Active Band Man Chats - Risk Management for Stage

Continuing from the last time, huh?

So, you're talking about risks again?

Yep!

Still got more to say?

Of course! There's always a lurking danger on stage, you know... *Evil cackle*

Ah, yeah... People do say that. Like, when everything goes wrong even though you've practiced like crazy, or you make mistakes you'd never normally make.

Oh no, not that kind of thing. I'm talking about real dangers on stage.

Right, right. You always word things in such a confusing way! (laughs)

Well then, let’s get to slaying those monsters—oops, I mean risk management, stage edition!

Take it away!

When you get up on stage for soundcheck, the first thing you should do is get a sense of your surroundings.

Makes sense. During soundcheck, you're usually focused on the sound, but it's important to check your surroundings too.

Exactly! Take note of the stage’s size and shape.

Got it.

Also, pay attention to the floor material. Depending on how it interacts with your shoes, it could be slippery or have way too much grip.

Yeah, that happens sometimes. A floor that's oddly slippery. So, it's better to check it with the shoes you'll be wearing during the actual performance.

Exactly. After checking the floor, don’t forget to look up too! Check the distance to the ceiling and the lights!

Why?

'Cause it’d hurt if you jumped and hit your head!

Well, I don’t really jump, so...

Come on, you should jump! I wanna see a Holy Jump!

I'll... think about it (monotone).

And another thing! Make sure your guitar neck won’t hit anything when you raise it high. Imagine this: you go "Yeah!" and lift your neck up, and then *crash!* The light goes out, pieces of the light fall down, the sound cuts out, and the whole live performance is ruined! Then, the venue manager comes up after and says, “No payment for you guys today,” and you'd end up in tears!

That happens, yeah… A good example is our senior from the live house, Dynamite☆Naoki. He's got plenty of stories like that, right?

Oh, totally. Like when he tried spinning his guitar around and slammed the headstock into the ceiling—or even when it got stuck in the ceiling… So many legendary moments.

Yeah, that did happen (laughs awkwardly). And if that happens, the neck takes serious damage…

Exactly, especially the headstock... but I guess that’s not a problem for you, horry, huh? (laughs)

No, no… Sure, I don’t have a headstock, but the instrument still gets damaged, you know.

True. Plus, the emotional damage…

Definitely.

Also, you’ve got to check the distance to the front of the stage, the edge—what we call the “mae-tsura”—and how far the barricade is. You really don’t want to fall off the stage by mistake!

Oh yeah… I remember that time the vocalist from Nashonal misjudged the distance to the barricade when trying to put his foot up and fell off the stage.

Yikes!

Yeah, ended up with a fractured rib… or was it just a crack? Anyway, it’s not just about us; you have to make sure the audience right up front doesn’t get hurt either.

Exactly! You also need to check the shape of the monitor wedges and whether it’s even okay to step on them in the first place...

…Which is something you should definitely ask the staff about. There’s also that classic story of someone stepping on the monitor, only for both them and the monitor to fall off the stage…

Terrifying! Imagine saying, “Are you all having fun!?” and then the next second, you’re the one not even on the stage anymore…

Totally possible… and yeah, definitely not something to laugh about.

Speaking of monitors, sometimes part of the monitor isn’t fully on the stage, right? That’s another thing you’ve got to check!

Seriously, the stage is full of hidden dangers.

Totally. Then there’s the distance between amps, drum kits, and mics—making sure you know your movement range.

Especially if you’re using wireless gear—you’ve got to be even more careful.

And when it comes to your range of movement, there are those live houses that have a grand piano just sitting on the stage by default.

Oh yeah, that happens sometimes. The piano just sitting there, taking up space.

You definitely need to check that too. The last thing you want is to bump into it and damage something!

That’s super important. Speaking of which, have you noticed that when you’re doing a live show with multiple bands at a live house, the stage sometimes looks different during the actual show compared to your rehearsal?

Hmm? What do you mean?

Well, after we finish our soundcheck, other bands sometimes do theirs, right?

Right, depending on the order of rehearsals.

So when it’s our turn to perform, there might be amps or other gear from the bands who rehearsed after us that weren’t there during our soundcheck.

Ah, yeah, that happens. They usually try to place everything out of the way, but it can still be there.

In that case, it’s a good idea to do a quick check when you get on stage for your set. Same goes for cables on the floor—sometimes they’re in different spots than during rehearsal, so check that too.

Exactly. And also, take note of how the cables are laid out around your feet.

Yeah, because if you’re not careful, a cable could get unplugged—whether it’s your shield or power—and suddenly your sound cuts off… To avoid that, it’s best to mark your cables with tape, and ideally use gaff tape to secure them. It’s also a good idea to let the staff know before you tape anything down.

＼Recommended!／

American Recorder Technologies / Console Tape and Pen Console tape and pen for marking your setup easily.

Diatex / Pioran Temporary Cable Fixing Tape CK-06-WH

In *The Captains*, I usually stand in the center, but I’m always mindful of the distance between me and the bassist on stage left.

What about stage right?

The guitarist on stage right—well, the headstock is facing away from me, so there’s not much risk of bumping into it. That is, if they’re right-handed.

