Re: ----- I suck, I tell you, I suck. ------

[Mike Curtis <wd6ehr@xxxxxxxxxx>]

<Bad experience with mic feedback and lousy monitors mercifully deleted>

Don't feel bad.  I'm sure every one of us who has ever sat in with a 
strange band (take that as you will :-) has gone through exactly the same 
experience.  So take your tail out from between your legs and cheer up.

Assuming you want a fat "Cross harp bluesy" sound, here are a few tricks 
I use for jamming on an unknown PA:

1. Ask them to turn the treble completely off your mic.  Also, make sure 
   it has plenty of bass.

2. Ask them to set the volume to 1/2 to 2/3rd its former setting. When
   you cup the mic, you'll destroy its directional characteristics, and it's 
   almost guaranteed to feed back if it's on the threshold (which is the 
   case with most loud bands.)  It's better if they turn it up, rather than
   first blowing out everyones hearing with feedback.

3. If you don't have a monitor close by, walk out more in front of the 
   stage where you can hear yourself.

4. Cup that harp as tightly into the microphone as possible.  You can get 
   as much as 10 times the power by doing this!  If you feel like you're 
   moving the skin on your hands when you're blowing and drawing, you've 
   got it cupped tightly enough.  If not, hold on to that harp and mic 
   tighter.  Remember - the tighter you cup it, the MORE sound you FORCE 
   into the mic, and the LESS feedback you allow in.

5. If they're REAL loud, you really should ask them nicely if they can 
   turn down - but don't be surprised if they don't :-)

6. And of course, TEST things FIRST.

Sometimes you'll be called up in the middle of a song.  I n this case, 
you well may have to play "acoustically", using your hands and a small 
opening in them pointed at the face of the mic.  You can actually touch 
this to the mic face without disturbing the cardioid pattern, which is 
formed mostly with the sides and rear of the mic head.

And if you get feedback, don't let it get to you.  Just hold the mic 
further back and play.  It will sound more trebly like this, and you'll 
have more trouble hearing yourself unless they have a monitor close by, 
but the audience will hear you.  When doing this, I'll often take one 
hand, put its heel in front of my harp, and bring the fingers around to my 
ear - much as a singer will do to hear him/herself.

If you start the song off with harp, this will often keep the band from 
playing too loudly.  But it's not foolproof.

Charlie Mingus used to say "If you can't hear the singer, you're playing 
too loud".  And of course this also goes for harmonica, saxophone, flute, 
or whatever is handling melody.  But it's just like being hit by an 18 
wheeler - you may be right, but you're also dead.

Sometimes you can get the band to turn down by playing softly and moving 
your hand, palm down, from shoulder level to the floor while gesturing 
"shhhh" with your finger on your lips.  when you do this, they expect 
something soft, sensuous, and steamy, so give it to 'em!

In spite of the best techniques, you're still going to run into that spot 
where nothing works.  When that happens, just put the mic back in the 
stand and play the most foolproof chord comps you know.


 -- mike