Kneel Before The Minstrels

[Bell Banjos]

I'd like to add to the list of "Gigs gone wrong."

Saturday, my son, dad, and I were invited to play a benefit - just a short set. We brought the fiddle, concertina, and a couple Bouchers I just finished.

We were in the wings of the stage watching the previous musicians pack up. It was a rare occasion that we had a soundman!! It was a nice P.A.  I asked him how many mics he had. He said 5. Pefect. I asked him how many mic stands he had. None.

For whatever reason - none.

We said, well, let's play. Soundman number two crawled out on stage holding 2 mics in his hands, kneeling before us. Oh man.

 

I got home and re-read the invitaion...

"If you require music stands, please bring your own."

 

In the future, I guess I certainly will be using my own "Music stands."

[Silas Tackitt]

The warning to bring your own duct tape was on the invitation, too.

[Trapdoor2]

Test first, lesson after...

 

After struggling thru a couple of Coffee-house gigs, I finally broke down and bought my own stand, mic and cable. The ones the coffeeshop had were worn, dented, patched, etc., and often broke down or simply sounded lousy. Now I simply set up and toss the sound guy the end of my mic cable. I did learn to mark my stuff too...after the house sound guy tried to keep my stuff.

 

I never understood the need for a PA in a coffeeshop anyway. A banjo shouldn't need one!

[Tim Twiss]

Only when they place you next to the expresso machine..ha ha

Trapdoor2 said:

Test first, lesson after...

 

After struggling thru a couple of Coffee-house gigs, I finally broke down and bought my own stand, mic and cable. The ones the coffeeshop had were worn, dented, patched, etc., and often broke down or simply sounded lousy. Now I simply set up and toss the sound guy the end of my mic cable. I did learn to mark my stuff too...after the house sound guy tried to keep my stuff.

 

I never understood the need for a PA in a coffeeshop anyway. A banjo shouldn't need one!

[John Masciale]

I use two mics when I have to amplify myself, one for banjo and one for vocal. I have found that a base drum mic stand works perfectly as a banjo mic stand (when I'm seated).  If I have to amplify, I prefer mics to a pickup, unless I am playing with modern instrumentation.  Modern instrumentation is so loud that the mic picks up everything else, in addition to the banjo.  I get better separation in that case with a pickup.