I'm going to a jam tonight. Been going off and on for a year, but tonight is my first night as the "house" bass player (at this or any jam).
This jam has gone through better and worse phases (there have been really stellar nights and total wank-a-thons). One thing, though, that's been consistent and troubling, is that it's almost always TOO LOUD. Starts LOUD and gets WAY TOO LOUD, in the audience and onstage (Despite this, it's hard to hear a clear mix onstage). Last week, especially on stage (but in the audience, too, causing at least one person to leave early) was the worst I remember in this regard. Started WAY TOO LOUD and ended in OMG HELP! I almost stopped playing during the last tune (admittedly very loud and aggressive, and the singer swallowed the mic). I was in pain. I felt my hearing distort like a Marshall driven into soft clipping and waves of dizziness with the loudest tones. I stepped off the stage (thank you, long cable!) to get in front of the monitors and finished the tune from there, but my ears rang for two days. Last time I felt like this was in the front row of a Smashing Pumpkins concert my freshman year of college.
I have an appt. for custom earplugs on Friday. Never worn earplugs, ever, before, but after last week, I'm going.
That still leaves tonight. I don't want to experience further assault on my hearing, and I want to take this opportunity (since I'll be there for setup and soundcheck) to address the issue, not just for myself but for the quality of the jam. I know several musicians have complained among themselves. I don't know how much, if anything, has been said to the soundguy (who varies depending on the night, and is usually hurried and overworked). I want to address things tactfully with the soundguy and other musicians, and efficiently during the soundcheck.
My thoughts are, first, simply to tell everyone, politely, what I said above. Not sure how else to get at that except say it.
Next is to start soundcheck with the monitors at ZERO, turn up the bass amp just enough to comfortably balance the acoustic sound of a hard-hitting drummer, have the guitarist turn up 'til he can comfortably hear himself... Then add in the horns, keys, vocals, etc., and have everyone make their monitor requests, but STARTING FROM ZERO, just asking specifically for what they need/want to hear more of.
I'm a respected "semi-regular" at this jam, but I'm not there every week. I'm not the guy who goes to the trouble of putting it together, and I have zero experience running a board. I don't want to come across as a jerk, and I don't want to alienate the good people I've been fortunate to play with or make the soundguy feel like I'm telling him how to do his job. But I do want to do something about the situation.
I appreciate any suggestions on how to deal with this tactfully, and do the soundcheck efficiently (no idea what procedures are currently in place for it).
I should've posted this earlier -- gotta leave in a couple hours for the jam -- but I didn't even know there were forums here aside from those dealing with selling amps and basses!
Thanks in advance.
-Mark
This jam has gone through better and worse phases (there have been really stellar nights and total wank-a-thons). One thing, though, that's been consistent and troubling, is that it's almost always TOO LOUD. Starts LOUD and gets WAY TOO LOUD, in the audience and onstage (Despite this, it's hard to hear a clear mix onstage). Last week, especially on stage (but in the audience, too, causing at least one person to leave early) was the worst I remember in this regard. Started WAY TOO LOUD and ended in OMG HELP! I almost stopped playing during the last tune (admittedly very loud and aggressive, and the singer swallowed the mic). I was in pain. I felt my hearing distort like a Marshall driven into soft clipping and waves of dizziness with the loudest tones. I stepped off the stage (thank you, long cable!) to get in front of the monitors and finished the tune from there, but my ears rang for two days. Last time I felt like this was in the front row of a Smashing Pumpkins concert my freshman year of college.
I have an appt. for custom earplugs on Friday. Never worn earplugs, ever, before, but after last week, I'm going.
That still leaves tonight. I don't want to experience further assault on my hearing, and I want to take this opportunity (since I'll be there for setup and soundcheck) to address the issue, not just for myself but for the quality of the jam. I know several musicians have complained among themselves. I don't know how much, if anything, has been said to the soundguy (who varies depending on the night, and is usually hurried and overworked). I want to address things tactfully with the soundguy and other musicians, and efficiently during the soundcheck.
My thoughts are, first, simply to tell everyone, politely, what I said above. Not sure how else to get at that except say it.
Next is to start soundcheck with the monitors at ZERO, turn up the bass amp just enough to comfortably balance the acoustic sound of a hard-hitting drummer, have the guitarist turn up 'til he can comfortably hear himself... Then add in the horns, keys, vocals, etc., and have everyone make their monitor requests, but STARTING FROM ZERO, just asking specifically for what they need/want to hear more of.
I'm a respected "semi-regular" at this jam, but I'm not there every week. I'm not the guy who goes to the trouble of putting it together, and I have zero experience running a board. I don't want to come across as a jerk, and I don't want to alienate the good people I've been fortunate to play with or make the soundguy feel like I'm telling him how to do his job. But I do want to do something about the situation.
I appreciate any suggestions on how to deal with this tactfully, and do the soundcheck efficiently (no idea what procedures are currently in place for it).
I should've posted this earlier -- gotta leave in a couple hours for the jam -- but I didn't even know there were forums here aside from those dealing with selling amps and basses!
Thanks in advance.
-Mark
