point! And he's donking Toyah so must be cool. I'll try the chair!TheBigDipper said:Sit. It's never worried Robert Fripp.jamcoops said:EricTheWeary said:In one of my short lived bands the keyboard player used an ironing stool. Light, folds up and visually disappear to quite a large extent whilst he still looked like he was standing. I guess you could cover one in leather and studs.
What about a nice rug (for the floor, not your head)? Helps relieve pressure on your knees, run cables underneath it,etc.I've got the rug already (not on my head, I wear a hat for coolness purposes when playing). The stool I'm using lets me sort of stand but its just getting too much even with that. Perhaps I should trim it in leather and studs and it will work better.Sitting down will help a lot, I'm just torn with the whole, I'm sitting down in a rock band thing,
These are better than a chair - you're not as inclined to slouch as much
Jalapeno said:These are better than a chair - you're not as inclined to slouch as much
Not sure something like that will take my weight! I'm edging towards a stool where I can get both my feet flat on the ground whilst supporting most of my weight through my backside.
Our bass player uses one of those when he's struggling, and he's, how shall I put it, "generously proportioned". He's quite tall, so can keep his feet on the floor and rest against the stool, or sit on top when his hip is hurting.
Harness and overhead cables....and wings...or just sit and carry on.
Or chair and fake plaster cast on your leg. No one will question you sitting down and you may even get extra praise for carrying on in such difficult circumstances. After a few weeks switch it to the other leg and by the time that's ready 'to come off' everyone will be used to the idea of you sitting through gigs.
EricTheWeary said:Or chair and fake plaster cast on your leg. No one will question you sitting down and you may even get extra praise for carrying on in such difficult circumstances. After a few weeks switch it to the other leg and by the time that's ready 'to come off' everyone will be used to the idea of you sitting through gigs.
Now thats a foolproof plan! I could get a t-shirt with 'give me a break, I'm old fat and my knees hurt' on it.
I’d suggest using a chair if it keeps you playing live, but stand when you’re up to it. Also, ask for help with loading/unloading gear if that will help you in standing up for longer. Keep rocking!
When I was acting as a bass player I often used to blag a tall barstool from whatever venue and play sitting on that. This was more of an affectation tho as I was only about 20 and certainly didn't need to sit!
People thought it looked quite cool I was told
People thought it looked quite cool I was told
Sod the chair - what you need is a throne!
Brilliant. The only problem is thrones are what drummers sit on and I'm not sure I could lower myself to that level.steamabacus said:Sod the chair - what you need is a throne!
I got this Franklin stool from IKEA when I was unable to play standing because of ischial tendonitis. It also came in handy when I had an operation on my foot. Folds fairly flat, has back support and a foot rest, but I could still reach my pedalboard with my (good) foot.
If it means you can keep playing, get a chair. Unless that chair is a commode - then it's probably time to stop.
Now there's an idea!Jonathangus said:If it means you can keep playing, get a chair. Unless that chair is a commode - then it's probably time to stop.
“Donking”?! I love it, what a brilliant word. Never come across that one beforejamcoops said:Very good point! And he's donking Toyah so must be cool. I'll try the chair!TheBigDipper said:Sit. It's never worried Robert Fripp.
ScreamingDave said:“Donking”?! I love it, what a brilliant word. Never come across that one beforejamcoops said:Very good point! And he's donking Toyah so must be cool. I'll try the chair!TheBigDipper said:Sit. It's never worried Robert Fripp.
I always used it in the above context but after some Googling, apparently it is something to do with Poker (I’m sure there's another joke there)!
Surely then it's time to go...Jonathangus said:If it means you can keep playing, get a chair. Unless that chair is a commode - then it's probably time to stop.
@jamcoops Do it but, like Fripp, you have to dress up a ibit to make an impression and show that audience that you've not simply given up. Doesn't have to be formal. Something like a dinosaur suit or lab coat would do. Maybe a crown?
GoFish said:Surely then it's time to go...Jonathangus said:If it means you can keep playing, get a chair. Unless that chair is a commode - then it's probably time to stop.@jamcoops Do it but, like Fripp, you have to dress up a ibit to make an impression and show that audience that you've not simply given up. Doesn't have to be formal. Something like a dinosaur suit or lab coat would do. Maybe a crown?
I'm up for a crown. WIll show I'm the king of the band and not that pesky singer fella.
Hell yeah!
Make an impression - don’t get just a chair. Get a throne or a chaise-lounge! The more decadent the better.
Didn't Solomon Burke use a throne and a crown in his later years?
Anyway, due to various health reasons over the last few years I usually have a folding barstool next to me onstage, whether I use it on any given night depends entirely on how I'm feeling.
I'm 6'3" and our singer is 4'11", so the band actually looks slightly less incongruous when I'm seated, as it puts us at pretty much the same height.
Anyway, due to various health reasons over the last few years I usually have a folding barstool next to me onstage, whether I use it on any given night depends entirely on how I'm feeling.
I'm 6'3" and our singer is 4'11", so the band actually looks slightly less incongruous when I'm seated, as it puts us at pretty much the same height.
Mark Knopfler also used a stool on his last tour. I think I saw a picture of Peter Frampton using a chair.TheBigDipper said: Sit. It's never worried Robert Fripp.
Nobody complains when piano players sit at their instruments for an entire concert; Robert Wyatt is still a compelling performer even though his legs haven't worked since the seventies; all ten members of GY!BE have all sat down for years.
It's just about selling your performance convincingly. If you're uncomfortable about sitting then it'll look weird, but so would standing.
It's just about selling your performance convincingly. If you're uncomfortable about sitting then it'll look weird, but so would standing.
There's some excellent advice here and thanks for that. I'm thinking of a toilet type arrangement with devils horns rising from behind me, I'll be wearing a magnificent crown and a t-shirt that says if Fripp, Frampton, and Knopfler can sit then so can I (don't expect me to be as good though)!
In reality, I've got my eye on a nice comfy stool that I can sit my arris on.
Channel your inner Rob Halford and ride on to the stage on a Harley. Then just stay sitting on it.
Jonathangus said:Channel your inner Rob Halford and ride on to the stage on a Harley. Then just stay sitting on it.
I've already got the Harley as well! Not sure I can get an amp, cab, board, and two guitars on it though to get to the gig!
I’ve got a bad back and dodgy hip, I’ve got a solid folding stool which I take to gigs. I use the footrest to get the knee up so the guitar is comfortable (but always use straps as well). I have pedal board in front, laptop/mixer to the left and often DMX lighting controller too. A triple guitar stand gives me access to two electrics and acoustic and a nice boom mic stand up to my gob.
I’ve done dep jobs and my own bands this way for a couple of years now and nobody complains as far as I know.
K&M do a sturdy tall ‘piano’ type stool, I also have one like posted above which is functional, but I’m not sure it would withstand the regular gigging and rehearsal routine I would subject it to over time. It is however ideal when compact and lightweight is required, though the thin feet do tend to mark cables or sink into soft earth if you are outdoors!
K&M do a sturdy tall ‘piano’ type stool, I also have one like posted above which is functional, but I’m not sure it would withstand the regular gigging and rehearsal routine I would subject it to over time. It is however ideal when compact and lightweight is required, though the thin feet do tend to mark cables or sink into soft earth if you are outdoors!