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Hey,

My band is playing a 300 capacity venue in London next month, however we aren't really sure what the deal is with the equipment we are supplied. We have only ever played in situations where we literally plug in the guitar/bass/mic amp, set up the drums and play however I think maybe this situation may require more.
We consist of Drums, Bass, Guitar and Vocals and probably want backup vocals for the drummer.

The equipment we have is a Pearl Export Kit, 100 Watt Marshal MG100FX Combo guitar amp, one other 40W Guitar amp Combo I'm uncertain the make of (will confirm), a 75Watt Line 6 LowDown Studio 110 Bass Amplifier Combo, (for the moment I think ignore the vocal side as I assume its similar to guitar?)

Now, i've seen pictures of people playing at this venue with Mic'd drums and those speakers that face back at the band (monitors I guess). Assuming we need to do this, I have no idea how to do this.
The equipment the venue supplies are:

FOH Console:
Soundcraft MH2 40 channel mixing desk
1 x QSC RMX 4050
5 x QSC RMX 2450
2 x Martin MX5 system controller
3 x DBX 1231 Graphics 31 band
2 x Roland SRV 3030
1 x Yamaha SPX900 processor
1 x TC Electronics D Two deay with tap
1 x DBX 1046 Quad compressor
1 x BSS DPR 504 quad gate

FOH System:
2 x Martin W8C mid highs
2 x Martin WSX 18″ subs

Monitor System:
5 x Logic Systems W115 wedge monitor

Microphones:
15 x Beyerdynamic mic stands
4 x Shure SM58 Shure Beta 57A
4 x AKG C1000 condenser
4 x Shure PG81 condenser
4 x Senheiser E604 clip on
1 x Shure Beta 52A

Misc:
1 x Denon CD / tape deck
5 x 8 way loom Speakon leads
1 x Van Damme multicore 40/8
8 x LA Audio DI box
1 x Behringer 4 way active DI
30 x XLR leads
15 x Jack / Jack leads

I'm hoping someone here will have experience playing music venues. But I have no idea if we need to split the signal coming from the instruments or something so that it can go into our amps and to their PA system and monitors or what? Or will it do just to have the instruments to our amps and nothing more? or does it go into our amps, out again and to their speakers?

I'm sorry to be so vague but I have no idea what to expect and as it's quite a rookie question I feel uncomfortable asking the venue about it in such detail.

Thanks so much,

Matt

Might help Yogi if you explained where the venue is too... by the off chance someone knows the venue... and perhaps its better to ask this question in the sounds and music thread?

Sorry but for me there is not enough into and my misician partner can not help as my partner is not with the technical aspects...

But I am... if you want to run it through yours just ensure you got loopback sockets to plug theirs into...

Sorry I can not help further...

Yes, usually the guitar amp and bass amp will have a line out (or a jack out) which can simply be plugged straight into the PA for an extra boost in sound levels. However, guitar effects may need routing too.

In my experiance, the further the speakers are apart then tuning in the mics gets easier. If you're in a tight corner then tune the gain right down and turn the mic volume up, then bring the gain up until you start getting feedback, and that's your level. The bass on the graphics will increase the range too for the mics. Also, as soon as you start to add reverb for the vocals then your in trouble again with feedback. Try and get a good singer that doesn't need effects.

Your monitor speakers (if you have more than one) should be spaced apart and just enough for the vocals to hear but not to close to cause mic feedback as they will.

Some venues may have their own setup but don't count on it. I have very rarely used a venues sound system as it will cause havoc with feedback on the mics for vocals.

300 sized venue you definitely will not need to mic up the drums, so you will have channels free on your mixer.

A good tip for the amp side, is to have your amp level on full (or enough to power your speakers) and then bring all the other levels up. Otherwise you will get odd noises over your speakers whilst silent.

I've been on the circuit as a singer for about 10 years and recently sold all my equipment. (I gave it up and regret it so much) My setup was 4x300RMS 15" speakers, peaked around about 1200W a side. A Studiomaster 1208 1200W deskamp. A Peavey 100W powered monitor speaker. 2XShure SM58 mics. I've rigged bands up to my equipment without any problems, sometimes using an extra mixer. Even those that bring small guitar and bass amps.

The PA is the most important section when you play at a venue.

My advice from helping out friends bands.

