Re: [Harp-L] passive agressive sound guys

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I agree with Eric Garcia that it's a good thing to learn the sound tech's name.  I make a point of always talking to the sound tech right away.  I always ask him or her to roll off the bass below 100 Hz and roll off a few dB of the frequencies above 8 kHz.  That comment tends to let the sound tech know that I have certain standards for the sound, and I'm listening.  

In general, the easiest way to avoid a problem when you're on stage is to tell the sound tech what you need, and what the sound tech needs to deal with, before you get on stage.  I usually tell the sound tech briefly what my role in the band is about, which varies depending on the gig.  If the harp is important to the overall sound of the band all the time, not just during solos, I make sure the tech knows it.  If I'm playing amplified, I usually ask the sound tech to think of the harp as if it was an electric guitar, and act accordingly.  On one gig, the band before me had a harp player too--I liked the sound, and I just told the sound tech to do exactly for me what he was doing for the other guy.  Most techs are grateful for that kind of input, because it tells them a lot about what's going to sound best out front--and a good sound tech wants it to sound great out front.  You'd be amazed how many musicians never talk to the sound tech at all--you get a lot of points just by smiling and talking.

If the sound tech is lame, you'll know pretty quickly.  It may be too late to save the gig, but you can always let the people who hired that guy know that he was far below professional grade.  Over time, the good ones tend to last, and the lame ones tend to go away.  It's a very slow process when the sound tech is the only guy within 100 miles who owns a PA, and the venue doesn't really care whether the music sounds like garbage.  But as a rule, professionals--especially professionals in a service industry--tend to have decent people skills, and if you approach the sound tech professionally you get professional results.  

Usually.  Some sound techs, like some guitarists, are beyond redemption.  When you find one of those, do your best not to find him or her again. 

Thanks, Richard Hunter
hunterharp.com
http://www.broadjam.com/rhunter