| Author | Message | ||
| jbybj
Intermediate Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 135 Registered: 6-2006 |
Since the "I wish Phil would play an Alembic" thread seems to have morphed into a trashing of the house sound guy, I thought I would start a new thread with my anecdote. My first "professional" job in audio, was as the house sound guy at New Georges in San Rafael, CA. in 1986. George's was a biker bar that was bought by two retired San Rafael peace officers who wanted to start a music club. They found a local electronics geek who made all kinds of mods to the sound system resulting in unusually great sound, especially the monitor system, very loud and hifi. The local bands used to love to play there, here's why. The owners had never run a music clup before, and had no clue. They put a hot dog steamer in the backstage band room and would stock it with free hot dogs. Every band member would get one free beer or cocktail. First timers would look longingly at the hot dogs and ask, we can eat those? The sound system was awesome, and the lead singers could always hear themselves, no matter how loud the drummer was. I was frequently asked to turn down the lead vocals in the singers monitor. I too, was clueless. I assumed that my role was as a servant to the band, to facilitate the end result of a good mix. From choosing mics, to making the band as comfortable as possible on stage. I was even successful in getting most bands to keep the stage volume under control, cause I could give them a pungent monitor mix. I always started with the channel EQ's flat, and waited til I could hear what they sounded like. It blew my mind that often, outside mixers would come in, and having never heard the room, start dialing in kick and snare eq's from notes on a crumpled piece of paper. I usually managed to keep the FOH mix below the threshold of pain. It was a great place to see a band. I had a blast. Live mixing 2-3 bands a night was an adventure. I learned so much, about sound, about musicians, about troubleshooting, and I heard some great music. I only had that job for a year and a half, I supposed if I had made a career out of it, I would have lost my naivety and become like most of the soundmen you hear tales of. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1322 Registered: 10-2003 |
Whenever I run sound, I do everything I possibly can (within reason, of course, I *am* a straight, married man!) to make the band happy. A happy band is more inclined to listen to me when I tell them that the left side of the room can't hear the guitar because it's too loud for me to put in the mains.. I think I'll have to forego the 'dog machine for now though.. ;) When I'm in the band, I do everything I can, within reason, to make the sound person happy. A happy sound person usually won't sabotage my tone.. ;) John | ||
| jerryme
Junior Username: jerryme Post Number: 27 Registered: 1-2008 |
Live concert sound is an art, and when its right I love it more than anything in the world. Dan Healy was the best, though Paul Languedoc(Phish) and the people behind Widespread Panic. | ||
| jerryme
Junior Username: jerryme Post Number: 28 Registered: 1-2008 |
*deserve mention. | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Advanced Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 260 Registered: 10-2006 |
My third-favorite story about my time as a professional soundman actually occurred a few years after I "retired" (a good life for a young single guy without material aspirations, but marry a woman with 2 kids who wanted to eat regularly, & I wasn't quite at that level...). I ran into a guy who had owned a club we worked regularly. After establishing who I was (I'd cut off about 2 feet of hair) he asked "How come you were never too loud, like every other soundman was?" I was happy to be able to explain that I was just as loud, I just knew how to EQ it so the loud didn't hurt. My second favorite came when a new drummer brought in a pair of single-scoop 18s. The first night we added them to the PA, the bass player, who played a custom bass through a tri-amped rig, stepped out front to hear what it sounded like. He did a double take at me, pulled a chair in front of the stack, and finished the set there with a big s***-eating grin. At the break he came over & kissed me (we're both straight). Starting the next gig, he went straight into a DI and out through the monitors for the rest of my time with them. My favorite story is this: I was working for a band, getting paid 7% off the top. We were playing the Thirsty Whale in Chicago, where you had to walk down a little hall from the front door before you saw the stage. Our booking agent (for you Chi guys, this was John Orzell of Creative Soundz) came in, and at the break told the same bass player (who owned the PA & acted as business manager - the first story must have left an impression, as that was the first band he had hired me for & this was the third) that he needed to get rid of me & get a better soundman. Tom asked him why and he said "He sucks! When I came in I couldn't tell if it was a live band or an album playing!" Tom called the rest of the band over, they had a quick meeting, called me over, explained John's complaint, and raised my pay to 10%. John loved that, I'm sure. While I hate soundman-bashing, I hate a bad soundman worse - and there's no shortage of them out there. Peter ps - Colin, there were nights when Healy was, indeed, the best. There were also nights when he was atrocious. | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 695 Registered: 3-2004 |
Its all in the ears plus a few tricks to get rid of unwanted noise. I admire guys who know all the physics because I don't. I just try to get the most balanced mix I can under the circumstances. I found that everyone thats not a star, thinks they are. That even goes for praise band singers. So that will make things difficult for a monitor mix when everyone has to be the loudest. There is nothing harder to mix than ego. Now I am sometimes forced to mix badly because that is what the client wants. I used to get really mad but now I just put in my earplugs and cash the checks when they come in. Yes there are a lot of guys who are clueless and just don't care about their craft but sometimes I come across one who really tries to mix my tone (when I'm gigging) in. And I especially love it when they compliment the tone and gear in front of the other guys in the band who always give me a hard time for the no 4 string p-bass/svt vibe. Oh, I think that more bottom is good bottom. Bring back the tons of 18s on the floor and not on the line array! | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 959 Registered: 2-2005 |
The Thirsty Whale. That's a place I haven't heard of in a loooonnnngggg time. Keith | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1323 Registered: 10-2003 |
10%? We give our sound guy an equal cut! He's awesome though.  "There is nothing harder to mix than ego." danno is a master at understatement, for sure! I eventually got my brain (and ears) around the concept of mixing with EQ. Things previously impossible are suddenly no trouble. John |
