Rants from guitar player about sound guys
- Thread starter Randy Gartner
- Start date
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
John, the rant wasn't aimed at me. The guy played at a club where I own the system. I wasn't mixing that day,but the owner has been cited twice by the LCB for complaints about volume so I assume the owner or manager told him to turn down. I try to get and mostly do get co-operation but sometimes you get the ones who refuse to co-operate. If they're too loud at that club,it's most likely the management won't have them back.
John, the rant wasn't aimed at me. The guy played at a club where I own the system. I wasn't mixing that day,but the owner has been cited twice by the LCB for complaints about volume so I assume the owner or manager told him to turn down. I try to get and mostly do get co-operation but sometimes you get the ones who refuse to co-operate. If they're too loud at that club,it's most likely the management won't have them back.
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
I thought that you were the one ranting. Sorry for the misinterpretation.
I find it funny when the guy who books a series of shows we do in the summertime comes up to me and says “Boy that band is a pain to work with they won’t be coming back”. And this is without me saying anything to him at all. The other thing I find a little funny is it doesn’t matter how good the band is if they don’t go smoothly from one song to another and have to think of what to play or anything that disrupts the flow, they are usually off the list.
What is LCB?
I thought that you were the one ranting. Sorry for the misinterpretation.
I find it funny when the guy who books a series of shows we do in the summertime comes up to me and says “Boy that band is a pain to work with they won’t be coming back”. And this is without me saying anything to him at all. The other thing I find a little funny is it doesn’t matter how good the band is if they don’t go smoothly from one song to another and have to think of what to play or anything that disrupts the flow, they are usually off the list.
What is LCB?
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
Liquor Controlled Bassist
Loud Controlling Bassist
Liquor Control Board
Liquor Controlled Bassist
Loud Controlling Bassist
Liquor Control Board
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
Number 3 Liquor Control Board.It's a Pennsylvania thing. We also have other arcane things like we have to buy our liquor and wine from a "State Store" run by the LCB.We also have beer distributors who only sell cases of beer.6 packes are sold in bars not grocery stores. They tried to change this a few years ago but the unions and the religious groups fought against it.
Number 3 Liquor Control Board.It's a Pennsylvania thing. We also have other arcane things like we have to buy our liquor and wine from a "State Store" run by the LCB.We also have beer distributors who only sell cases of beer.6 packes are sold in bars not grocery stores. They tried to change this a few years ago but the unions and the religious groups fought against it.
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
Hal's Speedy Beverage Drive Thru on Ridge in Philly... shopping for 16 in the band and cast plus crew, they never let us down. I think they're still open.
Hal's Speedy Beverage Drive Thru on Ridge in Philly... shopping for 16 in the band and cast plus crew, they never let us down. I think they're still open.
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
Why does a Liquor Control Board have jurisdiction over sound levels?
Why does a Liquor Control Board have jurisdiction over sound levels?
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
Laws and regulations and who enforces them don’t necessarily make sense, they just are. Sometimes the real question is what actual power do they really have. If they are authorized to shut a place down then you really have to listen.
And then there is the question, is the law or regulation legal? And then what are your options.
It this getting into politics and is that forbidden here? Is this against the regulations/rules?
Laws and regulations and who enforces them don’t necessarily make sense, they just are. Sometimes the real question is what actual power do they really have. If they are authorized to shut a place down then you really have to listen.
And then there is the question, is the law or regulation legal? And then what are your options.
It this getting into politics and is that forbidden here? Is this against the regulations/rules?
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
They don't typically, at least not directly. But the key here is that there were complaints. A venue's liquor license can be revoked if the venue is a disruption to the neighborhood, so a venue that has had complaints in the past usually wants to avoid bothering the neighbors. This often means having to keep noise pollution to a minimum, which means either reducing the amount of sound that leaks out of the venue ($$$) or telling the bands to turn down (free).
They don't typically, at least not directly. But the key here is that there were complaints. A venue's liquor license can be revoked if the venue is a disruption to the neighborhood, so a venue that has had complaints in the past usually wants to avoid bothering the neighbors. This often means having to keep noise pollution to a minimum, which means either reducing the amount of sound that leaks out of the venue ($$$) or telling the bands to turn down (free).
