What's the biggest

[Sapphire Disco]

In response to an earlier thread of the smallest venue I thought it might be interesting what was the biggest venue anyone has done.
Also what lights & power did you use & was it adequate for the amount of people there ?
Mine is was about 200 in a large bar/hall used my 700 w per side amp & 350 w tops & subs, went into tops first for a bit more power, sound was OK but I could have done with more lighting, which I now have.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Probably 1000 people in a marquee with a 10K RCF rig.

[Danno13]

4-500 students when I lived in Bristol. I think it was an 8k thunderridge rig I played through and just two movers for lighting.

[djsteve10]

Around 800 people in Oceana Leeds with a 9k Logic Pa

[nigelwright7557]

On the first disco I worked for we did a venue in a large barn for 600 people.
We only had a couple of 100watt amps but it seemed to be loud enough.

[theoloyla]

1,500 people at the Floral Ballroom in Scarborough in 1968 supporting Chicken Shack and another blues band. I think I had a 100 watt WEM pa in those days and only minimal lighting. It seemed loud enough at the time. Much later I regularly worked at Top Rank Croydon and Empire Leicester Square to audiences of that size.

[robbiedj]

2,200 people in York Hall using 100wt Marshall PA amp and 4 12in Wharfdale speakers. No problems at all.

Theo, those old amps seemed to be louder than these new-fangled ones. :whistle:

[theoloyla]

2,200 people in York Hall using 100wt Marshall PA amp and 4 12in Wharfdale speakers. No problems at all.

Theo, those old amps seemed to be louder than these new-fangled ones. :whistle:
I'm sure you are right!:) Loudness in db's correlated to wattage is exponential anyway; so a 200 watt amp is not twice as loud as a 100 watt etc. I am sure one of the technical types on here will explain.
Also dont forget nobody was used to the power we have now. You only have to look at the amplification the Beatles and others used in the 60's to understand.

[Tom]

I would say for me would be last year at new years eve. Had 650 people squeezed on a medium sized hall and only running 1.6k of audio power. Was a great night. :D:D:D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

The week before Christmas last year I played at Southampton Guildhall for the university christmas ball. There were around 2000 people there. Not sure how big the system was but it was the venue system that they use for bands etc. Plenty of lights too and an awesome night even though I only played an hour's worth of Indie/Alternative.

[501damian501]

yes theo you are right, lets not go into that tech stuff its a sunday :D , The biggest system ive played with was at one of my mates joint 21st, nuffing major, just 6 tops 8 subs and 1 moniter, i also think they were a good 500 -700 people their aswell, if i remember i think it were like 5k of power, but i do know it took an amp rack about the height of me to power the bugger

[DazzyD]

I once did a venue in Wallsend near Newcastle that seemed to be an old theatre upstairs in this big building. The stage was absolutely huge and was layered so an orchestra could easily have played there. I set up the rig right in the middle of the stage. It was a 700w powered mixer running 2 15in 300w speakers. I thought that I'd never be able to fill the room with sound so I set up to play to dancefloor below me (I was about 5ft up of the ground!). I had plenty of 250w light effects so lighting was good.

Just after I'd set up, this band came in (about a 12-piece soul/rhythm and blues band) and asked why I'd set up there. I said that I hadn't been told there was a band on. I moved my rig to the side of the stage and re-positioned the lights and speakers.

I only worked for about an hour that night cos the band ran over time in both their spots but I was still paid full whack and I also got to watch a rather good band who were playing my kind of music. ;)

[spin mobile disco]

Have done 450 in a marque with a 1k rig 4 peavey speakers with matched amps. Last nights was a 250 people gig but looked more as the room was really only about the right size for 200.
Once played to a croud of about 4500 for an open air concert in my home town but as it wasnt my own gear idont really count it as 'my' gig.

[BeerFunk]

Nothing too massive, but the biggest social club I've played has a dancefloor the size of a 5s pitch, with extensive seating areas on two sides of it. I would say I was actually slightly underpowered (400W then, I think), but no-one said anything, so it must have been alright!

[ppentertainments]

My biggest is a twice yearly gig I do for a local dancing school in a town hall. About 600 people each time but the hall can hold 2500 and also has a balcony running round the top. I only use a 1300w system and the last time was asked to turn it down a bit whilst running at 3/4 power. Again will not go into the tech stuff but the higher the watt output does not make as much difference as people think. I also play at large hotels using only a 250w system without any complaints. I once asked at a regular venue if they noticed the difference and they said if anything the smaller system sounded better.

[Javlingames]

My biggest was Birmingham NEC, 5000 people, 4000 were women!! it was for the travel industry. Dj'ed and compered with Graham Norton and Liberty X (sorry about name dropping), the system was simply huge, no idea what it was. It was just a big echoey kind of sound.

Also did Global Gathering, was about 5000 people infront of me, i was booked to play a 60minute Old Skool Set, That was a sherman audio rig, sounded ok.

[JAMdisco]

Wow, this is a huge willy waving thread you've started here :D

My biggest disco was for about 300 people, using Mackie Actives subs & tops at a NYE disco.

My biggest gig was when I was in a rock band, it was a 12 hour rock-fest at the Barbican in York, Tigertailz were the headliners and we kicked it all off at midday. Used a 10K rig which was awesome 18 years ago (ah, them were the days). As we opened, we had the biggest audience (around 5-600) up until around 8pm when the bigger bands went on, not that I saw much of the rest of the gig as I was 'busy' living the proper rock 'n' roll lifestyle - yes all 3 :eek: ;)

Like I said - good 'ol days!

[Sapphire Disco]

Wow, this is a huge willy waving thread you've started here :D



Yes I know, didn't mean it to be cause mines not that big :Embarassed: but if people are honest & stick to the facts it can be interesting and helpful.

[Paul James Promotions]

2500 people total (with dancefloor of about 1000) with 7k of Void

[Javlingames]

2500 people total (with dancefloor of about 1000) with 7k of Void


What do you think to the void stuff? quite a few people are getting it, i know one dj who sold his nexo's to get void.

[Corabar Steve]

I don't know how much of this forum you've actually read, but Jamie is a Void dealer.

[Paul James Promotions]

What do you think to the void stuff? quite a few people are getting it, i know one dj who sold his nexo's to get void.

Wouldn't suprise me. It's all good kit, been a Void user for 4 years. Their customer service is top notch.

[djsteve10]

Wouldn't suprise me. It's all good kit, been a Void user for 4 years. Their customer service is top notch.

What did you use before Void then :P

[Paul James Promotions]

What did you use before Void then :P

Big system: Electrovoice MTL-2 and MTL-4 with SSE Betamax mid/tops run from QSC MX amplifiers

Small system: Bose 802s and Bose 302 run on Crown Macrotech amplifiers

[Javlingames]

I don't know how much of this forum you've actually read, but Jamie is a Void dealer.

Ive read quite a bit and ive never seen he was a void dealer. Sorry for not using the forum search facility.

They seem to be very very powerful, my mates got the 12inch bass bins, 4 of them!! serious sound.

[JAMdisco]

Big system: Electrovoice MTL-2 and MTL-4 with SSE Betamax mid/tops run from QSC MX amplifiers

I thought you would have made the transition to VHS by now :p ;) :D

[davidcormack]

I'm sure you are right!:) Loudness in db's correlated to wattage is exponential anyway; so a 200 watt amp is not twice as loud as a 100 watt etc. I am sure one of the technical types on here will explain.
Also dont forget nobody was used to the power we have now. You only have to look at the amplification the Beatles and others used in the 60's to understand.

for loudness you have to times by 10 to double the volume. ie 1000w will sound twice as loud as 100w