When things go wrong, they do :(

[fullcontact68]

Hi All,

Had a 25 wedding anniversary to do last night. (70's 80's theme requested)

Visited the venue prior, I was told that I can turn up after 3PM to set up.

Great I thought, Got there for 15:45, to find out that the room was in use and I could not get accesses until 16:30....

So, since I had a car full a gear, and my daughter who walked (local venue), I left some of the kit in their office so I could drive her home..

So, at 16:45, I decided to go back to the venue to set up (without the daughter this time, she had to go out).

Onto the next problem, the car would not start... Not even turning over. FFS, getting a bit annoyed now, with a gig to set up.

So, managed to get a neighbour to take me and the rest of my kit to the venue, whilst the wife waited for recovery.


Get to the venue, built the booth, wired everything up for a test. The ADJ mega tripars were not working with my obey 4!!!! Weird they were working last night when I did an equipment test.

Ended up having to put then onto Ch03, instead of Ch04, which they were working on last night!

Anyway, time really running out now, music and lights now working, but I'm still i'm my jeans and sweating like a pig.

Had to jog home, get changed quickly, then (luckily the car was back on the road) drive back to the venue and make a start. (Well knackered by this time)

Event started, sound and lights working well. Time to use the mic (Did not have time to do a mic test before), major feedback issue. No idea what is causing it?
Running the mic flat, turned the music down / off and still getting feedback. The speakers are located either side of a stage on tripods, approx. 15ft away from my booth and a few feet forward of the booth.

Lady comes onto the stage wanting to give a little speech, Obviously I'm a little worried about the mic being used at this stage, so I turn then levels on the mic down even further, still got feedback (not at much now), so asked her to step back a little, and this seemed to help (Still had to use low levels on the master / mic etc.

Speech over. Thank god...

Time for me to use the mic again to call last orders, (the mic was still setup the same), huge feedback, stopped everyone on the dance floor. Quickly killed the mic, and had to shout last orders

One last thing, who has priority over requests?
Later in the evening, I was playing the classic cheese, cha cha slide, etc, which the dance floor was loving, then the oldies where wanting more 70's / motown one, so I played some more, then the younger guests were wanting more up to date music on. Help, how to you please everyone????

The problem here is that the event was for the 'older' generation, i.e. 25th wedding, so 70's/motown when requested by them was played, however, the event was put on and paid for by their children who were asking for modern music. What a juggling act.


Why is it when something goes wrong, it really does?

And how do I sort out my mic issues? (Sennheiser Freeport)

I've a kids football presentation to do at the same venue soon, and they are wanting to use the mic quiet a bit, so I really need to get this sorted asap.

Knackered, (Setting up, running, and packing up by yourself is hard work)
Edward.

[yourdj]

Sounds fun.

I never understand why DJ's have to call last orders? Is this a legal thing or just some crap from yesteryear as i never have to do it at hotels, pubs and halls? Although they did make me do it in the restaurant I am playing tonight.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I never understand why DJ's have to call last orders? .

And yet you profess to be an MC, ushering people into rooms and making general announcements...

[Excalibur]

One last thing, who has priority over requests?
Later in the evening, I was playing the classic cheese, cha cha slide, etc, which the dance floor was loving, then the oldies where wanting more 70's / motown one, so I played some more, then the younger guests were wanting more up to date music on. Help, how to you please everyone????
The problem here is that the event was for the 'older' generation, i.e. 25th wedding, so 70's/motown when requested by them was played, however, the event was put on and paid for by their children who were asking for modern music. What a juggling act.

.

Sorry to hear of your trials, everything does seem to come at once. I've not forgotten you're due a reply on another matter, either, sorry for the delay.
Re juggling, I have no helpful advice, except to say that don't do what I once did. Having been driven way past breaking point by two age groups of punters asking for their music in turn at each new song, I turrned the music off altogether, and pointed out over the mic the impossibility of pleasing two totally disparate factions simultaneously. Funnily enough, it didn't go down too well.

[fullcontact68]

and pointed out over the mic.

Unfortunately, until I sort out the feedback issue, that won't be happening anyway.

[deltic]

Simple answer re the feedback on the Freeport....there are 2 controls on the back of the receiver one is a gain control which you need to turn right down as the Freeport puts out a really hot signal, and the second control is a squelch control not too important mid way will be fine

[fullcontact68]

Simple answer re the feedback on the Freeport....there are 2 controls on the back of the receiver one is a gain control which you need to turn right down as the Freeport puts out a really hot signal, and the second control is a squelch control not too important mid way will be fine

Interesting, I did notice those knobs, but left them at the settings which the previous owner had used (Unless they had slipped in transit?)

The gain was on max. I've now reduced this, but not been able to test yet. Hopefully this will be the solution.

I did notice that when trying the mic last night, that I needed very little mic volume, only just above min.

I guess these things happen, especially when everything else seems to go " up", and you don't have enough time to do a proper test.

Anything else to consider if I've still got a feedback issue? (Other than speaker placement, these are out of the way and pointing slightly away from centre stage)

Cheers
Edward.

[ckpr2]

I did a gig at Annan (southern Scotland) football club a few years back.
It was long lift in which was a pain as it was red hot too.
I eventually got set up with lights working.
I put on a CD only to find even with amp and mixer turned right up I could barely hear anything.
I started to panic a bit as I only had the one set of gear with me.
I had a good look around and unplugged all the mains and plugged it back in, still the same.
I then looked at the leads going into my mixer and one lead wasn't quite in.
I pushed it in and everything burst into life.
It was a jack plug that I hadn't pushed in hard enough.
Big sigh of relief and it then turned out to be a great night with the dance floor full all night and a great crowd singing along to the music.

[Excalibur]

Re mic problems, I can't stress enough the importance of having a second mic. Even one of the cheap Behringer, JTS or similar on a cable can be a lifesaver, especially when you have problems with a radio mic.

[fullcontact68]

Re mic problems, I can't stress enough the importance of having a second mic. Even one of the cheap Behringer, JTS or similar on a cable can be a lifesaver, especially when you have problems with a radio mic.

I do have a spare cabled mic. Did not think about trying that instead

Lesson learned. If everything goes to plan, and you have testing time, make sure radio and wired mics are working. Either that or never use a mic lol