Gig Report - harsh conditions in the real world.

[Chris6870]

Sorry to hear things haven't changed much. When my band was playing the clubs more times than not I could not hear myself at all and played mostly by memory. I remember trying to find a sweet spot where if I stood in just the right spot and turned my head a certain way I could hear somewhat of a decent mix to get me through the show. But then you look like an idiot standing in one spot all night. It got to the point where I said fuck it I have 100 watts and if I need it I'm gonna use it and F the sound man. These were mostly multiple band nights where you have 30 minutes and no sound check and all the bands had the same shitty sound anyway.
I have also seen where a guy rolls in with big gear like you have as opposed to a line 6 spider combo and the soundman is like fuck this guy I'm going to shut him right down.

 

[5150clone]

That does suck, haven't had that problem much down here in San Diego. Most clubs have been pretty good size. Especially the ones that mostly have all original music going on. There has been a couple where it was a struggle to hear myself but like mchn13 i just unplug the mic and turn it up. I have used the plexiglass deals in the past with success. They be a pain to carry around though

 

[ejecta]

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=125926

 

[IndyWS6]

It doesn't look quite as "rock & roll" as a 4x12 in its proper orientation, but early this year I got tired of not being able to hear myself, so I started putting my 4x12, turned sideways, on one of those $20 combo amp stands from Musician's Friend. I usually have it to the side of me pointing right at my head but have even put it directly out front like a (very large) monitor. I can back the volume down and hear myself pretty well that way. The stages we play are pretty unforgiving and with a bottom cab, there is no way I can get far enough away from it to have the speaker cones pointing at my head. It works for me...

 

[jcj]

The overwhelming consensus was that it sounded huge and tight up front and in the back of the hall.
I was relieved to hear lots of applause after each song, it was one of the tougher ones I have played, but I pulled it off the best I could.
I might just have to get a personal monitor. I have a Diezel 1x12 cab loaded with a g12H30. (Thx Shark Diver!)

At these volumes I had to play tonight I could have just had the 1x12 and been done, (will look like shit though)

Sorry to hear you had a tough time with the monitor mix, but it doesn't surprise me that FOH sound was tight.

My son has played there a couple of times, and it's always been a very good mix (out front); one of the better venues (sound wise) I've seen him play.

 

[DeezDemos]

This is exactly why I switched to an Axe-FX FRFR direct to FOH about four years ago.

 

[JTyson]

More often than not, the soundman in a club is basically fucking DJ. He's someone's brother or cousin that works at the bar and knows how to control a few sliders on the mixer. Rarely, at a house gig do you find the soundman that knows jack shit about a monitor mix.

THIS

 

[dpeterson]

Sorry about your experience... but man have I ever been there.

Exactly why i dont let sound guys run my monitors. I have splits and go into my own mixer into my ear wireless. REGARDLESS of what is coming out the mains, my mix is great and i can hear everything I need to perform. I will not ever again ask a sound guy for "more me". I do not trust them.

I love the look on their face when I tell them to take the wedge away.

Dave

 

[EWSEthan]

Unfortunately, this sounds about spot on for 75% percent of the gigs I have played. If you want to hear your rig play at home. If you want others to hear it play out.

 

[LP Freak]

Invest in a 2x12 monitor wedge that points back at you...done.

 

[RockStarNick]

Yeah, unfortunately, this situation is the rule, and not the exception... Especially if you are a non-headlining, original band.

The personal mixer, IEM's are a solution, but in my experience in an original band, playing gigs with 2-4 acts, you have about 10 minutes to set up. 15 if you're lucky.

Unless you bring your own sound dude, seems like a hell of a lot of work to do in a short amount of time.

I guess for me, the biggest lesson I learned, was that no matter how much I prepared, and how great I sounded at the rehearsal studio, I just had to be used to playing in less than optimal conditions.

 

[nevusofota]

Sorry to hear this happened but far from surprised. It's what happens 90% of the time as a supporter. I don't ever judge opening acts because of this. I swear by my slanted vertical 2x12 Carvin live. I keep it directly to my left abou 3 ft away. It's why I never see the point to all these threads debating what 4x12, how many, wdw, etc. It doesn't matter live, especially if you're an opening act.

 

[kiff]

yep, everyone else is saying, this is a common thing these days. Ahh, the 90's were much cooler!

