the soundguy was that guy

[StoutXXX]

I know especially at hard rock clubs, that sound guys either deal with alot of idiots and or dont have alot of gear. That being said.
I set up my rig and pedal board which consists of multiple pedals going into DI box preamp(BDDI), then my compressor rack, then my power amp. SO sound guy walks by and says hes going to DI me. Whew...at leasst he gets my preamp im thinking. NO, he bypasses my Sansamp DI to go into his Solid state GT direct box. Im like so dude. Why are you skipping something thats already there and better. Also even if you have to do it this way just run a line out of my unaffected signal on MY DI box, I got it for stuff like this. (I had already mentioned I run compression and he should take a line out of that butnoooooo). He then tells me that the pedal is cool but he only uses it for ****** amps. Im like great, so why are you using a shittier DI on the house bass? No reply. Im pondering at this point about even bothering to ask for a mic on the cab for all the effects so he doesnt have to guard the DI line on the board all night. Then I say screw it let him deal with it. Thats when I overhear my ONE guitarist asking for a mic for each of his two different vintage cabs. Not a crazy request but was met by do you run stereo?(coming from sound guy) No(guitarist) Then you dont need two mics. ***??!! I mean we are grown men with gear. Shouldnt a sound guy know a good chance for easy tone when he sees it? To think we kept the stage volume low just for that douche.

[Ibanezzer]

wow....

question-- if there is a "sound guy" at the place does that mean that you cannot bring your own pa and sound setup and bypass him completely? I'm just wondering as I haven't played out before.

Thanks.

[MazeMouse]

I have a DI on the back of my AMP. Either they use that or they mic me but no F'ing way will I use some ****** house DI-thingy...
Good thing we're currently blessed with a friend-soundguy who knows his stuff.

[SonicSid]

He's the house tech.

Do it his way or get the "suck" knob turned full on.

MY2Cents

[Eric Perry]

Originally Posted by SonicSid

He's the house tech.

Do it his way or get the "suck" knob turned full on.

MY2Cents

Sad but true.

[SBassman]

What's a sound guy?

[cb56]

I had the exact same thing happen. The "soundman" who used to be a lead singer in an area band and knows nothing IMO about running sound, absolutley refused to run out of my sansamp and used his ****** DI box. I figured why bother arguing and did it his way. Believe me his SUCK KNOB was turned up full blast way before I walked through the door. Sounded like crap. Fortunatly the place had a short life and is no longer open. unfortunatly, I'm sure the "soundman" is still lurking out there somewhere.

[StoutXXX]

Yea for real. Thats why I just called it a win when he at least went post preamp. I just couldnt get over the stupidity of two DI boxes side by side. After the show he said sounded good huh? I was like actually it worked out but we went the long way to a sound that wasnt mine. He also mention he like the 15db cut out his box. I was like dude...youve got your choice of options already with my DI/preamp for sginal levels. I think I did good about not pushing him to hard cause your right...it could have been worse. We also made sure not to talk trash onstage pre show. Those sound guys can be tricky with those vocal mikes.

[cb56]

btw, I have to say we have about 4 or 5 soundmen in my area that do a great job and for some reason always want to use my sansamp BDDI. They know all about them and know they are in for an easy gig as far as getting a great bass tone with no effort. I even had one soundman say "oh man I love you"! when he saw my sansamp sitting on top of my rig. A little over the top if you ask me but hey at least I had a good sounding gig.

[SBassman]

Seriously, it must be nice to play in situations where you're getting paid - And have the support of a sound man.

Not in my world.

[ric1312]

Ahhhh the legendary suck knob. Or as we like to call it here, the "F!@# Knobs."

This is the very reason I always bring my own sound now. Been running through 2 bose L1 systems for almost a year now. I always get great sound.

I've even had to tell a few sound men to, "take a hike were not using your stuff." After they insisted. (though I've always let it be known either in contract or to the owner a head of time that we are bringing our own sound and that's that)

Soundmen make me think their is some special language I don't know. I've tried being nice, giving them money, doing everything they say, you name it. But, when I ask for something at the begining of a show it's always ignored. No amount of jumping off stage or hand signals ever works. Even talking straight too them over the mic doesn't work.

This is not to say I havn't run into sound guys who were awesome even with a crap PA.

But, I got so sick of getting the F knobs most of the time, now I just run my own sound.

Regardless of the sound system you use I think running your own sound is the way too go.

Before I got my bose stuff, I had a little pa with two main and two monitor which was only 250 a side. I got better sound for our band than in almost every club we played that had soundguys and a much bigger pa systems.

I think it just introduces too many variables when you couple a band with a soundguy who's never worked with them before.

The only time you really can't bring your own sound system is multiband type of things where you play for 30-45 minutes then are expected to be completely off stage in like five minutes so it's clear for the next band. I don't play those shows anyhow as they are usually just pay to play scams by the local promoters.

In any other place you can bring any sound you want. You are the talent. You make the sound with what you want. If it sounds good and you have a crowd you'll get asked back.

Someone saying you have to play through this PA is stupid. It's almost as bad as if a venue handed you a bass you never played before and said, "you must use this we only like jazz basses."

The whole point of a venue having, "house sound," is that in theory it's supposed to be set up for that room and already tweaked out. But, when you insert a different band with different equipment and specs it throws all that tweaking out the window. If you add a soundguy to that, that doesn't know what he's doing or doesn't care, then is when the F knobs show up.

LOL, can you tell I've wanted to choke more than a few soundguys.

