What kind of PA-system do we need?

[Devo-lution]

Hi

My new wave meets post rockband is planning to organise a "barbecue + gigs" in order to finance the recording of our first album independently. I'm not an expert in PA-systems, so I'm trying to win some information. What kind of PA do we need?

Tha plan:

One of our guitards is the chairman of a local youth club. He can fix us the club + an open space outside + all of the volunteers that work there for a day with a huge discount.

We've got some (quite good) bands and DJ's that want to take the stage for nothing more than a compensation of their costs (transport, ...). Off course we'll be gigging ourselves.

We expect that if the weather gods are kind, we'll have about 100 persons coming around to eat and watch the gigs. Might be some more who'll show up without eating. Since the club is rather small and the gig will take place in summer, everything wil probably happen outside.

Now, what kind of PA system are we looking at? It's a square of approximately half a soccer field. There'll be people sitting and eating at tables all over the square. We've had people offering us a PA system that would cost over 1000$ for a day, claiming that less would not do the job.

Thanks
Kind regards

Kim

[MNAirHead]

depends on how loud you need and what type of monitors are expected....

[Marginal Tom]

You'll probably need at least four mains, two or four subs, monitors for the bands, a large mixing board, several power amps and a professional soundman. You'd need to be very lucky to get all that for a grand.

You'll need either a smaller venue or more people just to break even. If you try to cut corners on the cost, you'll either sound like crap, be inaudible to much of your audience or (probably) both.

[Devo-lution]

hmmm... if we don't at least break even, there's not much point in raising funds for a CD...

There's also a square we can use that is approx 80 feet long and wide. Might be able to put down a tent there or...

[Devo-lution]

Law guidelines in Belgium state that you can't go over 100 DB on smaller gigs. Not that anyone's actually checking it with a DB meter :')... So, we can't go LOUD.

[Devo-lution]

bumpy

[seanm]

Do you all have amps? Don't mic the drums, keep the guitars, keyboards, bass, etc. down to the drummers level and you can get away with a fairly small PA. A couple of 15" mains and a powered mixer. You should be able to rent this cheap from a music store.

I have played bigger outdoor gigs than you plan with just a small vocal only PA setup. However, the band has pretty good equipment.

Also, it is very important that you don't mic the drums. Once you do that then the PA requirements go way up. If you have to mic the drums to keep up.... don't expect to make any money

[Devo-lution]

We all have amps. Guitar amps differ in volume from LOUD (fender bassman 4x10) to somewhat less. I'm the junior in volume as my "to go" rig consists of a 100 watt tube amp with a 1x15. I do have a Markbass LMII as a spare amp and I have some friends with big cabs (ampeg 8x10, etc...) that I might be able to lend for the occasion.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Another vote for 15" or so quality mains for vocals, perhaps a sub for the DJ, and if the mains and the sub aren't active, an amp and a mixing desk of some sort.

As mentioned earlier, a somewhat pro soundperson dedicated for the FOH duty is absolutely essential in preventing a trainwreck (soundwise anyway ).

The old school rig I have for "big gigs" for example has a price tag of about 2K€, and would handle (and has) a moderate volume outdoors rock gig with ease.

The rig:

2*Carver PM1.5
2*18"+12"+2*1" mains
2*TL505 (118 sub)

Various desks, EQ's and other processors according to the needs.

1K€/day is not unheard of, but a bit steep if You ask me. I could probably be coaxed to do a gig like that for 3-500/day + expenses, cash.

Regards
Sam