Talent vs Technology

[Joe Parker]

I attended a free concert last nite featuring Alan Bibey and Blueridge,Aubrey Haynie,Brian Sutton and friends,and J.D.Crowe and the New South. I was primed for an evening of stellar music and free to boot. Unfortunately,the sound engineer could not seem to get anything right and turned what should have been a memorable show into a train wreck. I felt bad for all the musicians and applaud everyone of them for being professional in spite of the circumstances. BTW,Bibey played his signature model on 3 or 4 tunes and then broke out his Loar for the rest of the nite. He sat in with Aubrey and Bryan for their entire set and played some pretty amazing and inspired breaks. Even though the sound system was so bad,his Loar cut right through everything. Check 1,2,3... A back woods bluegrass report.

JPP

[Albert Whiting]

i was also there. a good friend of mine filled in with crowe on the last set. if you think the sound was bad for blueridge and haynie and friends man did it hit an all time low with crowe. i would say that this particular sound guy won't be back hopefully.

[levin4now]

alan bibey is going to be an instructor at the kaufman kamp I'm going to next week. Is he good? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I am excited about meeting him. Hopefully, SOME thing will rub off on me during that week!

[Scotti Adams]

..oh...he will do in a pinch http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Willie]

JPP...My band play on a festival a few years back and the sound was so terrible that I kept asking for adjustments and the sound man just sat there and ignored my suggestions so the next band on was Melvin Goins and he could hear from the stage wings what was going on and when he took the stage he told the sound folks to either get it right or he would send his sound man out there and adjust things the way he wanted them. When we came on for our second set we couldn`t have asked for any better sound then we had for that set....A sound man will either make you or break you, ask Doyle and Sonny and Bob......Good post ... Willie http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[JDARTGOD]

JPP,

Was this the Universal Chevrolet show in Cleveland? I was at the North Georgia BG Fest last year and Gene Daniels put out the best damn sound package I've ever heard. He'll be back for this year's show too (9 - 11 July) I can't imagine Gene's name was tied to the trainwreck you mention. Must've been a freebie sound guy.

Anytime I've had the "pleasure" of dealing with totally incompetent sound people, it ends up being they are country or rock sound people and have NO IDEA what acoustic instruments are supposed to sound like!!

Too bad, the bands you mention are among my favorites. Hopefully see ya in July. I'm staying at Jenny's Creek campground, a few miles north of Cleveland.

[Joe Parker]

JDARTGOD-Yes,it was at Universal and no,it was not Gene.I've known Gene since the 70's and he is very consistently good when he does the sound at local festivals. My guess is that it was someone free or cheap and ,as you say,probably not familiar with using instrument mics in an outdoor setting. I'm looking forward to the festival in July and getting a chance to jam with my new Master Model. I notice you hang out at the Martin site as well.I'm looking for an early 50's D28(preferably a '52). Pm me if you have any info in that direction.Maybe we'll run into each other at the festival-it should be a good one.

JPP

[jim simpson]

Willie,
I saw Melvin Goins on a bill with Ralph Stanley. The sound man was having a tough time trying to get the sound right and it was going on too long. Melvin came out and took over. It was awsome, in no time the band sounded good with just minor corrections for Ralph's group as well as for Melvin's. That evening I got to see a real professional wearing several hats and they all fit really well!
Jim

[OdnamNool]

It would be my guess that the "sound guy" was doing the best that he could, and I think it's not very nice for you all to be so critical...

It would be my guess that the "sound guy" was doing the best that he could, and I think it's not very nice for you all to be so critical...

If you are doing something for pay, you have to meet the minimum standards or expect to be criticized or fired. #The initial post was about a free concert but some of the followups have been about pay concerts. #With the prices at some festivals/concerts, I don't think I should have to suffer through bad sound just because the sound guy was doing his best. #Plus, at the "free" concert series here in my area, the county and corporate sponsors pay the performers and crew so the free isn't really an excuse. #

If you are talking about a friendly volunteer thing, tolerance of beginners should be the rule.

[JDARTGOD]

Didn't mean to sound critical of anyone doing "the best they can". I've dealt with them type also and they usually welcome help from the bands or more experienced sound people with no egos bruised or feelings hurt.

No offense intended, and pardon me for saying it, but either you haven't dealt with someone like this or you are someone like this to post such a defensive statement...(....doing the best he can....)

The others I refer to are, for the most part, from the "holier than thou" , "I'm a sound GOD" school and can't be given ANY kind of constructive criticism or suggestions. They are very self involved most of the time and don't even like you looking at their "stuff".

It's HARD to believe, with such a great lineup as the freebie concert mentioned in the opening thread, that something could'nt have been done to help him/her out. I know there's a ton of players/sound guys in the Cleveland GA area.

Sound guys definitely make or break a concert, period. That's why ALOT of band's are travelling with their own sound personnel these days. It takes that factor out of the equation, plus they have "insider" knowledge on their particular group's level/EQ requirements.

Gene Daniels' crew shares their board with any group who has a dedicated sound guy with them. He certainly does a SUPERIOR job at the Festivals he runs sound for.

[OdnamNool]

I guess I just assume that all folks do "the best they can." Don't they? Probably just me with my blinders on... as usual... I simply read those critical words about "sound people", and thought to myself... "Geeze"

I thought that anyone involved in music would always be striving for the best possible results...

I should not have "posted" here at all...and I appoligise... I know nothing about this stuff... And very little about bluegrass! Don't even know why I visited this "bluegrass" section! I guess it's because I wish I knew more about it...

OdamNool- Disagreement without rudeness is what makes this board a place to learn. #And, just because I disagreed doesn't mean I'm right, just means I'm part of the discussion. #

But to answer your question a lot of people do the minimum they can get by with. #People have different levels of comittment. #Some are willing to do the best they can with two hours of practice a week and some are willing to do the best they can with two hours of practice a day.

[JDARTGOD]

Hang around ODNAMNOOL, I learn something new everytime I visit any of the topic sections.

If Bluegrass is calling, and you're starting to get interested......watch out. When the bug bites, you'll know it!!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif