Not quite a soundman complaint but.................

[DWBass]

My band played a community event yesterday partly put together by a local soundguy and a public library. I've played this before but we were the only band last year. Soundman has great FOH system but his monitoring system was horrible and my mic stand kept drooping on me, LOL, but that's not my complaint. If you're going to put together a multi-band event, wouldn't it make sense to have backline? Nope! Every band (6 bands) had to setup, soundcheck, play for an hour then breakdown. Made for a long day. Event was behind by almost 2 hours using this system. Wasn't much of a crowd either. I suspect it wasn't promoted properly. But anyway, we got a chance to play out and got paid, so there is an upside. All the bass players were killin' too. No complaints about any of the bands. Oh, forgot to mention that it rained for about a half hour then cleared up but got really humid.

 

[Geri O]

The backline issue is a promoter thing. It's like drawing blood to get promoters and event organizers to pony up a few hundred bucks for a decent drum kit, a bass amp, and one or two guitar amps (something generic like Fender Twins). Or at the very least, a drum kit. I've booked small and medium-sized production events where I recognized a festival-like situation and priced in my personal drum kit in the total price.

Droopy mic stands are an easy fix. Crappy monitors (gear or operator-related) should be, but aren't a lot of times.

 

[WayneP]

I've been involved in the planning and execution of events of this type before, and indeed things can go seriously awry if they aren't managed properly.

I had each band submit a stage plot in advance, showing where each instrument/performer would be, and to specify power and connection needs for each (e.g. direct box, how many mics for the drum kit, etc.). Each band received the following instructions, and had to confirm that they had been reviewed by all members:

The following guidelines are necessary to expedite set changes:

1. Performers are required to have their instruments out of cases, set up and ready go on stage before the act in front of them finishes their performance.

2. Drum kits especially should be fully assembled ahead of time. This means all cymbals should be secured to their respective stands, tom-toms attached to kick drum or stands, etc. and ready to go on stage.

3. Performers are required to strike their equipment immediately after their set ends. Do not leave the stage for a drink, to talk to friends etc. until your equipment has been cleared off the stage. Drummers are required to immediately remove the kit, fully intact, and disassemble it backstage.

4. Next-up performers should wait until the previous act has removed their equipment before they bring their gear on stage. Guitar, bass players and keyboardists may bring their equipment on stage as soon as the previous guitarists / keyboardists have removed their equipment. Drummers should wait until the previous drum kit has been fully removed from the stage.

In addition to the soundman, there was a "stage hand" to help with the all connections, and a "time keeper" to make sure no one ran over their allotted time. If the band had technical issues with their own equipment, it meant they had less time to play.

I must say it went off pretty well and we kept on schedule. IIR, we were able to do complete set changes, complete with sound check, in 20 minutes or so, if not less.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt


Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45

 

[Reedt2000]

I run into this sort of thing all the time. I think a lot of it stems from ignorance of what it takes to set up a band. Most people think it's easy, just play some music right? I've actually played a couple town fair kinda things where bands had to bring the FOH gear too! One of them budgeted 15 min for change over, needless to say the day ran way late.

 

[DWBass]

I think we were the only band that setup in less than 15 minutes. Took at least that to soundcheck. Drummer had his whole set put together. My rig (2 cabs, rack rig) is setup and running 5 minutes. Most of the bassists had combos except the guy before me.

 

[bound'n'blocked]

If a soundman is smart, he will make sure there is a backline. It always makes his day easier. When I did sound we nearly always took a bass rig and two amps like a Fender Twin or similar, a 5 piece kit and some type of keyboard when we were doing a festival type gig. It takes up nearly no space in the truck. The bands would always bring their stuff, but when you tell a bass player there is an Ampeg SVT or an Mesa Boogie rig on stage and they are welcome to use it, they usually will. Our boss would include it cheap just to make our jobs easier. All we had to move was mic stands.

BnB

 

[Frankjohnson]

Its not always up to the sound tech - most of the events are run by someone who hires a sound tech. At least the ones I have worked on have been. That said - I try to provide input, but it isn't always taken, most of the time due to costs and others due to poor planning by others who simply do not understand.

 

[DWBass]

Its not always up to the sound tech - most of the events are run by someone who hires a sound tech. At least the ones I have worked on have been. That said - I try to provide input, but it isn't always taken, most of the time due to costs and others due to poor planning by others who simply do not understand.

In this case, it was partly organized by the soundman in conjunction with the city library. He's been a part of this for years. He should know better. He's the one who contacted all the bands on the bill. My first question when were contacted was, " is there backline?".

 

[s0c9]

In this case, it was partly organized by the soundman in conjunction with the city library. He's been a part of this for years. He should know better. He's the one who contacted all the bands on the bill. My first question when were contacted was, " is there backline?".

In that case... you can absolutely lay it on the sound guy.. as he's wearing the "promoter" hat, and yes.. he should have factored in backline for multiple bands.
See @WayneP's post above