1. If its worth more than a pencil tag it and carry a list of what's yours. Sign it out and back in then you haven't travelled 50miles to realise the drummers still in bed.

2. Always carry a back up. There will be those gigs where something will brake in the middle like a string or two. Have a backup guitar it can be a piece of crap you use it for one song. The support will have fixed it by the next one. Makes you look good no one notices where as everyone watching you restring a guitar is not much fun.

New batteries in the peddles not fun to hit a pedal and it doesn't work. Have the batteries even if its mains as they can once in a while get kicked out.

3. To do list.

4. Make sure water in easy to open bottle are easy to get places but not in a place where people will trip or spill on to/in to equipment.

5. Have a list of local vendors I can't remember the amount of times the drummer thrown his sticks last gig. The next gig comes out of sticks.

6. Have a friend who listens to the band come and be the sound check. The clubs sound man will not give too cents if you sounding right or not he gets paid to make sure sound comes out.

7. Check everything before you go.

You can tell most of it is stupidly easy stuff advice but its usually the little things that have a huge impact. Think of the problems that will have the biggest impact have a way round them.

I think your best bet is to be honest with the sound engineer when you turn up to set up and sound check.
Tell them this is your first gig playing through a pro system and your a little lost with rigging it up.

They will appreciate the honesty and will more than likely keep you more informed as to what they are doing, while they are setting up,
so that you get some ground info. (if theyre not a total dick. most sound guys are pretty cool so long as you don't piss them off)

*all of the following is information I would have wanted to know before my first pro system gig.*

you will need to bring anything that adds a unique flavour to your sound.

if your sound comes completely from your pedal, don't bring an amp, bring a di box and your pedal.
make sure all of your pedal patches are at sensible volume levels(with sudden changes in volume the engineer can panic and drop your channel)

if your bassist doesn't get a custom sound from his bass rig, leave it at home, bring a di.
-you can eq most peoples sounds, and it will have more punch that he is used to anyway.

they may have di boxes at the venue but you will want to be on the safe side and bring your own. -clearly label them as yours

If you dont have a fancy mike then use the venues. or else - clearly label it as yours

don't bring mic cables they will have heaps.

any cables you do bring, again mark them clearly,(fluro colored tape or something.)
if they all look the same they can get lost and you cant just take one of theirs to even it out, they will not sympathize.

if your drummer has a 1000 piece drum kit and only uses 5 for the set then just bring 5 pieces.
they will have drum mics.

you will more than likely not need mic stands.

*bring a roll of duct tape*
bring an electric tuner, i know they are crap, but your guitars will get out of tune in their cases, with transport and heat changes between sound check and night time,
and when its 5 mins before the gig, you cant hear crap backstage.

if its a low level venue with the house engineer doing the work, chances are your foldback mix will be a split of the front of house mix.

this means your music will sound pretty bad to you but out the front of house it will sound great. use it to hear each other and keep your que's
but dont be disheartened by the mix you are hearing.

i'm sure you already know this but have double the material you need for the time slot, adrenaline can chew through a set list in double time.

as soon as your set is over and the lights go down, start packing up. do not let your gear out of sight for a second.
the assistant engineers will already be up there unpacking everything of theirs, because people steal stuff.
get it all to the van, account for everything and then you can relax and have a few beers.

And be nice to your sound guy.

preferably make friends with one who is into your sort of music and genuinely likes you music, when you have jams, invite him round too,
shout him beers and let him play with your gear. (this will set you up for cheaper recording too )

that's all i can think of for now.

sorry if all this stuff is elementary but like i said, i would have loved to hear this before my first pro system gigs so im sharing it with you.

I've spoken to my guitar teacher and turns out his daughter has played their so he knows a bit.



Yeah, Ok, I'm thinking that what will happen is the bassist will use their amp as they supply the whole thing and Ill use the head from my 100w Marshal to power their cabs for the guitar. We don't generally use ANY pedals and all our sound comes from our amps but I may suggest that we try a few out (e.g. for booting the sound in solos)


I will do this and will also mark all our equip with red tape.



I'm not quite sure what you are saying. Basically what I think is going to happen now is that we will use amps on the stage and we plug our mics into their PA system which is connected to their monitors so we can hear that.

Thanks for all the feedback

Matt