Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
- Thread starter Powdered Toast Man
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One of Jerry's Kids
Matt42
New member
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
Another aspect, at least around here, is the stricter enforcement of DUI laws. People just have neighborhood block parties now, rather than braving the roads after so much as one beer. In the last four to five years the gigs at bars in small towns has all but dried up. It's all transitioned to the down town scene, which is great for originals, but hard on cover bands.
*note: I'm not lamenting the stricter enforcement of DUI laws, just the fact that people would rather stay home than take a cab or get a DD.
Another aspect, at least around here, is the stricter enforcement of DUI laws. People just have neighborhood block parties now, rather than braving the roads after so much as one beer. In the last four to five years the gigs at bars in small towns has all but dried up. It's all transitioned to the down town scene, which is great for originals, but hard on cover bands.
*note: I'm not lamenting the stricter enforcement of DUI laws, just the fact that people would rather stay home than take a cab or get a DD.
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
Well, to be fair, this is only in downtown St Pete and south Tampa. There are still good venues around though. We do have to travel a bit to find great rooms. The good news is that there are still tons of festivals here, and those are the best to play.
Well, to be fair, this is only in downtown St Pete and south Tampa. There are still good venues around though. We do have to travel a bit to find great rooms. The good news is that there are still tons of festivals here, and those are the best to play.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
I hope the Skipper Dome still has good (non-metal) bands. I used to hit the Ringside, Dave's Aqua Lounge, Classic Wax, and the Five O'clock Club, amongst others.
I hope the Skipper Dome still has good (non-metal) bands. I used to hit the Ringside, Dave's Aqua Lounge, Classic Wax, and the Five O'clock Club, amongst others.
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
Yeah, haha...I still play the Skipper Dome now and then. The Ringside moved to St Pete and is only cover bands now. I played at Dave's a million times, but he passed away a few years ago, so it is shut down.
Yeah, haha...I still play the Skipper Dome now and then. The Ringside moved to St Pete and is only cover bands now. I played at Dave's a million times, but he passed away a few years ago, so it is shut down.
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
In best Tommy Chong impression.... Dave's not hear..... (no disrepect meant, its just late and that came to mind...)
I used to use an amp stand like that, but I had to use a step ladder to try and put the head on the 4x12 cab and the head kept rolling off..
In best Tommy Chong impression.... Dave's not hear..... (no disrepect meant, its just late and that came to mind...)
I used to use an amp stand like that, but I had to use a step ladder to try and put the head on the 4x12 cab and the head kept rolling off..
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
In seriousness though.. I have a stand like that. I bought it when I had my Carvin MTS 3212 combo. It blew my mind how much better it sounded on the stand.. It was like the carpet absorbed much of the tone.. And, I didnt have to play nearly as loud, to be loud.
In seriousness though.. I have a stand like that. I bought it when I had my Carvin MTS 3212 combo. It blew my mind how much better it sounded on the stand.. It was like the carpet absorbed much of the tone.. And, I didnt have to play nearly as loud, to be loud.
Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
I use a stand very much like the one in the article. My thinking was this: "Who, among the five people on stage, wants to hear my guitar louder than anybody else? Oh, right.... ME!" So I put it on a stand and point it right at my head. With the open-back combo, there's usually enough guitar spread around to make everybody else happy. Slap an SM57 on it, and if we need more out front, put a bit in the mains.
Even with acoustic drums, I can get by with my 13-watt amp, and often run the the Weber attenuator down around 50%.
I use a stand very much like the one in the article. My thinking was this: "Who, among the five people on stage, wants to hear my guitar louder than anybody else? Oh, right.... ME!" So I put it on a stand and point it right at my head. With the open-back combo, there's usually enough guitar spread around to make everybody else happy. Slap an SM57 on it, and if we need more out front, put a bit in the mains.
Even with acoustic drums, I can get by with my 13-watt amp, and often run the the Weber attenuator down around 50%.
hydro
Prayin' to Cheeses
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
In all seriousness, my Stone Age 1x12 cab (for smaller/quieter shows) has a slight slant and that slant is really helpful. I used to use straight 4x12s but switching to a slant is a good policy for any size cab that sits on the floor
In all seriousness, my Stone Age 1x12 cab (for smaller/quieter shows) has a slight slant and that slant is really helpful. I used to use straight 4x12s but switching to a slant is a good policy for any size cab that sits on the floor
Uk Ant
New member
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
My last band was a little three piece blues rock outfit, we played bars and pubs in our local area, usually with just a vocal PA.
This meant the drummer (who could play at three volumes: completely quiet, really loud, and 'now I've warmed' up even louder) could not hear the bass or guitar very well, so we used to set up with the amps at the back, then the kit, then my vocal mic. I would then self sound check by standing in the middle of the room while we blasted through an intro, then the bass player would take over the sound checking while I sang the first verse or so and the sound check would be over by the middle eight.
Amp stands or wedging the front of the amp are great if you're cramped in and also miced up, but if the amp is the side fill, how do are the people out front supposed to hear you?
Guitarist can be terrible for standing in front of their amps, so the sound is hitting them at knee or waist height, and setting their volumes and tone for what they hear, in practices as well as gigs. This is a good article because it highlights the end result of not thinking about where sound is going. In reality you need to position your amp according to the room, equipment being used (PA etc), space and how loud everything else is.
On a side note: Even with a really loud drummer (mine was really, really loud), you do not need a 100w head. I used a 30w Orange Dual Terror through 1x12 and that worked fine
My last band was a little three piece blues rock outfit, we played bars and pubs in our local area, usually with just a vocal PA.
This meant the drummer (who could play at three volumes: completely quiet, really loud, and 'now I've warmed' up even louder) could not hear the bass or guitar very well, so we used to set up with the amps at the back, then the kit, then my vocal mic. I would then self sound check by standing in the middle of the room while we blasted through an intro, then the bass player would take over the sound checking while I sang the first verse or so and the sound check would be over by the middle eight.
Amp stands or wedging the front of the amp are great if you're cramped in and also miced up, but if the amp is the side fill, how do are the people out front supposed to hear you?
Guitarist can be terrible for standing in front of their amps, so the sound is hitting them at knee or waist height, and setting their volumes and tone for what they hear, in practices as well as gigs. This is a good article because it highlights the end result of not thinking about where sound is going. In reality you need to position your amp according to the room, equipment being used (PA etc), space and how loud everything else is.
On a side note: Even with a really loud drummer (mine was really, really loud), you do not need a 100w head. I used a 30w Orange Dual Terror through 1x12 and that worked fine
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
Really, really, loud drummers are the rule rather than the exception.
Really, really, loud drummers are the rule rather than the exception.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
Certainly more common in the bands I've played with, especially as the night wears on. You can tell the drummer to play softer, but that lasts about a minute or two. With most local bands, it's a good idea to have an amp that can keep up, un-mic'd, with an excited drummer. Doesn't mean you have to play loud yourself, but you can if you need to be heard.
When it's late and the place is rocking, the band's cooking, the crowd is pumped up and dancing, are you going to stop everything and say: "Okay, we're having too much fun, so we're going to turn down and you people get back in your seats."
Certainly more common in the bands I've played with, especially as the night wears on. You can tell the drummer to play softer, but that lasts about a minute or two. With most local bands, it's a good idea to have an amp that can keep up, un-mic'd, with an excited drummer. Doesn't mean you have to play loud yourself, but you can if you need to be heard.
When it's late and the place is rocking, the band's cooking, the crowd is pumped up and dancing, are you going to stop everything and say: "Okay, we're having too much fun, so we're going to turn down and you people get back in your seats."
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
I've seen more than a few bass combos with an angled back corner so it can be kicked back like a wedge monitor. I agree it would be good to have some guitar cabs like this as well.
I've seen more than a few bass combos with an angled back corner so it can be kicked back like a wedge monitor. I agree it would be good to have some guitar cabs like this as well.
chadd
Well-known member
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
Through the PA. If the stage is exceptionally wide (really uncommon around here) simply turning the PA slightly toward the middle usually resolves any problems.
Through the PA. If the stage is exceptionally wide (really uncommon around here) simply turning the PA slightly toward the middle usually resolves any problems.
Matt42
New member
Re: Guitarists: Stop hurting the audience at small gigs
In one of my old bands we had the exception, a really quite drummer! His first gig with the band was pretty funny, my brother was running sound for us and kept yelling at him to play louder!
In one of my old bands we had the exception, a really quite drummer! His first gig with the band was pretty funny, my brother was running sound for us and kept yelling at him to play louder!
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