Playing for the Circus

BigLoopDuke · #1 09-11-2009, 11:11 PM

Ok, so I just got back from taking my wife to see the Britney Spear's concert in Des Moines. My lady has been a fan of her's for a long time. Try not to start hating and flaming. (I was just trying to be a good husband and we had killer seats in the first row.)

So, here's my question. They actually had guys in a pit who appeared to be playing, but I couldn't tell for sure because when the guitarist and bassist were tromping around on stage, there was either a huge delay in the PA line or they were just "air" guitaring it. I couldn't tell for sure, but I was maybe 20 feet from the guitarist and a few times I think he caught me staring him down, trying to figure out whether or not he was actually playing.

1. The musicians were spread out throughout the stage. Everyone had in-ear monitors. There appeared to be a pretty significant delay.
2. The guitarist didn't appear to be switching any effects from his location and was flipping through different parts.
3. I caught the bassist a few times clapping while his bass part was playing through the PA.

So, if anyone's seen this show or something like it, what gives? Are they essentially doubling a pre-recorded track and dropping in for just specialty things like the off solo or something?

For those of you who have played an arena, is the delay that big of a difference between the PA and your monitors?

As a side note, the show was very interesting. I don't typically get down with pop music, but I'll give it to Britney Spears and company...they put down a real spectacle.

albertofrog · #2 09-12-2009, 12:39 AM

Well, hasn't britney spears come out and admitted that she mimes at her shows because "its hard to put on a really good dance show when i have to sing as well"?

So does the same happen to the musicains? Actually playing all those notes gets in the way of looking cool.......

In their defence, it wouldnt suprise me to have someone offstage switching their effects for them, you could just imagine the fuss if Britney tripped over a load of effects pedals on stage......

RH434 · #3 09-12-2009, 08:46 AM

I wouldn't be surprised if the tracks were all prerecorded either. Pop is frequently more about the look than the music anyway.
Makes me wonder what most of us would do if offered a great paying gig and then they said "Oh, BTW, we record everything in the studio and don't play it live. You okay with that?"
The clapping during the bass part is quite amusing though!

xgator4u · #4 09-12-2009, 12:32 PM

Remember Milli Vanilli ?

SpamBot · #5 09-12-2009, 12:34 PM

As "lame" as this is........ I'd still take the gig in a heatbeat if it was offered to me. I like having money.

BigLoopDuke · #6 09-13-2009, 10:06 PM

True. And they could have very well been playing while in the pit, but then again, these dudes could have been some backup dancers that they hung instruments off of too?...

Either way, the show was really fun...and definitely out there. There's nothing like being one of maybe 15 guys in a crowd of 16,000 women who are losing their minds to see Britney. I could only imagine what would happen if Madonna came to town...