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
Because the place serves alcohol. If you violate their rules,you can lose your liquor license.
Because the place serves alcohol. If you violate their rules,you can lose your liquor license.
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
I'm a sound guy now, but I spent my early 20's touring as a professional guitar player. I can sympathize with both sides. That being said, I love the way my amp sounds (50 watt hand wired marshal plexi) when turned up all the way, it doesn't even start to have 'that' sound until it's at least past half. But, I hate to have that sound blasting the front row of patrons. So, I never face my cab to the crowd. I've even been known to cover the cab and mic with a moving blanket. If you are offending a club owner or soundman, it's becasue you are being offensive - these guys aren't out to get you, they just want to have a comfortable show.
TL : DR Don't be a dick.
I'm a sound guy now, but I spent my early 20's touring as a professional guitar player. I can sympathize with both sides. That being said, I love the way my amp sounds (50 watt hand wired marshal plexi) when turned up all the way, it doesn't even start to have 'that' sound until it's at least past half. But, I hate to have that sound blasting the front row of patrons. So, I never face my cab to the crowd. I've even been known to cover the cab and mic with a moving blanket. If you are offending a club owner or soundman, it's becasue you are being offensive - these guys aren't out to get you, they just want to have a comfortable show.
TL : DR Don't be a dick.
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
Part of being a professional is having the right tools for the job. If you can only get your sound from an amp that's cranked, then you should have amps of an appropriate size for the kinds of venues you're likely to be playing. That may mean owning an 18-watt Marshall in addition to the JMP50. Or even a Fender Champ.
Part of being a professional is having the right tools for the job. If you can only get your sound from an amp that's cranked, then you should have amps of an appropriate size for the kinds of venues you're likely to be playing. That may mean owning an 18-watt Marshall in addition to the JMP50. Or even a Fender Champ.
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
The words "professionalism" and "guitarist" tend to be mutually exclusive. To say what I think of most guitar players would likely render me unemployed so I'll stop here.
The words "professionalism" and "guitarist" tend to be mutually exclusive. To say what I think of most guitar players would likely render me unemployed so I'll stop here.
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
I remember reading somewhere that Eric Clapton used a Fender Champ on the Derek And The Dominos album.
I remember reading somewhere that Eric Clapton used a Fender Champ on the Derek And The Dominos album.
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
Two of my best friends are guitar players, and they are the nicest people I know.
Oh... you meant like, electric guitar. Not classical guitar. Ah.
Two of my best friends are guitar players, and they are the nicest people I know.
Oh... you meant like, electric guitar. Not classical guitar. Ah.
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
Yep, and it was too late to edit it by the time I realized how broad my brush was....
I get to mix some incredibly gifted and delightful acoustic guitarists; it's a shame what can happen to the player when amplifiers and pedals get involved...
Yep, and it was too late to edit it by the time I realized how broad my brush was....
I get to mix some incredibly gifted and delightful acoustic guitarists; it's a shame what can happen to the player when amplifiers and pedals get involved...
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
A few years ago I had small band, lead guy played a very nice Gibson hollow body acoustic electric. He insisted I take his line after his count'em THREE various model Fishman pre amp pedals, yes one feeding the next and so on. What he had coming out of his amp and what I had coming to me sounded like a PA with only the horns turned on and all of them with shattered diaphragms!
It really was that bad all the while he was bragging about his pedals and his tone!
A few years ago I had small band, lead guy played a very nice Gibson hollow body acoustic electric. He insisted I take his line after his count'em THREE various model Fishman pre amp pedals, yes one feeding the next and so on. What he had coming out of his amp and what I had coming to me sounded like a PA with only the horns turned on and all of them with shattered diaphragms!
It really was that bad all the while he was bragging about his pedals and his tone!
Re: Rants from guitar player about sound guys
Some people want to master their instrument and make music, while others just want to play with the toys. Not much different on the other side of the console, really.
Some people want to master their instrument and make music, while others just want to play with the toys. Not much different on the other side of the console, really.
