[Dixielandjazz] Real Life vs. what typically happens

[GWW174 at aol.com]

Phil
 
Bet you never seen musicians play the game "musical mikes" - a game similar 
to musical chairs.  In real life what usually happens is the old band stays and 
stays on stage... signs autographs... and visits with fans and the new band 
is rushed setting up.... the new musucians always move mikes around or pick one 
that is already at a convieniet height..looks 'pretty', etc. .. and during 
the first numer a good sound tech is listening on headphones trying to identify 
'who's on first' and marking the console.  Frankly it's great that all OKOM 
music starts out ensemble with everyone doing their thing musically.  Second 
number or during the end of the first number the sound tech is now listening for 
balance in the house.  Then come the monitors.  Obviously not being on stage 
near a monitor speaker, the sound tech has to rely on input from the 
musucians..It's not always obvious  If you are the first band out the gate in the 
festival you will have it tougher with the monitors without some time for a good 
sound check.  Usually be the second or third  set the monitors are pretty well 
set and only minor adjustments are required for specific musicians.
 
Gordon
 
As n FYI, Jim Fitagerald of Vegas' Sorta Dixie jazz band was one group that 
did it right.  They had a combination of harmonizing vocals with their 
instrumental work and would spend a few minutes before each set checking each and 
every microphone level in the monitor system. 
 
Banu Gibson is also wonderful to work with.  Both Jim or Banu would ask for 
alittle more of a particular  mike in this specific  monitor speaker and 
continue to make some noise (Banu's famous vocal BEEP....... beepppppp....BOPP vocal 
sounds) while bringing up the level of the microphone in the partidcular 
monitor speaker..  It was always a plesure working with them.
 
Gordon



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