Gigs when you can't turn it up

tubesNtweed

Joined: Sep 07, 2011
Posts: 507

Posted on Dec 21 2012 12:06 AM

I've had one of these tonight. Had the Deluxe Reverb on 2 and was asked to turn down! Decent tone was long gone by the 3rd song. Not like I need to be super loud but come on! Could've easily sang over the drum kit without the mic lol. What happened to the days where people would go see a band and want to feel the vibrations? Very frustrating trying to explain to those who know absolutely nothing of music except listening to it. Makes you wanna just pack up and go but can't have it perfect always, especially when it's paid. I like free gigs at parties or loud bars where we can crank it and if you don't like it, too bad. You're there to see a live band, if the bar wants a quiet iPod background music then why book us?

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tubesNtweed

Joined: Sep 07, 2011
Posts: 507

Posted on Dec 21 2012 12:08 AM

Plus on a Blackface Fender, volume "1" is really off, and "2" is the new "1".

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da-ron

Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
United Kingdom

Posted on Dec 21 2012 01:30 AM

One tip is to turn your amp so it's pointing away from the audience. Can make quite a difference. Pointing it at your drummer can be counter productive though as he'll probably drum louder!

Worth trying, though, before you reach for the volume knob

—

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

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caddady

Joined: Feb 14, 2010
Posts: 802
N.E. Ohio
United States

Posted on Dec 21 2012 08:31 AM

We ran the setup I described in my earlier post last nite. There were a few mods to the set up, the bongos were dropped for an electronic drum setup and we used a small powerd speaker on a stand in place of one of the Acustasonic Jrs ( we had friends come up and sit in doing vocal numbers) . The lead guitar player had control of the mixer. First half of the first set rhythm guitar (me) was nowhere in the mix.
Fixed it and had a good level in a venue the size of a shoe box.

—

http://www.reverbnation.com/thegreasemonkeyz

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Las_Barracudas

Joined: Apr 24, 2011
Posts: 1087
Surf City, NC
United States

Posted on Dec 21 2012 09:03 AM

When soliciting a venue or when they solicit us I try to hit on the volume issue in our discusions, emails, messages.

I forget exactly how I word it right now but I try to convey that while we provide a lively sound we try hard to manage the stage volume. And I have declined offers after talking with managers or visiting a business. I mean it is good to play "low-volume" gigs every so often but it's no fun having to struggle with this issue regularly. It also sometimes adds a lot of undue tension to the gig.

As others have stated there's a lot you can do to manage the stage volume. I to will point the amps away from the patrons, throw a sheet over the amp, more dynamics, lighter attack, etc.

That said, I think there is a point to where you just have to acknowledge that a full band probably isn't in the cards for certain venues. Sometimes you just have to play them to find out and then consider it a one-timer, and there's a few places I just won't solicit anymore for the full band.

It's really great to perform at venues that let you play at optimum band volume though.

—

METEOR IV on reverbnation

Last edited: Dec 21, 2012 09:08:59

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tubesNtweed

Joined: Sep 07, 2011
Posts: 507

Posted on Dec 21 2012 11:37 PM

I'll try pointing the amp at the wall next time. I could've probably gotten by with my Champ 600 no joke. The drummer had an electronic kick but the rest was real drums and cymbals. He used hotrods and played lightly though. The place was a small wine bar, and an acoustic duo would've been more their style rather than a full band. But the place didn't book us, someone was having a b-day party and hired us to play there for them. Ironic since the party was in a seperate room with closed doors and they had music playing in there! I still don't understand why they booked us Should've seen the faces on the cork sniffers when we launched into "Born to be Wild" haha, we did that one on purpose since you could hear a pin drop and we were bored out of our minds

Last edited: Dec 21, 2012 23:38:37

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CrazyAces

Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4052
Nashville, TN.
3 News Pins

Posted on Dec 22 2012 11:06 AM

I turn my amp a bit to the side a lot and it works great, can still run it at it's sweet spot but not kill the audience or scare the sound person.
I did a symphony show a few years back and had a Deluxe Reverb reissue on 1.5, any lower would have been off and the sound man was still telling me I was too loud, LOL. He came up and asked if I could turn down and I told him no, the next step down was off. I was onstage directly in front of the full grand piano and could not hear myself at all. Good thing I knew the parts/music well. People hear with their eyes, a lot. Electric guitar = trouble!

