[Dixielandjazz] sound

[Jim Kashishian]

Lowell mentioned that I/we should all tell a sound guy what we felt was
wrong with the sound at the end of a gig (if we weren't happy).  I can
understand what he is talking about, but of course I have to deal with the
Spanish pride which means accepting criticism is not on.  Anything I could
say would be taken as my being arrogant.  So, in my case, things are
different.
 
This is the way it is (in my case):  3 minutes into the check I know if I'm
going to have good sound.  
First hints of trouble are...
1.  the guy tries to bring your mic up, but only manages to make the drummer
louder!
2.  once he gets the trombone mic up, the horn has a metallic, tube-like
sound!
3.  it seems impossible to lower my horn in my monitor & give me more piano
(might get more bass or drums when asking for more piano!!!)
 
So, it's obvious the guy/girl doesn't know where each mic is on his console,
nor how to route it to a particular monitor, or even how to eq a horn.  No
way am I about to give them signs during the concert.  You can make piano
playing movements with your fingers, and move your hand from below to above,
and you're most likely to get gobs more bass, or the drums disappear
entirely, or goodness knows what!
 
When this happens, we get the sound check over as quickly as possible & go
to dinner.  We later just get through the concert as best as possible.  Our
music & enthusiasm will usually overide all the minus effect of poor sound,
but it's a shame 'cause you know the concert could have been better with
proper support.
 
I, too, prefer the setup that Ross mentioned...my own speakers behind the
band.  In all small areas (like weddings) I use two 300 Watt speakers setup
about even (on each side) with the rhythm section.  I use one mic which goes
into a Lexicon PCM reverb unit, which acts as a mic preamp, and allows me to
add just the right amount of reverb, and to add gain to the overall level.
The output of the Lexicon goes direct into the line input of the
self-powered speakers.  The bass & keyboard use their own small amps & the
drums are acoustic.  
 
This gives the two horns a bit of "help", plus allows the use of mutes.  We
stand a good distance from the mic, and I use it also for announcing &
vocals.  We get a nice balance between the elements quickly.
 
However, 300W will not cover a huge area (about 200 people in a room & much
less area outside is all), so for big concerts we have to rely on what is
given us.  If I am asked, I always suggest one of the best known live sound
companies & these guys have done our band many times.  We have a drawing of
our stage necessities, and a list of requirements, and I always speak with
the engineer by phone before the gig.  (Many times you will find that in
small towns the guy who put in the sound is the cousin of the Mayor of the
town, and you've been hired by city hall!) 
 
I always say that we expect all mics & monitor feeds to be checked out
before we arrive, but as stated before, it is more likely that the mics will
be on stage when we arrive, but the cables will not be in place yet.  So,
they have to do all the "is this mic 1?" business while we wait.
 
By the way, we often get asked by the techies about how to get our CD's.  I
offer the CD's to them at half of the normal cost to the public.  Don't feel
I need to give them away, but this special price is always well accepted.  I
make the same offer whether the sound was good or bad, and never make
mention of how bad things were (if they were)...which I have already said.
But, that is just the market & people I am involved in.  A cash tip to the
good guys would be a huge insult!  
 
By the way, a good compliment to a sound guy is to call him a "monster".
They seem to love that.  "Give a huge applause to the guys doing the
sound...they're MONSTERS!"  (Go figure!)
 
Jim