^^ That's why I also have a slanted 2x12 (old mesa/boogie)... but a few years back, after I'd just completed my new boogie rig, finally found the right speakers for the boogie cab, we had a gig and right before we were about to start I noticed the sound guy had unplugged my speaker cab (while the amp was on, but standby) and looped in a DI box. I almost punched the guy I was so pissed! Ended up putting the DI box on the bassist's amp and using the mic he'd put on the fucking bassists amp !@##!@@

Yea, get a 1x12 or 2x12 monitor for sure

 

[Ventura]

The overwhelming consensus was that it sounded huge and tight up front and in the back of the hall.
I was relieved to hear lots of applause after each song...

Dude. Ultimately, this is what it all comes down to, right? Delivering the music to the peeps in the house. Sucks for you guys - the drivers - if you can't hear your own engines or get that vibe that you're used to from rehearsal and stuff; but this is something you'll probably always have to experience and accept. The soundguy is god in his own house. But so long as your music came out perfect to the crowd (maybe not perfect to you, but to the audience), you delivered. And that's the most important thing when playing a gig.

Congrats.

 

[Greg Riley]

True..when it goes, it goes. You just hope for the best and go with it. But do what you can to fix it on the fly. Then seek a better solution for the next gig.

Yeah, unfortunately, this situation is the rule, and not the exception... Especially if you are a non-headlining, original band.

The personal mixer, IEM's are a solution, but in my experience in an original band, playing gigs with 2-4 acts, you have about 10 minutes to set up. 15 if you're lucky.

Unless you bring your own sound dude, seems like a hell of a lot of work to do in a short amount of time.

I guess for me, the biggest lesson I learned, was that no matter how much I prepared, and how great I sounded at the rehearsal studio, I just had to be used to playing in less than optimal conditions.

 

[Greg Riley]

I've been there. Where I couldn't hear myself, or the monitor mix sounded bad..I think to myself.."Man, this gonna sound like crap". Then..someone shows you a video the next day..."Wow, it wasn't that bad after all" relieved kinda thing..But it's always best to have confidence then doubt forsure while your playing.. Because you will think about the whole time, and take it to bed with you sometimes. Or Denny's just won't taste as good after the show

The overwhelming consensus was that it sounded huge and tight up front and in the back of the hall.
I was relieved to hear lots of applause after each song...

Dude. Ultimately, this is what it all comes down to, right? Delivering the music to the peeps in the house. Sucks for you guys - the drivers - if you can't hear your own engines or get that vibe that you're used to from rehearsal and stuff; but this is something you'll probably always have to experience and accept. The soundguy is god in his own house. But so long as your music came out perfect to the crowd (maybe not perfect to you, but to the audience), you delivered. And that's the most important thing when playing a gig.

Congrats.

 

[fek]

Personal monitor is the way to go. I used to keep a Rivera R30 on an amp stand within arms reach as my personal monitor and let the sound guy do what he wanted with mic'ing up the 4X12.

 

[mentoneman]

check the volume setting when you get to practice and see if you can make it work with creative cab placement

im playing today and my dry 4-12 and wet 1-12 are in front of me facing back
not practical from stage sightline perspective but i don't care because i can hear and not be overly loud. low end is your enemy live. diezels have a ton.

 

[LP Freak]

The overwhelming consensus was that it sounded huge and tight up front and in the back of the hall.
I was relieved to hear lots of applause after each song...

Dude. Ultimately, this is what it all comes down to, right? Delivering the music to the peeps in the house. Sucks for you guys - the drivers - if you can't hear your own engines or get that vibe that you're used to from rehearsal and stuff; but this is something you'll probably always have to experience and accept. The soundguy is god in his own house. But so long as your music came out perfect to the crowd (maybe not perfect to you, but to the audience), you delivered. And that's the most important thing when playing a gig.

Congrats.

You're right but the problem is, if you're not feeling it at the time it's being delivered you loose your mojo during the performance. You have no idea what's coming out out front until it's over. By then it's too late.

 

[nevusofota]

No issues with the amps low end. VH4 was surgical. It was just that I couldn't turn it up to the sweet spot. Talk attenuators for live to me..anyone?

Your OP stated that you wanted more of your guitar in the monitors and that all you heard were vocals. This will not be fixed by an attenuator. Yes, your tone will sound fat (phat ), but you still wouldn't have been able to hear it because your overall volume would have been the same in the mix (due to the poor soundman).

If you want to hear your attenuated "sweet spot" amp tone at a low volume your still going to have to do something with the placement of your cab.