That's a great 2 cents. Especially the "you're not supposed to be competing with each other, you're supposed to play music together" part. Nice work.
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Volume Control. Yes, It *CAN* Be Done.
- Thread starter Thunderthumbs73
- Start date
That's a great 2 cents. Especially the "you're not supposed to be competing with each other, you're supposed to play music together" part. Nice work.
Sooo true ... and I'm blessed to work with a really talented drummer!
Plus like any other musician that knows his craft,
having the right gear helps, for practice and low-volume
gigs (like the one we have tonight) W.C. our drummer,
will use this kit with a 16" kick drum (the size of a regular floor tom),
far from a toy, it's a "be-bop" jazz kit.
Our drummer uses a small kit as well...all the time. That "small" bass drum is tight as heck. Talented, smart and reliable drummers are really hard to find. We're still looking for someone that posses all 3 of those characteristics. Right now we have 2/3.
Rods and brushes, help, but really good guys can rip it at low volumes.
Like someone above mentioned, we got a gig that needed small sound, in a small space. We measured the playing area, taped it out on the floor at practice, and chucked stuff out until we fit in the space. I think we even built a speaker tower out of nice lumber to hold a couple speaks in the available floor space.
Then we went to work on getting the sound right at low levels. Think tiny wine bar, happy hour, lots of folks looking to drink and gab.
I have to say practicing at that volume was NICE! It took some getting used to, but very nice. Relaxed, easy, you could talk to each other over the music.
The bar owner loved it. We got a monthly gig. From those we got more lucrative gigs at wineries, private parties and small resturants and bars. Lowering the volume has opened the doors. There's always going to be places to play louder. That's what PA support is for.
We carry less stuff, set up is a breeze, less than 1/2 hour, we could fit everything and everybody into one full size pick up.
Its pretty cool to have the owner or hostess come up and say, "you guys can be a little louder, once the food service slows down, but this is great!"
Like someone above mentioned, we got a gig that needed small sound, in a small space. We measured the playing area, taped it out on the floor at practice, and chucked stuff out until we fit in the space. I think we even built a speaker tower out of nice lumber to hold a couple speaks in the available floor space.
Then we went to work on getting the sound right at low levels. Think tiny wine bar, happy hour, lots of folks looking to drink and gab.
I have to say practicing at that volume was NICE! It took some getting used to, but very nice. Relaxed, easy, you could talk to each other over the music.
The bar owner loved it. We got a monthly gig. From those we got more lucrative gigs at wineries, private parties and small resturants and bars. Lowering the volume has opened the doors. There's always going to be places to play louder. That's what PA support is for.
We carry less stuff, set up is a breeze, less than 1/2 hour, we could fit everything and everybody into one full size pick up.
Its pretty cool to have the owner or hostess come up and say, "you guys can be a little louder, once the food service slows down, but this is great!"
I love playing at low volumes!
The sound is alive and it has punch, sweetness and clarity.
Even the rock stars know that now - when I was at KISS concert (Alive 35) I stood 5 meters from the stage, and I could easilly talk with people around me even though the sound was massive, clear and punchy. I could hear every instrument's distinctive sound.
Also not everyone remembers, that playing is like telling a story. When you tell the story - and the song is a story - you can't yell all the time. You souldn't even say every word at same volume level. Dynamics control is VERY important.
The sound is alive and it has punch, sweetness and clarity.
Even the rock stars know that now - when I was at KISS concert (Alive 35) I stood 5 meters from the stage, and I could easilly talk with people around me even though the sound was massive, clear and punchy. I could hear every instrument's distinctive sound.
Also not everyone remembers, that playing is like telling a story. When you tell the story - and the song is a story - you can't yell all the time. You souldn't even say every word at same volume level. Dynamics control is VERY important.
I hate electronic drums,they look like plumbing and the drummer is always fiddling with controls all night.I do like fairly low stage volume,let the sound man blast the front of the house.
I'd change that to say MUSICAL drummers are rare. I see tons of talented ones (though I see very average ones too). More rare than talented drummers? Musical ones.
I equate talented ... AS musical
But maybe that's just me, but musical is good I can go along with that.
Here is a shot from the "high-profile ... low-volume" gig, it was great!
I equate talented ... AS musical
But maybe that's just me, but musical is good I can go along with that.
Here is a shot from the "high-profile ... low-volume" gig, it was great!
...
Now that's what I'm talking about! LOVE that set up!
