BECAUSE THERE IS NO PA!!!

[chadds]

OP & All +1

I play on the middle East Coast. Most gigs are PA enough for vocals. It may be very good for vocals. The band balances itself and sounds great. These could be

clubs or art gallery openings or embassy parties.

This grab a DI and keep going thing was always amusing. Only the well engineered and hugest of PAs would I want to be plugged into.

So yeah I plan on my rig carrying the house. I can always turn down.

 

[father of fires]

Aiiieeeee: Zombies!


This is my life, mostly.
Very few of the places I play have FOH.

Mostly, we carry our own.
--we're not punk--and I don't know why this thread would be limited to that...

I think waaay more players live this way than not.

The two bands I work with most use two Bose stick/sub setups.
We mic vocals, keys, horns...maybe the kick drum in a big room.

It didn't start out about punk bands but it morphed into that because that was mostly everyone's relevant experience.

 

[BurningSkies]

Still completely valid.

And I hate being the guy who has to bring, load, setup and work the PA when I'd rather concentrate on playing. I also don't want to have to stay at the bar until 3am packing and moving gear to have the money man hand me 50 bucks to use my PA.

We've been playing a regular gig with another band and they show with the PA, take the extra 60 bucks and do all the setup...it's great. I walk on stage, bring my rig and play. Clubs are getting progressively cheaper and musicians continue to take it without lube, getting paid the same or less than we did when they had a house system, but now bringing our own PA.

 

[father of fires]

Still completely valid.

And I hate being the guy who has to bring, load, setup and work the PA when I'd rather concentrate on playing. I also don't want to have to stay at the bar until 3am packing and moving gear to have the money man hand me 50 bucks to use my PA.

We've been playing a regular gig with another band and they show with the PA, take the extra 60 bucks and do all the setup...it's great. I walk on stage, bring my rig and play. Clubs are getting progressively cheaper and musicians continue to take it without lube, getting paid the same or less than we did when they had a house system, but now bringing our own PA.

How about getting paid the same or less than in the 70's!!! I'm a late 80's/90's child but I've heard this depressing fact a bunch around these parts.

It's funny how things change. The last 3 shows I've played have been with a good PA and I used the houses SVT. It isn't the norm but I do appreciate it when it happens.

 

[BurningSkies]

How about getting paid the same or less than in the 70's!!! I'm a late 80's/90's child but I've heard this depressing fact a bunch around these parts.

It's funny how things change. The last 3 shows I've played have been with a good PA and I used the houses SVT. It isn't the norm but I do appreciate it when it happens.

Payday has definitely shrunk. Even in the past 10 years. A gig that we used to get 450$ for now nets us 300$, etc.

 

[bassboysam]

All music sounds better with minimal PA and a small club. Big amps, lots of tubes and a full sounding band. A perfect example, Cream. the reunion they did a few years ago at Royal Albert Hall sounded like complete poo poo. no energy no sweat not rock and roll. Go find some older footage/recordings of them and you'll hear the difference.

horray for zombie threads that I missed the first time around.

 

[chadds]

Still completely valid.

And I hate being the guy who has to bring, load, setup and work the PA when I'd rather concentrate on playing. I also don't want to have to stay at the bar until 3am packing and moving gear to have the money man hand me 50 bucks to use my PA.

We've been playing a regular gig with another band and they show with the PA, take the extra 60 bucks and do all the setup...it's great. I walk on stage, bring my rig and play. Clubs are getting progressively cheaper and musicians continue to take it without lube, getting paid the same or less than we did when they had a house system, but now bringing our own PA.

I stopped bringing the PA. The drummer thought I was kidding. I had to ask him was I to bring a drum set too. I don't regularly sing.
I think if you sing you should have your own tools.
My life has been so much lighter in so many ways. My playing is better because I'm not left and right braining at the same time playing and running the PA. Fielding complaints from the singer and drummer who can't hear because they wouldn't let me place the monitors where they should go.......
I'm done. Ok, I don't play with those "may pops" anymore.

I'd rather pay someone from our pay.

I do play bar gigs where we play as loud as a sax. That can be quite loud! So there's no PA.

