So going up to the mic, snapping your fingers, and saying "Hey! Junior! Less talk and more work!" is not the best route to go? 
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
How do you get your Sound Guy to look up
- Thread starter iriegnome
- Start date
I've played gigs where the soundguy had a mic that he used that was only fed to the monitors. There was also a mic on stage that was his "bat phone" - basically plugged in to a channel on the snake hooked up to a channel on the PA that went to neither FOH or monitors but only to the board. Not sure how that worked on the board - guess it was set up for that?
Really pro gigs we had a stage sound guy for the monitors, right off the side of the stage, then a FOH soundguy in the back of the room. Couldn't even see FOH guy with the spotlights, etc.
But honestly, I don't think the crowd minds if you talk to the soundguy once or twice TOTAL for the gig. "Bob, can I get a little more snare in my monitor? Thanks. Give it up for Bob everyone - he makes us sound good."
Everyone talking to soundguy between each song break means you didn't have a sou d check!
Really pro gigs we had a stage sound guy for the monitors, right off the side of the stage, then a FOH soundguy in the back of the room. Couldn't even see FOH guy with the spotlights, etc.
But honestly, I don't think the crowd minds if you talk to the soundguy once or twice TOTAL for the gig. "Bob, can I get a little more snare in my monitor? Thanks. Give it up for Bob everyone - he makes us sound good."
Everyone talking to soundguy between each song break means you didn't have a sou d check!
Bat phone is a standard com link for production.
The thing I hate is when requests are handled poorly and the energy of the gig and flow is stopped- the crowds attention gets lost.
Hate it more when attention is brought to production during a show. Same issues… but that's not relevant for bar bands really.
My favorite- "does it sound good out there?" No, of course not, what would give you that idea? And the girlfriend or mom sitting side stage behind the pa where they can't hear it always yells to turn up the vocals. You just can't win lol.
The thing I hate is when requests are handled poorly and the energy of the gig and flow is stopped- the crowds attention gets lost.
Hate it more when attention is brought to production during a show. Same issues… but that's not relevant for bar bands really.
My favorite- "does it sound good out there?" No, of course not, what would give you that idea? And the girlfriend or mom sitting side stage behind the pa where they can't hear it always yells to turn up the vocals. You just can't win lol.
This is probably a little pricey for most folks, but look up Pro Intercom and look for a simple com power supply, a belt pack, and a Blazon, which is a yellow flashing light that's triggered from the belt pack. You would set up the power supply and the beltpavk somewhere on the stage and the light at FOH. You connect the belt pack and the light to an unused channel in the snake. Mic cables will connect the units to the snake and each other.
You could go all out and have a handset at the stage, and a handset, belt pack, and the light at FOH, allowing talking between folks. Now, it's getting pricey...
You could go all out and have a handset at the stage, and a handset, belt pack, and the light at FOH, allowing talking between folks. Now, it's getting pricey...
Maybe implement a variation of the $10 mic...
I worked for a sound company that called the MC mic that.
If you get distracted and let an MC walk up to a dead mic, you owe the "Pot" $10.
The money is collected and annually split between the FOH operators that had no violations.
Mulit-day, multi-stage festivals usually put a fair amount of money in the Pot.
I worked for a sound company that called the MC mic that.
If you get distracted and let an MC walk up to a dead mic, you owe the "Pot" $10.
The money is collected and annually split between the FOH operators that had no violations.
Mulit-day, multi-stage festivals usually put a fair amount of money in the Pot.
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
You just have to grin and bear it or else you look like a douche to the crowd. I have had this happen more times than I can count.
I have seen a lot of world-famous pros in a lot of stadium and arena gigs talk to their sound engineer and use sign language during the performance. They didn't look like douches to me. It just goes with the territory; it's not the ideal, but sometimes you don't get it right during sound check.
This is a hard one, especially when the sound guy is on site....
I was playing double bass on a big stage and went to sing when my foldback started howling like crazy....i looked over to the monitor guy and he was chatting with a friend and laughing at something on his phone. I had to keep playing while trying to get his attention, all the while the howling continued and this guy didn't hear it. All the frantic waving in the world couldn't get his attention either. After we finished the number, the howling was still going and he was still looking down with his mate...they didn't look up until i was 2 feet away and shouting at him to do his freakin' job! I felt bad but I had to take his name and report him to his boss, who was a mate of mine...there were still 8 bands playing that day!!
I was playing double bass on a big stage and went to sing when my foldback started howling like crazy....i looked over to the monitor guy and he was chatting with a friend and laughing at something on his phone. I had to keep playing while trying to get his attention, all the while the howling continued and this guy didn't hear it. All the frantic waving in the world couldn't get his attention either. After we finished the number, the howling was still going and he was still looking down with his mate...they didn't look up until i was 2 feet away and shouting at him to do his freakin' job! I felt bad but I had to take his name and report him to his boss, who was a mate of mine...there were still 8 bands playing that day!!
I assume you mean this was directed at the monitor console operator?
There's a big difference between waving and pointing to your mic quickly vs waving every single time you take your hand off the strings for 3 minutes trying to get his attention
Another lesson I had to learn the hard way.
Of course, I just meant that the sound guy might look at you for a half second to say "***" before getting that drink...
lol
Yes, my sincere apologies, your nomenclature is accurate.
That's a little more discreet than trying to get the attention of a distracted house operator.
There's a big difference between waving and pointing to your mic quickly vs waving every single time you take your hand off the strings for 3 minutes trying to get his attention
Okay, I guess you can look like a douche, or be discreet and not look like a douche.
As always in this world, the choice is yours.
Obviously, when I used the term "sound engineer" I meant the person in charge of the monitors. Not sure where you're trying to go with this...
The beginning part they kill the vibe for sure with their equipment issues, but after they start (around 2:12)Sammy does it perfectly..
