Shakermaker Promotions
01-06-2009, 09:32 AM
Hi all,
Wasn't sure how to title this thread but having just read another one about the manager moaning about the volume of a Disco because the guests were all outside and needed to hear the music, it got me thinking.
There are different situations that we all come across week in, week out and it occured to me that most of the situations, difficulties I could potentially come across...I could overcome them and get something sorted.
For example: Last year I did a wedding and at one point in the evening, the guests all left the room and went out on to the grounds where they let off chinese laterns into the air. I knew this was happening in advance so it wasn't a problem but what I didn't know (I was asked on the night) was that they wanted me to play 'Rule the World' by Take That as the lanterns were being let off. As I said, I was asked on the night and I just said "Give me 10 minutes. If you can delay it then I can do it for you". The Bride and Groom were happy that I went out of my way to do it for them. Where the guests were was about 50m away from the room so I went to the van and got my Active DB Techs out and connected a whole bunch of mic leads togeather so that the speakers were right where they needed them. It worked well.
Now, I couldn't have done this if I didn't carry my Actives as backup or if I didn't have 20 odd mic leads etc...
Another time I was doing a 40th birthday in a marquee in the grounds of a pub around 50 miles away from my house. I couldn't get to see the marquee in advance but I was told that it was only about 20m away from the pub. When I turned up it was more than double that distance but I was covered easily because I had a couple of 50m JCB Heavy Duty extention leads. Never had to use them before but that was the first time. They aren't cheap but they sit in the van and they came in handy.
What I am asking is...Can you overcome most things that maybe thrown at you by surprise? Do you carry back up equipment, tools etc that could help you do this? I am a bit of a worry guts so I take stuff along that maybe I don't need and yes, it's a pain in the backside loading the van with stuff that 99% of the time you may not need but I would rather be safe in the knowledge that (a) I am covered and (b) If I am asked to do something then I look professional when I say "Yes, no problem" rather than "Erm..not sure if I can do that as I don't have the leads,speakers etc".
With the weather like it is at the moment, being able to move speakers about etc due to people being outside may be the 'norm for a while?
Another reason for posting this topic was because on saturday I played with a couple of EBM bands (That's Electronic Body Music for anyone that isn't familiar with the genre). The whole event was organised by someone that was honest when he said "I haven't done anything like this before"...This was evident when the 'PA' bloke turned up. I put 'PA' in inverted comma's because he was the worst I've ever come across. 300 Capacity venue, it was about 75% full and he turns up with a pair of JBL Eon's and 2 monitors that looked like they were 'Nigel jobs' (no offence mate). The sound was terrible, levels all wrong, loads of feedback and not enough volume either. EBM music needs to be in your face and meaty and this PA had no bottom end at all. The 'PA' bloke asked if he could use my speakers too as he had seen them in my van when I was unloading and I wasn't happy about that so I said no. He also asked me if I had any mic leads because half of his weren't working properly and when one of the bands asked if they could have a radio mic...he didn't have one. It was embarassing really. Luckily the gig went really well and the bands were excellent and best of all, I've been asked to do more stuff but the 'PA' bloke was a shining example of someone not being able to deal with any obstacles that appeared and also couldn't accomodate for what was needed.
Apologies for the long post but hopefully you can see where I am coming from. Let us know what you think.
Wasn't sure how to title this thread but having just read another one about the manager moaning about the volume of a Disco because the guests were all outside and needed to hear the music, it got me thinking.
There are different situations that we all come across week in, week out and it occured to me that most of the situations, difficulties I could potentially come across...I could overcome them and get something sorted.
For example: Last year I did a wedding and at one point in the evening, the guests all left the room and went out on to the grounds where they let off chinese laterns into the air. I knew this was happening in advance so it wasn't a problem but what I didn't know (I was asked on the night) was that they wanted me to play 'Rule the World' by Take That as the lanterns were being let off. As I said, I was asked on the night and I just said "Give me 10 minutes. If you can delay it then I can do it for you". The Bride and Groom were happy that I went out of my way to do it for them. Where the guests were was about 50m away from the room so I went to the van and got my Active DB Techs out and connected a whole bunch of mic leads togeather so that the speakers were right where they needed them. It worked well.
Now, I couldn't have done this if I didn't carry my Actives as backup or if I didn't have 20 odd mic leads etc...
Another time I was doing a 40th birthday in a marquee in the grounds of a pub around 50 miles away from my house. I couldn't get to see the marquee in advance but I was told that it was only about 20m away from the pub. When I turned up it was more than double that distance but I was covered easily because I had a couple of 50m JCB Heavy Duty extention leads. Never had to use them before but that was the first time. They aren't cheap but they sit in the van and they came in handy.
What I am asking is...Can you overcome most things that maybe thrown at you by surprise? Do you carry back up equipment, tools etc that could help you do this? I am a bit of a worry guts so I take stuff along that maybe I don't need and yes, it's a pain in the backside loading the van with stuff that 99% of the time you may not need but I would rather be safe in the knowledge that (a) I am covered and (b) If I am asked to do something then I look professional when I say "Yes, no problem" rather than "Erm..not sure if I can do that as I don't have the leads,speakers etc".
With the weather like it is at the moment, being able to move speakers about etc due to people being outside may be the 'norm for a while?
Another reason for posting this topic was because on saturday I played with a couple of EBM bands (That's Electronic Body Music for anyone that isn't familiar with the genre). The whole event was organised by someone that was honest when he said "I haven't done anything like this before"...This was evident when the 'PA' bloke turned up. I put 'PA' in inverted comma's because he was the worst I've ever come across. 300 Capacity venue, it was about 75% full and he turns up with a pair of JBL Eon's and 2 monitors that looked like they were 'Nigel jobs' (no offence mate). The sound was terrible, levels all wrong, loads of feedback and not enough volume either. EBM music needs to be in your face and meaty and this PA had no bottom end at all. The 'PA' bloke asked if he could use my speakers too as he had seen them in my van when I was unloading and I wasn't happy about that so I said no. He also asked me if I had any mic leads because half of his weren't working properly and when one of the bands asked if they could have a radio mic...he didn't have one. It was embarassing really. Luckily the gig went really well and the bands were excellent and best of all, I've been asked to do more stuff but the 'PA' bloke was a shining example of someone not being able to deal with any obstacles that appeared and also couldn't accomodate for what was needed.
Apologies for the long post but hopefully you can see where I am coming from. Let us know what you think.