Dad3353 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1423695345' post='2688140']...My take, what good are the huge sound and light systems to us locals that play the day ime slots if the systems aren't managed. We sound better with our own sound... [/quote] That's a bummer, and shouldn't happen. In all the festivals and similar that I've been involved with and/or attended, all the acts get the same level of professional treatment from the technical teams, on and off stage. Shame on events that do otherwise. Maybe Europe is different, although I don't know why it should be..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I love playing big stages when I get the chance but onstage sound can be a problem! You sometimes get a sound crew who want to keep the onstage volume very low. You are then very reliant on decent monitoring, which you often won’t get especially if you are on one of the earlier spots on a festival or similar event. So it might sound great out front but the band aren’t grooving because they can’t hear each other! It is far better if you can hear your rig across the whole stage and are not so reliant on the monitor engineer… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1423697914' post='2688175'] That's a bummer, and shouldn't happen. In all the festivals and similar that I've been involved with and/or attended, all the acts get the same level of professional treatment from the technical teams, on and off stage. Shame on events that do otherwise. Maybe Europe is different, although I don't know why it should be..? [/quote] Sound has always been not good, however transportation, dressing rooms, back line, food and drink have been [i]"rock star" [/i]quality. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 I took a walk out front during the sound check and I was pretty under impressed with the overall sound. Whilst being clear, I thought the bass needs to be right up there with the kit to give it the punch we all love. I expressed my misgivings to the rest of the band, but during the set, our accordion player went out and came back saying the sound was spot on. Now either the guy fixed it, or lots of people have differs ideas of a good sound. That's why I like having our own PA, which is a pretty impressive, loud system, which I have more control over. I know it's good to have a decent soundman that you can trust, but if you are worried at all, it can be horrible. Great bands can sound bad if they have a bad mix or weal sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 But if you'd changed your sound on sound check to one you liked it wouldn't have sounded good for the gig. A sound check is a work in progress till it's done. Then it all starts again when an audience comes in and the band start playing, usually louder than they sound checked. If you're serious add a FOH guy to your band line up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toddy Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 This one is pretty big, Belfast,,Luckily I get to prance about 2 or 3 times a week on the nicest venues.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1423734427' post='2688342'] But if you'd changed your sound on sound check to one you liked it wouldn't have sounded good for the gig. A sound check is a work in progress till it's done. Then it all starts again when an audience comes in and the band start playing, usually louder than they sound checked. If you're serious add a FOH guy to your band line up. [/quote] I totally agree, but we were playing with a very experienced sound guy and I didn't want to fall out with him by telling him his job. I just thought, surely he's not happy with that. We would love a sound guy, but it's hard to find one who would give up the time, plus you have to then pay him, and of course we have to trust him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 (edited) [quote name='blue' timestamp='1423695345' post='2688140'] We play SummerFest on a Headliner stage every year. My take, what good are the huge sound and light systems to us locals that play the day ime slots if the systems aren't managed. We sound better with our own sound. Blue [/quote] Depends how big your P.A is ...but it just isn't practical for set up times. We like to get involved in the tech spec and may even provide input, but generally the P.A suppiled is tied in with numbers and of course cost. If the P.A does not have a mon engr, then that pretty much determines how seriously the organisers take things, but to not have an engr at all for certain slots..???? Sound checks are easy if you run digital and fixes should be quick...but sure you can always take your won engr..IF he knows the way around the desks.. I don't get why anyone would want to make this difficult for the bands as the bands are the key to the success of the event, IMO. If a bill is running for 12 hours, that is a lot of time for a two man team to work, so we may sure we have a a few beers/drinks and eats we get for them... and we'll probably ask the organisers to provide it for us and we'll share with the crew. Simple little things like this add up..?? Edited February 12, 2015 by JTUK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 (edited) I've played a lot of big stages and a zillion pub corners, I enjoy the freedom of a big stage, to leave the monitor/lighting/FOH guys to just crack on, and not being cramped I and tripping over stuff, but small stages have such great energy. Some video/pics of when big stages were the norm for me as opposed to being a festival thing like these days. http://youtu.be/BR8gDjHpN2o Great shot from set up [URL=http://s34.photobucket.com/user/gafbass02/media/band%20pics/BirminghamSymphonyHall.jpg.html][IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/gafbass02/band%20pics/BirminghamSymphonyHall.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s34.photobucket.com/user/gafbass02/media/band%20pics/MA100_0008.jpg.html][IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/gafbass02/band%20pics/MA100_0008.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s34.photobucket.com/user/gafbass02/media/band%20pics/HAM100_0027.jpg.html][IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/gafbass02/band%20pics/HAM100_0027.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s34.photobucket.com/user/gafbass02/media/band%20pics/Styxukarmadillo.jpg.html][IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/gafbass02/band%20pics/Styxukarmadillo.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://s34.photobucket.com/user/gafbass02/media/band%20pics/100_0047.jpg.html][IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/gafbass02/band%20pics/100_0047.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Last year [URL=http://s34.photobucket.com/user/gafbass02/media/FECD5C2F-6785-495F-9F80-0A9630DCE378.jpg.html][IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/gafbass02/FECD5C2F-6785-495F-9F80-0A9630DCE378.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://s34.photobucket.com/user/gafbass02/media/63A1460A-97DB-4FF7-8C5B-60355C9AB09E.jpg.html][IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/gafbass02/63A1460A-97DB-4FF7-8C5B-60355C9AB09E.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Edited February 13, 2015 by gafbass02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 (edited) this was a good size for 7 piece band - big enough to swing a cat but not so big as to feel lost and yes that is two music stands you can see there Edited February 13, 2015 by steve-bbb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JwK94 Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Played on a stage overlooking a wave pool at some water park near Barcelona a few years ago with a big band. Absolutely horrific, we were a little unprepared to be fair, all we had to go on for the size of the stage were photos (and it turned out to be around the size of the main stage at a major festival), PA and amps weren't anywhere near loud enough and you couldnt hear yourself play. Audience seemed to enjoy it though and we got free entry to the water park after so cant complain to much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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