I work for 2 bands.One,a 6 piece oldies act which has been togther over 25 years and has a regional following.The other band is an 8 piece act ( 3 horns,guitar,bass keys,drums and vocals )that plays music ranging from Glen Miller to Lady Gaga,to Bon Jovi to Mowtown to Led Zepplin.Both bands have excellent musicians and are great to work with.The oldies band I almost never get complaints about it being too loud while the other act I almost always get at least one request to turn it down and see people leave at the beginning of the show. I have tried to tell the leader of the 8 piece act that the volume,neasured by a db meter is about the same.The difference is the material.Both bands play at Fairs where you mainly have an older crowd.The older crowd is very familiar with the oldies act's tunes," Buddy Holly,Carl Perkins,Elvis, Mitch Ryder,Dion etc.They know and love the tunes.You can see people singing along with almost every song. While the 8 piece act plays a few of those tunes,they always want to start off with something really dynamic ( loud) and many of the songs are unfamiliar to the crowds.While I generally run the levels for both bands about the same,I believe the difference is the music.If they are familiar with the music,they don't mind if it is loud.If they are not familiar with it,then it's too loud.I have done fairs where both bands played one night after each other.The system was deployed the same way,at the same levels but the 8 piece act was too loud while the oldies act's volume was fine.In fact, I often kick up the volume with the oldies act as the night goes on,while I find myself fighting to keep the mix contained with the 8 piece group.It's very frustrating.Kind of like a church I attended for many years.They had a praise band.If the pipe organ was hitting 105db while the old folks were singing " Onward Christian Solders" that was ok,but if the praise band hit 90db it was too loud. Go figure!