 

[BurningSkies]

I stopped bringing the PA. The drummer thought I was kidding. I had to ask him was I to bring a drum set too. I don't regularly sing.
I think if you sing you should have your own tools.
My life has been so much lighter in so many ways. My playing is better because I'm not left and right braining at the same time playing and running the PA. Fielding complaints from the singer and drummer who can't hear because they wouldn't let me place the monitors where they should go.......
I'm done. Ok, I don't play with those "may pops" anymore.

I'd rather pay someone from our pay.

I do play bar gigs where we play as loud as a sax. That can be quite loud! So there's no PA.

Yeah, in at least one past band it was the singer's responsibility to bring his own mic, and also to write up set lists for everyone.

I took a second gig for a while because I didn't want to be the 'organizer' the 'planner' the 'PA guy'. I just wanted to show up and be a part of the music. That lasted for about 2 months before I was also ending up doing ALL that stuff. Then I quit.

 

[will33]

Another one here who carries PA duties as well as bass. I'm kind of in between on the whole deal. I like having control of our sound, and have us sounding pretty nice, especially for limited equipment. I also don't want to haul a truckload of stuff and get to gigs 3 hours early.

I've culled it down to a powered mixer, another small mixer I tie into that for more channels, 2 mains and 2 monitors, no subs. I've got my mains to where they can handle some kick and bass, not huge bottom mind you, but enough thump to stay even with the other instruments and make people dance. I play the room with my rig when I can, and stick a line in the board for some help when the rig alone isn't quite enough.

And +1 to the gig pay thing. I started playing bars and clubs in the mid '80's at the age of 13-14 or so with my parents, that was my first band. Some gigs now in 2012 still pay the same, some of our out-of-town gigs pay better, but still, it's a good day when I can bring home $100 after gas, etc. I'll always do it, but it's not enough for that to be my only job.

 

[BurningSkies]

Another one here who carries PA duties as well as bass. I'm kind of in between on the whole deal. I like having control of our sound, and have us sounding pretty nice, especially for limited equipment. I also don't want to haul a truckload of stuff and get to gigs 3 hours early.

I've culled it down to a powered mixer, another small mixer I tie into that for more channels, 2 mains and 2 monitors, no subs. I've got my mains to where they can handle some kick and bass, not huge bottom mind you, but enough thump to stay even with the other instruments and make people dance. I play the room with my rig when I can, and stick a line in the board for some help when the rig alone isn't quite enough.

And +1 to the gig pay thing. I started playing bars and clubs in the mid '80's at the age of 13-14 or so with my parents, that was my first band. Some gigs now in 2012 still pay the same, some of our out-of-town gigs pay better, but still, it's a good day when I can bring home $100 after gas, etc. I'll always do it, but it's not enough for that to be my only job.

For a while my main band was doing some 'private' functions which was a mixed bag. The pay was good, and the percent off the top to someone to book us was well worth it...but I HATED the gigs, the situations, etc. But I can say it was great to walk out of a weekend with an extra grand in my pocket for doing a party or two, and we'd hire sound for those too.

I honestly would take a hit in paygrade to play to people who give a fudge about what's going on on stage and enjoy music and no have to worry if the mother of the bride doesn't like the color of the guitarist's amp.

 

[wcriley]

There's only one place around here with a house system. Small lounge with 4 Bose 801s flying over the stage.
So I'm another who has PA duties in additon to playing bass.
I take a small cut off the top to cover my investment. The younger band members help with the packing, loading and hauling...these 60 year old arthrytic knees can't do the stairs anymore.

 

[Toastfuzz]

I've always found it odd too that a large % of vocalists have no concern or responsibility for equipment. I've only met one vocalist who had her own PA setup for herself. Any other vocalist shows up and the first words are "wheres the mic I'm going to be using?"

When I'm fielding Craigslisters I dont even bother discussing it first anymore, I wait for them to ask. We had a PA but we didn't provide their mics. Too many vocalists came to try out, never even questioned what equipment we had for them, just assumed it would all be set up and ready. So then we'd have our standard jam while vocalist stands there annoyed and useless, they complain we wasted their time, we shrug and never call them again.

 

[will33]

For a while my main band was doing some 'private' functions which was a mixed bag. The pay was good, and the percent off the top to someone to book us was well worth it...but I HATED the gigs, the situations, etc. But I can say it was great to walk out of a weekend with an extra grand in my pocket for doing a party or two, and we'd hire sound for those too.

I honestly would take a hit in paygrade to play to people who give a fudge about what's going on on stage and enjoy music and no have to worry if the mother of the bride doesn't like the color of the guitarist's amp.

+1

The group of guys I'm playing with is enjoyable and don't blast guitar amps/try to outdo each other and want a good sound for the whole band. It's a group effort instead of a competition between individuals. Makes a huge difference.

 

[CL400Peavey]

I've always found it odd too that a large % of vocalists have no concern or responsibility for equipment. I've only met one vocalist who had her own PA setup for herself. Any other vocalist shows up and the first words are "wheres the mic I'm going to be using?"

When I'm fielding Craigslisters I dont even bother discussing it first anymore, I wait for them to ask. We had a PA but we didn't provide their mics. Too many vocalists came to try out, never even questioned what equipment we had for them, just assumed it would all be set up and ready. So then we'd have our standard jam while vocalist stands there annoyed and useless, they complain we wasted their time, we shrug and never call them again.

I brought this sort of thing to one singers attention via not setting up any part of the PA for practice. After a few weeks he finally said, "why hasnt the PA been set up at the start of practice? Its a lot of hassle for me to do when I get here and I want you to have it done so we can start on time." I just kind of laughed and said, "I dont use the PA at practice or shows, you dont help me set up and transport my amp..."

Ever since then he has been pretty good about showing up early to set it up, and even helps carry a few things at gigs.

 

[will33]

Yeah, the vocalist/equipment thing....

Their voice is their instrument, you'd think they'd have something to amplify it.

I dunno. I used to be real anal about it, but, I'll always have some sort of PA setup whether it gets used all the time or not, so, not as big a deal nowdays. Depends on the singer/attitude really. Ours doesn't have his own PA, but, he's good, his ego isn't over the top, he contributes with acoustic guitar as well and does a good bit of PR, etc. It works. I sing a lot of backup too, don't just play the bass part and that's it. And everybody helps unload, setup, tear down, load up again, etc.

 

[CL400Peavey]

We have to tear down and set up everything. every. single. practice. Add in that our singer used to be chronically late, and a little tough love went a long way.

 

[will33]

We have to tear down and set up everything. every. single. practice. Add in that our singer used to be chronically late, and a little tough love went a long way.

That's quite a different situation then.

We used to practice at my house all the time and it was always setup, just flip a switch and play. Now we're in a bit of limbo. Next practice is at a friend of mines shop. I'll bring a powered mixer and pair of speakers. Only takes a few minutes to hook that up. Not much longer than a bass rig really.

 

[wcriley]

That's all that's really needed for practice unless you're experimenting with new SR gear.

Will, it sounds like you and your band really have it together. Are you also free to create and/or change your bass lines as the mood strikes? If so, I'd be envious if I wasn't already in a similar situation.

 

[will33]

That's all that's really needed for practice unless you're experimenting with new SR gear.

Will, it sounds like you and your band really have it together. Are you also free to create and/or change your bass lines as the mood strikes? If so, I'd be envious if I wasn't already in a similar situation.

We do mostly covers, party band type stuff. Classic rock/some R&B/motown/old country, etc. Enough variety we can see what people like and at least give them some more of what they like.

But, yeah, nobody's all "you gotta do it just like the record, man". I can't stand that stuff. Even the bands who had the record don't play it just like that live. We pick stuff and play stuff that's a good fit for the 4 of us and that we can make sound good. You can usually tell pretty quick. If some song just isn't coming together right, isn't a natural fit, throw it out and get a different one.

The drummer and I played together in 2 or 3 original hard rock bands several years ago were we did more songwriting, etc., and can read each other pretty well. In those projects too, song ideas and different basslines and stuff were just tools. If one wasn't getting the job done, put it back in the box and find one that works.

 

[Korladis]

All music sounds better with minimal PA and a small club. Big amps, lots of tubes and a full sounding band. A perfect example, Cream. the reunion they did a few years ago at Royal Albert Hall sounded like complete poo poo. no energy no sweat not rock and roll. Go find some older footage/recordings of them and you'll hear the difference.

horray for zombie threads that I missed the first time around.

Yeah, I was unimpressed with that... the sound was so clean it was sterile.

Anyway, out of all the gigs I've had... I think I went through the PA on maybe four of them. Most of the time the PA is only for vocals and maybe drums.