People who have no idea what they are talking about

[jordan2]

So today a couple of ensembles from my school went on a mini tour to different schools in the area.

Here is some background information. Our school has a set of Sure SM58, and then we have a set of crappy, low end Audio-Technica condenser mics (like $40). On the first show of the day I was running sound while I wasn't playing and we were using all of our sm58s and 1 of the Audio-Technicas.

Then after our first show of the day our music director (whom I like a lot) comes up to me and everyone else helping run sound and says, "Why in the world were you using those terrible, old Shure mics, they sound really dull and boring, from now on we are only using the new Audio-Technicas, everyone knows that condenser mics are SO MUCH BETTER than dynamic microphones, especially for vocals, they just sound so much better in the mix, I don't know what on earth you were thinking." (I think he liked that the Audio-Technicas had a slightly hotter response, and had more highs but man, they sounded like crap.)

Anyway I found it kind of funny. Do any of you guys have stories about people who have no idea what they are talking about but tell you how to do it anyway? Post Away.

[s_mcsleazy]

me and my mate once one night were talking about how justin timberlake was in everthing (atleast at the time he was) and he ran into random recording studios all over the world running to the mic saying "im justin timberlake" and running off. the reason however he stopped was because he tryed that in steve albinis studio (electrical audio) and steve ran after him wearing his pogo shoes throwing shure sm-57's at him.

it was funny at the time

[malthumb]

I play Alembic basses. I'll skip the numerous times people have asked if I play an off-brand because I can't afford a real Fender.

I'll skip the numerous times people have referred to it as Olympic, even though one of them clearly says Alembic on the headstock logo and both have Alembic written on the pickups.

I will tell you about the knucklehead working at a pawnshop that tried to convince me to pay more than the new price for a low end Warwick. I explained to him that this Warwick would not replace either of my Alembics. He started to tell me how Warwicks were better than Alembics and went into detail on his time as a touring artist with an Alembic endorsement. (Alembic doesn't have an artist endorsement program). He went into detail on how when he was touring with a prototype Burner (Alembic never had a product called Burner) it kept crapping out on him. They sent a tech out to one of his shows to try to repair it, but they never could get it to where he liked it, so he switched to Warwick and never turned back.

I explained to him that I was on a first name basis with two of the three founders of Alembic. Didn't tell him that I could speed dial them right then and there. I also explained to him that I knew from talking to them on numerous occasions that artists like John Entwistle, John Paul Jones, Mark King, Greg Lake, and Stanley Clarke all paid for every instrument they ever got from Alembic. He stuck to his story.

Knucklehead to the bitter end.

This was about 10-12 years ago. Since then, Alembic gave Stanley Clarke a really sweet customized Series II small body as a gift to commemorate his 40 years using Alembic basses. That is to date the only instrument that they have ever given to an artist.