[Eric Perry]

I can only think of a small handful of times I've dealt with a true asshat soundguy.

Of the clubs I play on rotation they know me and are very cool with me. In the new clubs and venues, most ask where to grab my signal from. I always run XLR Out of my SVT-III Pro. It's rare they have an issue with that. The few that have, always accept a DI from my Sansamp.

At most larger venues I mic my cab as well and have the signal blended. Same as above, I rarely get grief from that request. And the majority of the times I have, there was a legitimate reason.

I guess I've been immensely lucky.

I will say though, and the OP nailed it... These guys are used to dealing with full-blown douches. I can expect them to be rough around the edges after dealing with tools for whoever knows how long. Typically, if you present yourself in a professional manner, know what you want (and why), and show them a at least modicum of respect, they are usually apt to do the same.

...But of course there are always bad apples in every bunch!

[StoutXXX]

BooYaa...got word back. He used us as his experiment...level changes effects, the works. I hate that guy now.I was about to comment on how many sound guys are great to work with and compliment not having to polish a turd every night cause I got a good line out or whatever gear they like. Man I wish we could have heard that. No I really wish I had earned the suck feature of our performance by being a real pain in the bass. I had more fun with just a small vocal PA and a wall of cabs at basement shows.

[slamjet]

As a soundguy (squeaker, light guys are squinters if you want to piss them off) I've not had the luxury of being assigned to one venue with one set of equipment. So being that I've done sound for over 20 years, here's some of my hard a$# comments.

Among other things, we deal with two major issues, equipment that is as tempermental sometimes as my ex wife, and musicians (singers included) who need more zoloft and wellbrutrin in their diets. That being said, any "good" soundman can walk into a room, take the equipment he has, and make it work. I've been forced to mic a huge hotel ballroom with a couple of little anchor speakers when the in-house sound system died. And yes, all 500+ people heard the speaker, it's a matter of placement (and volume).

Then there's the musicians who know my job better than me. I just nod my head and do as I please. But I really hate dealing with the "artistic" type so I've learned to stay low key and agreable. I will say the worse are stage actors. Especially during tech rehearsal.

Now when a band comes in with their own equipment, I let them set it up, run a sound check and perform sound re-enforcement WITH MICS! For many reasons including not wanting to deal with persons who may not know their equipment, me having to learn their equipment on the spot, not having to deal with any of their equipment that may not be working properly (and trouble shooting the problem) and as a courtesy to the players. They've practiced with this equipment, let them use it and stay calm and comforable on stage. Less likely I'll be blamed for anything (sound guy get's blamed for all things gone wrong. I've even got it for bad lighting because "I should have known"). And my job is just that, re-enforcement. The primary sound is from the stage. It sound more natural that way.

The only times I break this rule is in very small venues (100 to 75 or less). I need the control to make sure everyone mixes well and give the audience a good time.

So when I hear about these so-called sound men, it irks me. They're not professionals, they're most likely the owners cousin who needs a job and hasn't a clue. It's not about the sound guy! It's about the venue! And if they hit the F-Button, they screw the band and the venue itself. That sound-guy should get FIRED! I've never sabatoged a group because of bad feelings, or bad playing.

Real soundmen 1) have a complex dance with many clients (venue, audience and band) and 2) should be able to work in any room, regardless. If they're too into themselves, they need to get a guitar shoved up their nether regions. Not the bass, they might like the low growlling feeling

Just my .02

[StoutXXX]

Your the sound guy I like. I def. dont try to be bossy or a know it all, but Im not dumb, I do record, and I do sell live sound gear. Now im not an engineer but I do know how to set up a bass with a good DI/mics and guitar mics in live settings. So I can really appreciate good work and good attitude but damn this dude was a chaunch.

[AAdropout]

Most of the sound guys I have do crap like that, they use a crappy DI box from my instrument, then my signal goes to my amp only for stage volume!!!!Augh, I didn't spend a lot of time and a lot of money searching for the perfect tone for the sound guy not to go through my head's DI (GK 1001) post EQ. I asked him why he and others do that and he said "If you amp goes down then you won't need to stop playing" I am like "If my amp goes down I am going to stop playing and start cry because I just spent a lot of money for the damn thing" Needless to say I get great response to my sound if the cab is miked, very little response if it goes to the PA via crappy DI. I really liked our soundguy last night, he was very accomidating, did what I requested, and even complimented us on our sound (which we have all worked on to perfect), and he "reinforced" our sound, and did not try to "control" our sound like many others do, very good show last night.

[justabass]

Wow...Never really thought about this. Round here the sound men work for the bands...not the other way around. Sorry for you guys. I can't remember the last time a soundman actually plugged my line in. They typically lay it across my amp and let me know its there to plug in myself. And that fine by me! Now I'll appreciate it more I guess...

[Eric Perry]

Originally Posted by justabass

...They typically lay it across my amp and let me know its there to plug in myself. And that fine by me!...

That's generally my experience too. As I said above, it's rare I get a goober with a power-trip ego.

We're just lucky!

[Crazyeelboy]

In Moscow, the sound is usually run by the venue's official sound Czar, who is usually some dilettante who knows very little about sound or equipment. We had to simply stop playing at one great venue because the sound guy was just worthless and we have to bring in our own sound guy and equipment at another for the same reason.

The problem is that too many unskilled people just call themselves sound guys because they know how to flip on a power switch.

[MazeMouse]

My last gig I actually had a soundguy come up to me asking "how do you want your sound? DI, mic or both?"
If I get the luxury of choice...