Got it.

So yeah, I really have to watch out for the bass on stage left! The neck is longer than you think, and sometimes I bump into it during the show.

That sounds dangerous.

If it just knocks the tuning pegs and throws off the tuning, that’s one thing, but...

Something worse?

If you run into a bassist who’s really into their performance, you could get hurt!

Like getting hit on the head... Yikes, take care of yourself.

Even in pop genres, some bassists can have really intense stage presence!

Totally, they’re out there!

It looks cool, but yeah, if you’re sharing the stage with someone like that, there’s definitely a bit of tension!

I’m usually positioned further back, and I do try to keep an eye on the other members’ movements, so I think I’m good… I think (laughs).

Plus, you don’t have a headstock anyway (laughs). Uh, where were we again?

We were talking about the bass headstock sometimes bumping into you.

Right! So, having the bassist take a step back can help keep things safe. In *The Captains*, we often go with a V-shaped formation, with the lead vocalist at the front.

Got it.

Oh, and if the bassist is on stage right, keep an eye out if they’re left-handed. The neck will be pointing toward the center.

Yeah, that’s true. Just gotta adjust accordingly!

Now it’s showtime! Before stepping on stage, check your shoelaces. In our case, we wear side-gore boots, so we’re good. Also, don’t rush and end up banging your head on something. And if you’re coming straight from a brightly lit dressing room to the stage, your eyes might not adjust, and it can feel like you’re in total darkness. A good trick is to close your eyes for a bit before going out.

You’re that particular about it? In that case, people who always wear sunglasses might have an advantage… But yeah, there’s a lot to keep in mind just stepping onto the stage.

Exactly! You might have to walk with your eyes still adjusting to the dark, so make sure to check the path to your position during soundcheck. Pay attention to your feet and mark things with tape!

Ah, before we head back to the stage talk… do you ever do stretches? Like a warm-up routine?

Yeah, I do a bit. Mostly shoulder rotations and stretching my Achilles tendons.

I make sure to loosen up my body before the show. Otherwise, I end up with cramps, especially in my legs. That never used to happen before… guess it’s a sign of getting older (laughs). And then there's warming up my fingers, too, to keep them moving smoothly. Especially in winter, it’s crucial!

＼Recommended!／

DADDARIO / PW-DXBD-01 Dexterity Band Finger Exerciser

DADDARIO / PW-VGFL-01 Varigrip & Fiddilink Bundle

Alright, next up—risk management to make sure your gear doesn’t break!

Please share your tips.

First, tighten the nuts on your guitar and effects pedals' input/output jacks! This helps prevent the cables from slipping out.

Hey, that’s a solid piece of advice.

Also, check that the strap pins on your guitar or bass aren’t loose. If your strap comes off mid-show, it’s a disaster!

Definitely. Even with strap locks, you can’t be too careful. If the whole pin comes out, it’s game over.

By the way, I always plug the L-shaped cable into my guitar. That way, if the guitar falls face down, it won’t break the pickguard and the output jack area at the same time.

Surprisingly thoughtful, aren’t you?

Surprisingly, *indeed*! (smug look)

Oh, hit me with the smug look! (laughs) Well, yeah, I also tend to use L-shaped plugs for my bass output. For the same reason.

＼Recommended!／

CLASSIC PRO / HGC050R High-End Instrument Cable (Shielded)

And finally, risk management for forgetting things!

For… getting?

Put name labels on all your gear.

The smaller the item, the more important it is to label it. Or, you can stick a symbol that represents you on your stuff.

For Kizuhiko-san, it’d definitely be a rose.

For me, I attach this keychain to my effects case.

This… I don’t think anyone’s stealing that… (laughs)

*Fufufu.* And that masking tape you gave me has been super useful too! Thanks!

You're welcome! If anyone says "Because of love!" around here, it’s gotta be Kizuhiko-san!

Since we're at it, why don’t you come up with a symbol too, horry?

“At it” you say? (laughs) I don't really think I need one. There aren't too many of us headless bass folks, so there’s not much risk of mix-ups.

Ah, stingy!

Hey, I’m not stingy! (laughs)

But you’re right—if it’s obvious whose gear it is, it does reduce the chances of forgetting or mixing things up. And yeah, when it comes to our instruments, we’ve got pretty distinct styles, so no worries there.

True. Still, when it comes to bass cases or pedal cases, there might be someone from another band using the same one. So maybe it’s a good idea to mark yours like Kizuhiko-san does. Also, it’s smart to double-check the contents of your case before packing up and leaving the venue!

＼Recommended!／

ESP / Acrylic Keychain - SUGIZO-AK-SGZ-01

Right On STRAPS / PICK POUCH PAISLEY (Red)

Scorelay Japan / Drumstick Keychain

Indeed, I think that covers everything!

Thanks for your hard work. There’s actually quite a lot to keep in mind—dangers, or at least things to be careful about.

Totally. So, I hope that anyone who reads this column can avoid at least one of these risks! Let’s stay safe, have fun, and make sure not to forget anything! Let’s keep the music going in good spirits. All for the sake of…?

Love!