Re: [Harp-L] Playing through vocal mics- a case for using your own rig

["Cara Cooke" <cyberharp@xxxxxxxxx>]

Something to remember: When you are "sitting in", you already relegate
yourself to their will and set up.  If they wish to take a few moments to
set you up with your own mic, great; but don't expect that everyone will or
will be able to.  After all, it is their show, not yours.  If, for example,
you were to visit one of our shows, you would have no choice but to use a
vocal mic, since I use a vocal mic when I play harmonica and we have an
acoustic set up which must be specifically balanced against the use of a
harmonica mic or an amp.  Everything we have runs through the board.
However, if it is pre-arranged that you would bring your equipment and join
the show in a planned fashion, then you would tune in your equipment when we
tune in ours and your stuff would be ready for you.

Cara


On 2/19/06, ChipComcast <jandkday@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Sam-
>
> A similar experiance befell me and I should have known better.
> At a recent Delaware Blues Society gig they had an 'all-star' jam at the
> end
> and I was asked up with Lonnie Sheilds & a local guitar whiz.
> Earlier the president asked the last band to leave their harp man's rig.
> He SAID he was leaving.  I found myself with a vocal mike that was hot,
> trying to compete with a loud funky guitar jam...yikes!
> All I could do was staccato type hand wahs . When my 24 came up,
> I motioned the band to drop WAY down.. but alas! Maybe they thought
> I was braceing myself from falling over.
>
> Just smile & get off fast, the blues is a rough & tumble world and in the
> future
> I will access the situation better.
>
> Jday
>
> PS. The harp man had lied to me and brought his rig back up
> for the big finish! haha talk about "the brotherhood of the iron!"
>
> live & learn...
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "samblancato" <samblancato@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 11:26 AM
> Subject: [Harp-L] Playing through vocal mics- a case for using your own
> rig
>
>
> > Hey Folks,
> >
> >
> >
> > Thought I'd share this bad experience with you as an object lesson in
> when
> > step down from playing even when you really want to.  The other night I
> went
> > to sit in with a local blues band that I often sit in with - Willy Tri
> And
> > The Bluescasters.  Willy plays through a Super Reverb and switches to
> guitar
> > through that same amp in his second set.  So if I come late and I want
> to
> > sit in, it has to be through a vocal mic through the board.  This mic
> goes
> > through speakers that are set way forward so that I can't really hear
> > myself.  There's only one monitor but since I'm standing directly over
> it
> > and all the sound blows past my feet.  The end result is I'm playing my
> > lungs out but can only hear three fourths of what I play and faintly at
> > that.  How did I sound?  I'm not sure but I'm betting I sounded like
> crap.
> > I couldn't hear the ends of my notes or the beginnings of any
> transitions
> > from draw to blow.  The lesson here is that when an opportunity presents
> > itself for playing it pays to carefully consider weather that situation
> will
> > allow you to be your best and if it doesn't, you should skip it.  I hat
> > sounding like crap, especially with a band with a first rate harp
> player.
> > Having your own rig is ALWAYS better; even if it's not the greatest rig
> in
> > the world.  At least you can control it and hear what you're playing.
> >
> >
> >
> > Sam Blancato, Pittsburgh
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
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