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Originally Posted by Doctor Dirt  If you mike everything up then just play the gig just like any other one. If you don't mike up hopefully the staging isn't to high from the ground so your sound doesn't dissapate as quickly as a high stage would allow.
Definetely mike the kick drum (if you have NO kick mike use a sm57 and roll the mids out and twelve o'clock for the highs and low) use a vocal mike over the top of the kit and dump the lows and set the highs and mids at about 11 o'clock. These are the basic safe settings for a quick fix. If your drummer isn't mic'd your band won't sound like anything without some reinforcement on them. Other then that just have fun and go for it full out!!!! (hmnnnn fried dough) Doc.
pay attention to your low & mid levels the mids should give you throw but also can give you that box sound at 25 ft. Try to cover the same area you would normally and the next time talk the booker into hiring a sound company so their show is more professional, and your happier!! |
I'd call it pretty good advice for doing what you can with what you got on the fly. I'll add a couple things.
Get the best sound you can out of the weakest link without damaging any equipment (no chestpounding kick) and match everyone elses levels to that. Bass can get boomy and "carry" out front and bury a weak kick even if it doesn't sound like that on stage.
Setup tight so the bandmembers can hear each other well even if means not using the whole stage.
Everybody point their amps at the middle of the audience, guitars especially can be very directional.
Remember the two things nonmusicians can do with music...sing along and dance to the beat. Make sure that can be heard clearly.
After all that, say to yourself," screw it, let's have some fun". That attitude will translate to the audience and they'll have fun too.
