[Dixielandjazz] Sound

[Stephen G Barbone]

> "Stan Brager" <sbrager at verizon.net> wrote (about sound techs)
>
> What happens all too often is that the sound guy is bored because he's
> working a job which is not terribly difficult and, more importantly,  
> he
> doesn't really care for the music.

Let me stick up for the sound guys here in the Philadelphia area. Most  
of the time I use my own sound system, however we do about 10-15 gigs  
a year in public venues where professional sound technicians are  
hired, and/or work full time for the venues.

Just about all of them are very professional. They mike us as we  
request, and they are very cooperative. Most of all, they get it  
right. We discuss how the music should sound in advance and  I go out  
to the board during the first number to listen to the band sound with  
them.

Some of the wonderful pros here are "Clear Sound" who work with us  
outdoors in Philadelphia PA or Wilmington DE a couple of times a year,  
the folks hired by the borough of West Chester PA who do likewise and  
the wonderful sound crew that works permanently at Longwood Gardens in  
Kennett Square PA, who sometimes assist us at other public park  
venues. They do over 200 performances a year with various musical acts.

We've only been disappointed once in the past 5 years with sound  
crews. At a venue which unfortunately was also filmed by a fan and put  
on You Tube. He posted the first number which was horribly miked.  
Basically because the crew sent some substitute techs because their  
main guys were working a major  Rock Concert at the same time in the  
Philadelphia stadium. Later songs were corrected after I stayed by the  
neophyte tech and the board until he got it right.

IMO, if the sound crews are lacking at other's events, I suspect it is  
because the venues are not using highly trained professionals for one  
reason or another.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband