[Harp-L] passive agressive sound guys

[fjm <mktspot@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I just played an hour long semi acoustic gig.  Outdoors at the local 
street fair.  I arrived with my small 4 watt amplifier, a rack mount 
effects unit and a 545 SD.  He was shocked.  He assumed I'd be using a 
vocal mic through the P.A.  I declined and firmly insisted that he 
simply mic the amplifier.  I also said I didn't want to be in the 
monitor mix.  He nixed that idea straight away but decided I was serious 
about the amp being mic'd.  We played the gig, the sound was dreadful 
and we had terrible feedback for half a set.  None of it was from the 
mic in front of my amp.  After we finished he gave me this long lecture 
regarding using a DI box and a compressor from now on and how the 
feedback was all out fault.  Now I watched the band before us and the 
band after us.  They had feedback problems too.  It does make me want to 
get a Harp Commander for those times I want to travel light and not deal 
with sound personnel.  I really cannot recall seeing a band live in the 
last decade where each and every amplifier on the stage was mic'd.  I've 
personally never had a feedback issue mic'ing my amplifier.  A very odd 
experience.  He stood next to the stage the entire gig telling his 
assistant how the bad sound was all out fault.  Funny guy.  So who's the 
customer here?  The band and the venue or the sound person?  fjm