How to deal with deaf soundmen?

[Juniorkimbrough]

We've been playing some larger venues lately with deaf soundmen. These are venues hold 500+ but we've had around 200 max at our shows, so the place isn't full of people to absorb the sound. Our fans have been complaining of deafening volumes coming from the mains at these venues and it's also affecting our onstage volume because the subs are being heard and felt on stage, specifically the kick drum. Several times the mains have also been able to be heard over the monitors on stage. We are getting frustrated with the onstage sound and the soundmen but we dont' want to piss them off.

how would you go about dealing with this?

[need4mospd]

Originally Posted by Juniorkimbrough

We've been playing some larger venues lately with deaf soundmen. These are venues hold 500+ but we've had around 200 max at our shows, so the place isn't full of people to absorb the sound. Our fans have been complaining of deafening volumes coming from the mains at these venues and it's also affecting our onstage volume because the subs are being heard and felt on stage, specifically the kick drum. Several times the mains have also been able to be heard over the monitors on stage. We are getting frustrated with the onstage sound and the soundmen but we dont' want to piss them off.

how would you go about dealing with this?

Have some of your people at the show complain to the manager/head bartender. Make sure they tell them that they won't come back next time with it that loud. Make sure you tell the manager yourself as well. The soundguy won't change what he's doing because of what a band says, but I bet he'll change by what the guy that is paying him says.

[Juniorkimbrough]

good point, but i'm afraid the word might get back to the soundman.

both of the soundmen at these venues have been extremely nice and easy to work with so I dont' want them to get "in trouble" but I also don't want to run people out of the venue due to the extreme volume levels.

[Stinsok]

Get the customer to complain directly to the soundman.

[MysticMichael]

The only permanent solution is to bring your own sound man. In the meantime, don't be so concerned about alienating the sound men with whom you've been working. If they've been screwing up your FOH as badly as you say, they haven't been doing their jobs properly.

You have a decision to make: Either insist that the sound levels and the mix be brought under control, or live with the status quo. If these guys are pro (seems doubtful), they'll understand that it's just business. And if they don't, who cares what they think?

They've been alienating your audience with a bad experience. After all the (presumably) hard work you've put into your music, can you really afford to take the chance of getting a bad reputation?

Remember: You're the artist. It's your gig. Take charge of the situation...

MM

[ric1312]

Originally Posted by Juniorkimbrough

We've been playing some larger venues lately with deaf soundmen. These are venues hold 500+ but we've had around 200 max at our shows, so the place isn't full of people to absorb the sound. Our fans have been complaining of deafening volumes coming from the mains at these venues and it's also affecting our onstage volume because the subs are being heard and felt on stage, specifically the kick drum. Several times the mains have also been able to be heard over the monitors on stage. We are getting frustrated with the onstage sound and the soundmen but we dont' want to piss them off.

how would you go about dealing with this?

The only consistant solution to this is to bring and run your own sound or have a regular hired sound guy that you bring with you that you trust.

My ultimate solution was to buy a pair of Bose L1's, and always do my own sound regardless of what the venue has. My sound has always been better than house sound with these. Check them out at bose.com go to products for musicans. They are expensive but quite worth it. Especially if you play in front of crowds of 200-500.

They are loud enough for rock. And the sound is always really good and really easy to set up.

[Blueszilla]

Originally Posted by Juniorkimbrough

We've been playing with deaf soundmen...

Sounds like a great name for a band!

Sorry about your trouble, though. It seems the last several big shows I've attended the sound has been terrible, kick drum and BG too loud. I don't know why it has to be that way. Maybe tell these guys what you just wrote, seems rational enough. Who are they trying to please, the venue owners/promoter, the paying customers, the band, or themselves?

[Deacon_Blues]

Some soundmen should just not be soundmen... The worst soundman I've encountered was during a gig on the city square with the reggae band I play in. The soundman came there with two mains, no subs (that part was mostly the arranger's fault, though...). He put the main speakers (15" speaker + horn) up at least 3 meters above the ground although the audience stood max 20 meters away from the stage. When he adjusted the sound, he stood right under, or slightly behind one of the speakers. He didn't even get out in front of the stage to check the sound!!! Simply horrible.... Needless to say, I've never played with a sound worse than that.

EDIT: He didn't bring any monitors either...

[CoolHat]

Originally Posted by Stinsok

Get the customer to complain directly to the soundman.

I don´t think that will work. Soundmen, in general, don´t like when outsiders try to tell them how to do their jobs and will probably ignore any comments from customers.

It is a difficult situation, but IMO it´s best to just talk to the soundmen directly in a civilized and professional fashion. If they get butt-hurt, well, too bad.

[MikeBass]

The general public doesn't know or care that the problem arises from the FOH engineer (in your case).
They just think the band sounds bad and it's over.

If they are pro's, then just tell them your concerns and see if it changes.
If it doesn't, bring your own guy in.

[Rattman]

...

"Deaf Soundmen" hehehehe!! I love it!

Can we name our praise band Deaf Soundmen I wonder? I don't believe our pastor would go for that, but it sure has a certain charm to it... eh?

[Stumpy]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

The only permanent solution is to bring your own sound man. In the meantime, don't be so concerned about alienating the sound men with whom you've been working. If they've been screwing up your FOH as badly as you say, they haven't been doing their jobs properly.

You have a decision to make: Either insist that the sound levels and the mix be brought under control, or live with the status quo. If these guys are pro (seems doubtful), they'll understand that it's just business. And if they don't, who cares what they think?

They've been alienating your audience with a bad experience. After all the (presumably) hard work you've put into your music, can you really afford to take the chance of getting a bad reputation?

Remember: You're the artist. It's your gig. Take charge of the situation...

MM

+1

[cutthroatmolloy]

Originally Posted by CoolHat

I don´t think that will work. Soundmen, in general, don´t like when outsiders try to tell them how to do their jobs and will probably ignore any comments from customers.

It is a difficult situation, but IMO it´s best to just talk to the soundmen directly in a civilized and professional fashion. If they get butt-hurt, well, too bad.

i was going to say... why not just talk to the soundman. preferably in a nice professional manner. not 'omg teh sound sux!!!11' hahaha

it just seems like a logical course of action. if he gets all annoyed then find another method, like telling the promoter/ venue owner or whatever.

if i were a sound guy id rather someone tell me if they had a problem. than go around doing anything but that.

[Inflin]

Shout at him?