—

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

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psychonaut

Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 1303
2 Download Pins

Posted on Dec 22 2012 11:29 AM

I won't play in places where you can't play loud. It's very simple; Rock and Roll is supposed to be loud. It's just not the same at lounge levels. What we do really tends to suffer if we can't play it at the requisite volume, so there is no point in playing in that case -- So we just save everybody a lot of hassles and headaches, and avoid places where volume is an issue.

—

https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger
http://coffindaggers.com/
http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com

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Las_Barracudas

Joined: Apr 24, 2011
Posts: 1087
Surf City, NC
United States

Posted on Dec 22 2012 11:36 AM

psychonaut wrote:

I won't play in places where you can't play loud. It's very simple; Rock and Roll is supposed to be loud. It's just not the same at lounge levels. What we do really tends to suffer if we can't play it at the requisite volume, so there is no point in playing in that case -- So we just save everybody a lot of hassles and headaches, and avoid places where volume is an issue.

Thing is volume is subjective. What's not loud to you might be to somebody else. But I see your point and sometimes it is best to just pass on a gig and avoid the bs.

—

METEOR IV on reverbnation

Top

rickvox

Joined: Jul 13, 2012
Posts: 82

Posted on Jan 01 2013 11:47 AM

Hi ,I often run into this thing at the places I play so my solution was to find the do it all amp. I play Summerfest a huge outdoor concert festivals in Milwaukee WI , State fair and small restaurant gigs with the same amp and get my sound at all places. The key is the Fender Deluxe VM amp . The Deluxe VM is 40 tube watts with reverb tape eco simulater and Chorus which can be set for a rotating speaker sound . The thing that makes this amp work at all levels of volume is the fact that it is 40 tube watts so for the outdoor festivals I play on the clean channel usually about 7 1/2 for outdoor volume. Now for really small soft volume gigs I set the gain on the dirty channel at right before 2 and the volume at maybe 6-7 It sounds like a deluxe reverb that is really working the tubes(that sweet sound)Clean but just a trace of hair on it ,put on some reverb you still sound great even at playing a restaurant volume. This amp totally works for me so I don't care what the reviewers say on the on line forums. Try this amp if you are looking for a solution to the volume problem for your gigs!

