Hassles from event staff

LHSL · Post by **LHSL** » Sunday Jul 10, 2011

So I'm sure we've all done different events where there is some staff member that gives you a hassle or two. "put this speaker here" "don't put your stuff here" "You have too much gear" "your band *looks* loud."

I've learned to just avoid these people if at all possible, cause I believe I'm fairly professional and I care as much about aesthetics as a sound guy can. I also don't try to make peoples' ears bleed.

How do you handle it?

onegunguitar · Post by **onegunguitar** » Sunday Jul 10, 2011

Hahaha,"your band looks loud" Must have been to a NailDriver show,we don't only look loud,we are!! LOL,it's not uncommon for someone to tell us how loud we are,but after all,it is rock n roll!!!!

Drum-Wolf · Post by **Drum-Wolf** » Monday Jul 11, 2011

Just a comment...a month or so ago we played a club in Johnstown & somebody said as we were loading in, "You guys got more equipment than Pink Floyd!" I thought that this was hilarious so I told them, hey, this is just the first of it (referring to our gear), we're still waiting for the tractor-trailer to get here! LOL

floodcitybrass · Post by **floodcitybrass** » Monday Jul 11, 2011

They assume that every case, rack, trunk, bag, box, mixer, etc is a loud noise producing speaker.

floodcitybrass · Post by **floodcitybrass** » Monday Jul 11, 2011

moxham123 · Post by **moxham123** » Monday Jul 11, 2011

I was just saying to somebody yesterday that have you noticed that the people who complain that it's too loud and they want to talk to the people they are sitting with always sit right in front of the speakers instead of moving.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Monday Jul 11, 2011

There was a hysterical link to one of those movies people create with the ironic sounding voices making fun of a pain in the ass wedding planner.

Jasaoke · Post by **Jasaoke** » Wednesday Jul 13, 2011

One of my favorite mid-job come-back phrases is "I'm not done yet". This works well in many situations. It seems no matter what you're doing, somebody will come by when you're half-way done and critique your incomplete work. Well, I ain't done, yet. Other than that, unless they're the person signing your check, you politely tell them that this is the service you were hired to provide.

I once had a kid come up to the desk during soundcheck and tell me that "it needs more tone"... ?

stratobastard27 · Post by **stratobastard27** » Wednesday Jul 13, 2011

My entire system puts out somewhere in the neighborhood of 2500 watts. No, I did not forget a zero.

I own a relatively low powered system, and it is mmore than enough for most small to medium clubs. Just last week, we were hired by a local restaurant to play outdoors for them. This is the system we used... the previously stated 2500 watts feeding 2 single 18 subs, 2 single 15 + horn tops jumped together with 2 more single 12 + horn tops. That's it. For an outdoor event. In which we were set up literally under the freeway bridge. So this meager system, trying (pathetically) to fill sound to a crowd of about 400, not to mention the fact that the restaurant did not charge a cover, and there were still at least 15 volume complaints from old bastards. You knew it was a rock and roll band... not Frank Sinatra. You did not pay a nickel for your evening's entertainment. And you are still bitching? I hate people. Lol

TheSilvaOne · Post by **TheSilvaOne** » Wednesday Jul 13, 2011

NailDriver is LOUD........but its a GOOD loud! (turn it up??)