Gig Report. My ears are destroyed.

[TreySonagras]

I play in a cover band that has always had issues with volume. Last night was the worst ever. The restaurant/bar we were in has a loud ambient environment anyway (just regular crowd noise is over 90db) and the band decided to have volume “arms race”. Several times I suggested we pull back our volume but it didn’t work. Even with hearing protection I was hurting.
At the end of the night the drummer/band leader commented, “I don’t understand why we cannot keep a crowd”. ‍

 

[joelns]

Doesn't sound fun. The venue didn't provide that feedback to the band?

 

[Spidey2112]

How long did the soundman stay?

 

[Spidey2112]

The venue didn't provide that feedback to the band?

They did, but no one in the band knew sign language.

 

[TerenceE]

The solution is obvious….

fire the drummer!

 

[Al Rivera]

Take advice from an old guy.....find another band! These types never change,find some like minded bandmates.

 

[joelns]

They did, but no one in the band knew sign language.

Might be time to find another band.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I play in a cover band that has always had issues with volume. Last night was the worst ever. The restaurant/bar we were in has a loud ambient environment anyway (just regular crowd noise is over 90db) and the band decided to have volume “arms race”. Several times I suggested we pull back our volume but it didn’t work. Even with hearing protection I was hurting.
At the end of the night the drummer/band leader commented, “I don’t understand why we cannot keep a crowd”. ‍

It's a mystery why people don't understand that. If you like the band otherwise than it may be time for some serious conversations.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

You don't have an engineer or FOH right?

Who's in charge of the mix?
That would be the persons job to handle and deal with.
A sound meter solves lots of problems.

Mixing in a democracy will not end up well. Just like mixing in the studio, it ends up being everyone wants more "me".
And there's your race to the top.

 

[SLO Surfer]

I’d be gone so quickly, quit the band. I’m not submitting my body/ears to permanent damage for nobody. (Plus the whole lack of professionalism around playing to the room, and respecting venue management)

 

[RyanSaranich]

Several times I suggested we pull back our volume but it didn’t work. Even with hearing protection I was hurting. ‍

Major props for being the one to speak up and make this request. It’s not always easy, right?
If your band move towards this, the end result is a much better-presented show with a very controlled mix and a happier audience!

 

[Mark 63]

I played an outdoor brewery a few years ago. The owner had a decibel meter. Lead guitarist still wouldn't turn down.
We didn't get invited back.

 

[Swipter]

I use "vibes" with headphones and they seem to help. They aren't uncomfortable like foam ear plugs, I can't use, but you can still hear what you need to.

 

[scott sinner]

Just like mixing in the studio, it ends up being everyone wants more "me".
And there's your race to the top.

i had an amazing opportunity as a youngling to work part time at a studio. He was transitioning from tape to DAW and he was not computer savvy, traded my computer skills for his knowledge of recording!

One of the simple awesome things he did, that I would help with, was make charts for the band of each song. Basically, intro, verse, chorus, etc, matrixed with a list of tracks.

His rule for the band after the first mix was ‘I need ONE feedback chart from the band on tweaks. Dont send me individual ones because I already know what theyll say ‘turn me up at x’’

 

[ricardol]

A good onstage sound with confortable volume is a priority. On stage or at rehearsal room each player should be positioned right in front of his own amp. Preferably with his own amp pointing directly at his ears. (You can try having the amps on beer crates or keeping the wheels on them. This also acoustically decouples the amps from the stage floor, which improves the low-end sound). This way if any player wants to ear the other players he will be forced to lower the volume of his own amp.

 

[StyleOverShow]

Too loud is apparent if you’re listening for it. The players that play too loud think they are operating at the right energy levels, giving the music the needed oomph.

It’s hard ime to turn a band like that around. They don’t have a frame of reference or awareness of the physical context to adjust. They simply play louder if they feel it is necessary to get ahead of the mix or get the right feel to their parts.

 

[Killing Floor]

Y'all know I like rock'n'roll so I'm rarely on the side of turning down.

BUT...

If you catch 90 dB without the band playing that sounds like a club problem more than a band problem. If it's really that loud before you strike there's no chance of being heard unless you are significantly above the din. Maybe find a better place to play, that sounds like a ringing warehouse gig to me.

And of course you should fire the drummer.

 

[Mvilmany]

You mentioned “volume wars”. That’s a big Red Flag of dysfunction. I don’t want to be any louder than I’m supposed to be.

One good thing about being a bassist, is that we can wear earplugs that block a large amount of sound and can hear ourselves in the bass frequencies that comes through.

A serious discussion is needed before the next rehearsal and all of the band needs to be on board with this. If one of them is “waaah… I can’t hear myself, waaah..” then time for a new band or have the band get rid of that person.

 

[Kevin Hailey]

If you want people to listen to you, you have to play quietly.
I realize that this will be unpopular advice!
When was the last time you listened to somebody because they were shouting at you? Natural reaction is to do the opposite.
when you speak with a moderate tone you draw a listener to you. Music is the same.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I play in a cover band that has always had issues with volume. Last night was the worst ever. The restaurant/bar we were in has a loud ambient environment anyway (just regular crowd noise is over 90db) and the band decided to have volume “arms race”. Several times I suggested we pull back our volume but it didn’t work. Even with hearing protection I was hurting.
At the end of the night the drummer/band leader commented, “I don’t understand why we cannot keep a crowd”. ‍

That sucks. RE: Looking like you’d better invest in some ear filters with a 25dB cut. Ear plugs will not give you proper protection. You only get one set of ears.