Mistakes Bands Make

[soundman814]

I have been paying attention checking out area bands for a few months now for possible jobs running sound or to join as a member. Here's some of what I've encountered...just my observations:

1. Lack of enthusiasm especially with smaller crowds. Just going thru the motions, little crowd interaction, no strong frontman. No friends or fans in the audience.

2. Playing out songs that need more practice or too challenging. Band members watching each other, not sure of chords, arrangement, sloppy endings, or doing a Bon Jovi, Journey, Led Zeppelin cover that the singer doesn't do well.

3. Bands with a bad mix or too loud for the situation. One bar asked a band to turn down and the band had an issue with it. The bar got a call from a neighbor who threatened to call the cops.

4. Band members not playing together/overplaying. Lead guitarist always noodling around when it doesn't belong, gets in the way of singer. Bassist playing all over the place, like it's always a solo. Drummer doing fills and off-time tricks during singing or guitar solos.

5. Lack of promotions for shows. I am friends with bands and band members on Rockpage and Facebook. How are you promoting yourself?

NOTE: These represent my opinions/observations and do not apply to all bands. There are many bands that amaze me...Hair Force One, Felix and the Hurricanes, Flight 19, Half-Tempted, Naildriver, The Boomers, some bands at the Jeff Wallach Benefit, and many talented individuals in bands as well. And this is not meant as a put-down. I am all for supporting the scene and each other and will continue to do so because it's still a good time.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[floodcitybrass]

Sounds like just typical beginner band and lack of experience.

Most of it will get better with time.

[Mysterytrain]

Thanks for the heads up and coming forward with your observations. I trust sound guys opinions for sure!

[LHSL]

3. Bands with a bad mix or too loud for the situation. One bar asked a band to turn down and the band had an issue with it. The bar got a call from a neighbor who threatened to call the cops.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

On this one, 99 times out of 100 a case of bad mix, bad EQ or "the wall of sound" effect. A mix where all you hear is the crash cymbal or the lead guitar with a 9 dB boost at 500-2k will piss people off faster. Also suspect are bass cabinets with too much upper bass and low mids.

That said, far far too many musicians buy the biggest baddest guitar amp when a fender blues junior or some 35W amp would do just find. NO one needs a 100W and a 4x12 cabinet to play a bar.

Beginners often confuse tempo, volume, and pitch. Playing faster should not equal playing louder, playing higher, should not equal playing louder. But often, in practice, this is what happens. Fixing that problem requires experience and a good ear or just plain old talent.

Drummers typically sound offensive when they don't realize that a cymbal and a tom-tom do not require the same force to make noise. A lighter touch on cymbals and snare goes a long long way to making a drummer's volume manageable.

All that said, a rock band is going to be a rock band is going to be a rock band. There is a minimum volume that you can successfully play drums, electric guitar, and bass at. That's just the way it is. By in large, if the neighbor complains when the band is 100 dB they will complain when they are 90 dB too, and it is really difficult to shave off 10 dB in most instances. Typically, if someone doesn't like a given type of music, it's always too loud. Personally, I don't want to listen to a soprano opera singer at any volume. But, if the band plays with more dynamics, they will sound less offensive.