Top

tubesNtweed Joined: Sep 07, 2011 Posts: 507	Posted on Dec 21 2012 12:06 AM I've had one of these tonight. Had the Deluxe Reverb on 2 and was asked to turn down! Decent tone was long gone by the 3rd song. Not like I need to be super loud but come on! Could've easily sang over the drum kit without the mic lol. What happened to the days where people would go see a band and want to feel the vibrations? Very frustrating trying to explain to those who know absolutely nothing of music except listening to it. Makes you wanna just pack up and go but can't have it perfect always, especially when it's paid. I like free gigs at parties or loud bars where we can crank it and if you don't like it, too bad. You're there to see a live band, if the bar wants a quiet iPod background music then why book us? Top
tubesNtweed Joined: Sep 07, 2011 Posts: 507	Posted on Dec 21 2012 12:08 AM Plus on a Blackface Fender, volume "1" is really off, and "2" is the new "1". Top
da-ron Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK.	Posted on Dec 21 2012 01:30 AM One tip is to turn your amp so it's pointing away from the audience. Can make quite a difference. Pointing it at your drummer can be counter productive though as he'll probably drum louder! Worth trying, though, before you reach for the volume knob — http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Top
caddady Joined: Feb 14, 2010 Posts: 802 N.E. Ohio	Posted on Dec 21 2012 08:31 AM We ran the setup I described in my earlier post last nite. There were a few mods to the set up, the bongos were dropped for an electronic drum setup and we used a small powerd speaker on a stand in place of one of the Acustasonic Jrs ( we had friends come up and sit in doing vocal numbers) . The lead guitar player had control of the mixer. First half of the first set rhythm guitar (me) was nowhere in the mix. Fixed it and had a good level in a venue the size of a shoe box. — http://www.reverbnation.com/thegreasemonkeyz Top
Las_Barracudas Joined: Apr 24, 2011 Posts: 1087 Surf City, NC	Posted on Dec 21 2012 09:03 AM When soliciting a venue or when they solicit us I try to hit on the volume issue in our discusions, emails, messages. I forget exactly how I word it right now but I try to convey that while we provide a lively sound we try hard to manage the stage volume. And I have declined offers after talking with managers or visiting a business. I mean it is good to play "low-volume" gigs every so often but it's no fun having to struggle with this issue regularly. It also sometimes adds a lot of undue tension to the gig. As others have stated there's a lot you can do to manage the stage volume. I to will point the amps away from the patrons, throw a sheet over the amp, more dynamics, lighter attack, etc. That said, I think there is a point to where you just have to acknowledge that a full band probably isn't in the cards for certain venues. Sometimes you just have to play them to find out and then consider it a one-timer, and there's a few places I just won't solicit anymore for the full band. It's really great to perform at venues that let you play at optimum band volume though. — METEOR IV on reverbnation Last edited: Dec 21, 2012 09:08:59 Top
tubesNtweed Joined: Sep 07, 2011 Posts: 507	Posted on Dec 21 2012 11:37 PM I'll try pointing the amp at the wall next time. I could've probably gotten by with my Champ 600 no joke. The drummer had an electronic kick but the rest was real drums and cymbals. He used hotrods and played lightly though. The place was a small wine bar, and an acoustic duo would've been more their style rather than a full band. But the place didn't book us, someone was having a b-day party and hired us to play there for them. Ironic since the party was in a seperate room with closed doors and they had music playing in there! I still don't understand why they booked us Should've seen the faces on the cork sniffers when we launched into "Born to be Wild" haha, we did that one on purpose since you could hear a pin drop and we were bored out of our minds Last edited: Dec 21, 2012 23:38:37 Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4052 Nashville, TN.	Posted on Dec 22 2012 11:06 AM I turn my amp a bit to the side a lot and it works great, can still run it at it's sweet spot but not kill the audience or scare the sound person. I did a symphony show a few years back and had a Deluxe Reverb reissue on 1.5, any lower would have been off and the sound man was still telling me I was too loud, LOL. He came up and asked if I could turn down and I told him no, the next step down was off. I was onstage directly in front of the full grand piano and could not hear myself at all. Good thing I knew the parts/music well. People hear with their eyes, a lot. Electric guitar = trouble! — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top
psychonaut Joined: Dec 08, 2007 Posts: 1303	Posted on Dec 22 2012 11:29 AM I won't play in places where you can't play loud. It's very simple; Rock and Roll is supposed to be loud. It's just not the same at lounge levels. What we do really tends to suffer if we can't play it at the requisite volume, so there is no point in playing in that case -- So we just save everybody a lot of hassles and headaches, and avoid places where volume is an issue. — https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger http://coffindaggers.com/ http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com Top
Las_Barracudas Joined: Apr 24, 2011 Posts: 1087 Surf City, NC	Posted on Dec 22 2012 11:36 AM psychonaut wrote: I won't play in places where you can't play loud. It's very simple; Rock and Roll is supposed to be loud. It's just not the same at lounge levels. What we do really tends to suffer if we can't play it at the requisite volume, so there is no point in playing in that case -- So we just save everybody a lot of hassles and headaches, and avoid places where volume is an issue. Thing is volume is subjective. What's not loud to you might be to somebody else. But I see your point and sometimes it is best to just pass on a gig and avoid the bs. — METEOR IV on reverbnation Top
rickvox Joined: Jul 13, 2012 Posts: 82	Posted on Jan 01 2013 11:47 AM Hi ,I often run into this thing at the places I play so my solution was to find the do it all amp. I play Summerfest a huge outdoor concert festivals in Milwaukee WI , State fair and small restaurant gigs with the same amp and get my sound at all places. The key is the Fender Deluxe VM amp . The Deluxe VM is 40 tube watts with reverb tape eco simulater and Chorus which can be set for a rotating speaker sound . The thing that makes this amp work at all levels of volume is the fact that it is 40 tube watts so for the outdoor festivals I play on the clean channel usually about 7 1/2 for outdoor volume. Now for really small soft volume gigs I set the gain on the dirty channel at right before 2 and the volume at maybe 6-7 It sounds like a deluxe reverb that is really working the tubes(that sweet sound)Clean but just a trace of hair on it ,put on some reverb you still sound great even at playing a restaurant volume. This amp totally works for me so I don't care what the reviewers say on the on line forums. Try this amp if you are looking for a solution to the volume problem for your gigs! Top

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Gigs when you can't turn it up