Re: [Harp-L] What to bring to a jam

["David Brown" <nonidesign@xxxxxxxxx>]

Get there early enough to check the controls on your channel, or bo it
during a break between sets. Leave the volume as is (assuming it is up
enough in the first place) and drop the treb or whatever. No need for a
sound check.
And oh yeah, check to make sure the mute button is off (lesson learned way
back when).

If you sit in regularly with the band ask to come to one of their practices.
You could get familiar with the PA (if it's theirs) and get yourself
dialed-in. Tkae notes and you are good to go for the next gig.

Other than that you are headed towards almost certain doom since
understanding the needs of a harp player seems beyond anyone else's ability
to care.... except us.

On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 6:38 PM, martin oldsberg <martinoldsberg@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

>
>  Here´s a question for those of you who attend jams, or just sit in every
> now and then.
>    Let me give you the context: A while ago I was invited to play on a
> couple of tunes with a jazz band. No big deal, been there, done that, even
> with this same band.
>    I got down to the club for their second set, as agreed, and when time
> was right I stepped up on the stage, which is roughly the size of a signet
> ring. Proceeded to one of two vocal mics, and nodded to the tuba player, who
> was standing closest to the house PA: "Please cut out all treble". He looked
> somewhat bewildered, then turned a knob, which eliminated all volume. "No,
> please, treble." I couldn´t physically without serious altercations get
> through to the board -- it was intensely crowded on the stage -- but of
> course perceived that he hadn´t the faintest what he was doing. "Can you
> turn that first knob back up to where it was?" "Ehh .."
>    At this point some slight commotion from rest of the band, c´mon guys,
> let´s get started.
>    I blew a note and realised that I was at least audible from the speaker
> closest to me, then cut my losses and just played when I was supposed to
> play.
>    Afterwards I received some accolades, "thank you, thank you, very kind",
> but a friend of mine in the audience hinted that I was "a bit low in the
> mix". Which meant really low.
>    Well of course I was, "but you could see for yourself, not a chance to
> do anything about it. Also, this crappy mic was ALL treble, and that´s the
> way -- ah-ha ah-ha -- i DON´T like it."
>    So, what can a poor boy do?
>    Bring my own mic as well?
>    Do you do that?
>    Hanging around for the sound-check could seem like a brilliant idea, but
> in this case meaning I would have to sacrifice my dinner at home + a bunch
> of Margaritas that I was really looking forward to. And for what? Drooling
> at the bar a couple of hours, doing nothing productive, just because I´m
> playing -- for free, mind you -- on a few songs.
>    Bringing your own mic, of a "neutral" type, means that you have to be
> able to get through to the PA, but I could have fitted that in in a pause or
> something.
>    However, this to some extent reduces the beauty of the diatonic
> harmonica: I put two or three in my jacket front pocket, "Ta honey, I´m
> leaving" and I´m all set, no hassle.
>    Of course this is also implies taking a splash into whatever equipment
> there is. There are some not very satisfactory ad hoc measures that I´ve
> tried now and then, pulling a hanky round the mic or whatever, not playing
> cupped on some mics (which I don´t like) etc.
>
>    Any suggestions on a viable strategy for more or less impromptu
> situations?
>
>   Cheers
>   Martin
>
>
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