Re: [Harp-L] Super Loud Bands

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On May 8, 2009, at 8:00 PM, sam blancato wrote:

> Hi Folks,
>
> First off playing too loud serves the same purposes in music  
> performance
> that talking too loud does in spoken communication.

You must be a teacher.

>   Music is a language and performance is a way of using that  
> language.  Most of the times I hear
> somebody get loud their message suffers for it in that it usually  
> means that
> loudness is taking the places of better chosen words
>
> Oh yeah, and it covers a lot of mistakes too, as well as damaging most
> peoples hearing.
>
> Sam Blancato, Pittsburgh
First scenario. When I play at the Harborside in Marinatown, it's an  
open air sports bar and the band is exceptionally loud. So much so  
that although there is a 10 pm noise curfew, we have had to back off  
to playing from 6:30 till 9:30 instead of 7 till 10..BECAUSE as soon  
as we may go over a few minutes on the last tune because we are not  
slaves to time, sure enough the residents of the high rise condos  
across the lagoon from the marina will be on the phone to the cops,  
the mayor, the national guard, and the north west royal mounted.

The keyboard/B3 player is the culprit and while he also plays bass  
with his left hand, he keeps insisting that he can't hear the drums.  
(the drums are miked). The drummer, meanwhile insists that he can't  
hear the bass. Then the guitar player can't hear HIMSELF...and makes  
mistakes. Luckily, 'I' am working by rote and don't make these  
mistakes..BUT, I have to play too loud and while I may acquiesce with  
diatonics, I don't like that with chromos. And, I can't use very many  
nuances. We have an abundance of sax players always around and they  
literally blow their brains out.


Second scenario. When I play at the Roadhouse OR Lighthouse, we are  
talking supper clubs here. The  volume has to be commensurate with  
people on a sojurn and talking at normal levels. Neither the baby  
grand nor the drums have to be mikes. The upright bass is just right  
and with me on a mike, there are only 4 of us playing. EVERYTHING I  
do can be clearly heard, and I can 'milk' the tunes. This has  
advantages (better tips) AND disadvantages (naked sound). If I make a  
mistake, everyone in the place can tell. On the other hand, I get  
compliments at those places BECAUSE they can hear what I am trying to  
say with the harp. This doesn't happen in the first scenario. If  
horns sit in they're not allowed to use my mike. Owner's orders.

Conclusion? The crowd is starting to drop off at scenario #1. Volume  
should fit the scenario.. but STILL shouldn't be over 1,ooo  
Roentgens.  lolol

Joe Leone   (Pittsburgh/Punta Gorda)