• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Advice please

trailer

trailer

Thumper
Jan 18, 2008
465
634
Guntersville, Al.
www.facebook.com
#1
We've got a show coming up at a bar on our beautiful lake. They have an outside stage built into their multilevel deck, it's covered, well lit, plenty of power, clean and very nice. The problem is that the place has lousy neighbors. They are notorious for calling and complaining if the music gets even a little loud. And apparently it's bass frequencies that drive them nuts. The owner is kind of taking a chance on us as she normally only books acoustic acts.

I'm wondering how you guys would go about getting a full sound without being too loud. We have a decent pa with subs. The drummer will be using brushes and a light foot (hopefully). Should we try to mic everything for a good mix and pull it down? Or only use enough pa for our vocals and play only through our amps?
Also the approach that I would like for us to take is to set up very very low, so that: 1) it will pull the people closer to us and 2) it would be nice to hear "You guys need to turn UP." for change.
Any thoughts or ideas will be muchly appreciated.
 
#2
trailer said:
We've got a show coming up at a bar on our beautiful lake. They have an outside stage built into their multilevel deck, it's covered, well lit, plenty of power, clean and very nice. The problem is that the place has lousy neighbors. They are notorious for calling and complaining if the music gets even a little loud. And apparently it's bass frequencies that drive them nuts. The owner is kind of taking a chance on us as she normally only books acoustic acts.

I'm wondering how you guys would go about getting a full sound without being too loud. We have a decent pa with subs. The drummer will be using brushes and a light foot (hopefully). Should we try to mic everything for a good mix and pull it down? Or only use enough pa for our vocals and play only through our amps?
Also the approach that I would like for us to take is to set up very very low, so that: 1) it will pull the people closer to us and 2) it would be nice to hear "You guys need to turn UP." for change.
Any thoughts or ideas will be muchly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Your instincts are good, and I think you're on the right track. In addition to being a performing musician, I also run a mobile DJ company, and weddings and corporate events are the norm for me. I am very sensitive to neighbor concerns, because if the cops come out, I could get the ticket, and it does nothing for my reputation with the client (or venue manager). Do whatever it takes to keep the low frequencies down and the volume appropriate for the situation. Since that has been the norm at this establishment, your audience will probably understand and snuggle right up to you in rapture and awe. Good luck!
 
#4
Ya, you've got the right idea. I wouldn't even mic any drums. If you think the bass gets complaints, it's nothing compared to a mic'ed bass drum putting out 30 hz through a sub.
 
#5
trailer said:
We've got a show coming up at a bar on our beautiful lake. They have an outside stage built into their multilevel deck, it's covered, well lit, plenty of power, clean and very nice. The problem is that the place has lousy neighbors. They are notorious for calling and complaining if the music gets even a little loud. And apparently it's bass frequencies that drive them nuts. The owner is kind of taking a chance on us as she normally only books acoustic acts.
Click to expand...

This is a tough spot to be in. The best you can do is that the neighbors don't complain, and then it is not likely to be a very fulfilling gig for you with all the adaptations it sounds like you'll have to make. And if they do complain, then it will come back on your band and the owner, who will probably never hire a "real" band again. Is this place paying you a whole lot, or you are doing it as a personal favor to the owner? If neither is the case, honestly, I would have passed on this gig.

That all being said, best of luck and I would encourage you to take the advice of previous posters cause it all looks solid to me.
 
#6
Yep.

Leave the subs in the truck, mic the vocal, forget about getting a full sound, get paid, go home.

Believe me, nobody gives a rat's rump about a "full sound" but you if the neighbors are breathing down the owners neck.

Good luck.
 
#8
The location on the lake certainly is the biggest problem to overcome here. Sound carries across water like you wouldn't believe. One thing that just occurs to me... if there's a way your band can set up with its back to the lake and the P.A. firing back towards the building, that might help you keep the volume under control for the neighbors. It's not like you'll be playing loud enough to get slapback issues, and the bar building will actually help absorb the sound vs. having it all spill out over the open water.
 
#9
Just do a "Kiss Unplugged" show. Follow your gut, and don't push the envelope, unless getting the neighbors and this venue manager upset doesn't matter to you. Low frequencies are omni-directional, they will travel over the water like butter across a hot skillet no matter what direction you face. I've had angry cops giving me the hairy eyeball a couple of times, I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone.
 
#11
Thanks for the great responses guys, I really appreciate it.
While this isn't a life or death situation we really want to pull this thing off well. We're getting paid decently ($100/man), the venue is less that a half mile from our practice pad, and the typical crowd is ideal for what we're doing musically. We're hoping to be able to play there often but maybe more importantly be asked to play some of the parties that their clientele throw... they throw lots of parties, and that as we all know is where the money is at ;)

Thanks again! The show's on the 9th, I'll let ya know how it turns out.
 
#12
Just to follow up... apparently the sound issues at the club came to a head the night before we played. A solo acoustic guy incurred the wrath of the neighbors and the cops were called resulting in an admonition of one more call, somebody goes to jail.... So we weren't allowed to play on that groovy outdoor stage, we had to set up inside the tiny indoor area, while most of the crowd enjoyed themselves outside. Oh well... we seemed to go over well anyway, and we got paid.
 
#15
trailer said:
Just to follow up... apparently the sound issues at the club came to a head the night before we played. A solo acoustic guy incurred the wrath of the neighbors and the cops were called resulting in an admonition of one more call, somebody goes to jail.... So we weren't allowed to play on that groovy outdoor stage, we had to set up inside the tiny indoor area, while most of the crowd enjoyed themselves outside. Oh well... we seemed to go over well anyway, and we got paid.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update. You dodged a bullet there. If the neighbors are calling the cops on a solo acoustic act, your band would not have had a chance playing out there. Too bad... it sounds like the club spent a lot of money on a great deck with great intentions but they are probably never going to be able to have live music out there again. Oh well, at least you have a nice place to take your breaks...

And anyway, you're in Alabama? This time of year it's too hot down there to be outside anyway :D
 
#16
Yeah it's really a shame that they have such crappy neighbors. It's such a nice place. I was so looking forward to playing on that stage, there was a nice breeze and the temperature was only in the mid 80's at our start time, 6 pm.... very comfortable for Bama in July.
They rebooked us for August, it'll be hot as hell by then and I won't mind playing indoors a bit.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back