RE: [Harp-L] small amp, big venue?



Since Cheryl Renee will be recording her live CD that night, I assume
that there will be ample microphones available going into the mixer/PA,
depending on the quality of the recording, and the method used. Usually,
when recording live, every instrument will be miced and mixed in order
to get the proper balance on the recording. Since you will more than
likely be miced into the mixer, then by default, into the PA, you should
have no trouble with being heard in the audience.

For stage volume/monitoring, I would suggest having the sound board
operator completely kill, or at least significantly reduce your signal
in the MONITOR SEND of the channel you're plugged into. Your Princeton
should give you adequate stage volume for self-monitoring. Plus, being
an open-back design, the sound will exit the amp cabinet in an
"omni-directional" manner, letting most everyone on the stage hear you
well enough without going through the monitor system.

If the person or crew doing the recording is worth their salt, you
should have no problems. In fact, it may be one of the best gigs you've
ever played, from a sound standpoint. Note I said IF the sound
person/crew is worth their salt. Reason being, when recording live,
sound levels are usually reduced on stage, letting the mixer and PA
perform the mixing and amplification chores. The audience still hears
everything, but the stage volume is (should be) usually a lot less,
because you are not relying on the "stage mix" (playing the amps
"free-air", without micing into the PA) to produce enough volume for the
entire venue; merely enough to get the tone and level right.

As far as feedback goes: If everyone is miced, and the stage volume is
at a reasonable level, there should be no problem. Perhaps even less of
a problem than you normally encounter when playing your usual gigs using
the "stage mix" method.

All-in-all, you will probably be pleasantly surprised by the whole
experience. If Cheryl Renee is a regional artist, she knows (or has
hired those who know) the recording process. I predict it will come off
without a hitch.

The only advice I could give is to anticipate every scenario and prepare
for it. If you have access to another amp, bring it. Bring an extra harp
mic, extension chord, power strip, etc. 
Also, bring an SM57 and cable for micing your amp. Sometimes the mixer
has more than enough channels, but there aren't enough mics to go
around. Or worse yet, the sound crew will invariably save the oldest,
cheapest, off-brand vocal mic to put on the harp amp. I always bring my
SM57 for situations such as that. Especially if I know the gig is being
recorded! It's your tone. Do all YOU can to insure that it's good. And
lastly, keep your stuff clearly labeled for easy ID at tear-down time.
Grab your SM57, cords, power strip and whatnot immediately after the
last song, and put them in your gig bag. There's plenty of time for
talking and socializing later. Take a couple minutes early-on to insure
that all of your things go home in your bag, and not with someone else.
It's not usually theft that worries me, it is the very tired, perhaps
intoxicated people tearing down the stage who just start grabbing mics
and wrapping cords without realizing that they belong to someone else.
Honest mistake, but costly nonetheless.

Good luck, and let the List know how it turns out,

John Balding
Tallahassee, FL



-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of 46long Blake
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2007 8:37 AM
To: HARP!
Subject: [Harp-L] small amp, big venue?

This is one of those "Be careful what you ask for" moments.

A regional Blues musician, Cheryl Renee, has lately been hiring me for
her
Cincinnati shows. It's flattering, and an honor for me to play with such
a
fun group of pros. Well, now she's hired me to play an out of town gig
at
the Key Palace Theater in Redkey, Indiana - apparently quite the
happening
Blues joint - you actually have to *buy* tickets to see a show there.
AND
she specifically asked me to join her as she will be recording her live
CD
that night.  It's a really exciting opportunity for me, and again I'm
flattered and honored.

So what's the problem? I've been playing in exclusively small bars /
clubs /
coffeehouses for a long time now. My only amp (which I love) is a '62
Princeton. I worry that it might not be enough amp for the gig. No line
out.  I don't know the size of the room, but from the website it would
appear to be a 250 seat theater with bar area behind it. It's not a huge
venue, obviously, but bigger than anything I've used the amp in. So, if
this
is my only amp, what approach should I take so I can hear myself, be
heard,
and not feed back (I haven't had to worry about feedback for years now -
I
forget the on-stage rules). Should I look to borrow a beefier amp?

Thanks in advance, and wish me luck!

 - Blake

-- 
Blake Taylor
http://46long.com
http://www.myspace.com/46long
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