What Would you Expect to Pay

HBSPro · Post by **HBSPro** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

You are Putting on a show or left in charge to find Production for your Band to Include Sound and Lights. You ask Friends or other band Members for Advise or who they are Currently out on the Road with. Even check out the Pa Musican For ads. Ok So you get A Couple numbers or Even check out a few Local Shows. You Start to Enquire Makeing a few Phone calls or or Talking to Someone you have never Spoke with Before. One on One. your Looking for good Gear Because you guys want to sound the best Possible for the Evening. and Hopefully someone that knows how to run it. So when it comes right down to it what are you looking for and what do you think you should expect to Pay.

SpellboundByMetal · Post by **SpellboundByMetal** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

you must have services, huh?
what if i said i expected it to be free?

cruseaudio · Post by **cruseaudio** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

SBM what exactly are you tryin to say here? And also Where do you keep your Grammies?

cruseaudio · Post by **cruseaudio** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

Sound guys DO stick together more than bands. FACT!!!!

Old sayin from Dennis Conrad ( retired) Don't worry Doug Look at it this way, Bands break up and we will always be here!!

Calms me down everytime I think of it.

SpellboundByMetal · Post by **SpellboundByMetal** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

of course i know sound costs! i dont seriously expect it to be free. i just dont know why he couldnt just say "HEY I HAVE A SOUND AND LIGHT BUSINESS.." instead of beating around the bush. you gotta go out and GRAB 'EM !!! if he does have a business, he needs to list what he uses and prices ....you know...important stuff like that. the customer shouldnt have to ask any basic questions. i dont need a soundguy, but im sure someone does.

oh yeah, and the grammy....IF i ever get one...which i probably will not...ill keep it in the shitter to humble myself

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

Personally I wish there we more in house systems, it just makes sense to leave a rig set up in a venue.

SpellboundByMetal · Post by **SpellboundByMetal** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

sure does! ....but that would....MAKE SENSE

nightcrawler_steve · Post by **nightcrawler_steve** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

tonefight wrote:Personally I wish there we more in house systems, it just makes sense to leave a rig set up in a venue.

Gotta love State College and Philly for that!

orangekick · Post by **orangekick** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

tonefight wrote:Personally I wish there we more in house systems, it just makes sense to leave a rig set up in a venue.

Preach on brother. You wouldn't believe how many times we've had to borrow a PA because someplace we were scheduled to play didn't have anything.

HBSPro · Post by **HBSPro** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

Yes We do Offer Services. As well as others on here do Also. But to List it Would Take all day So its Just Nice to hear what you guys are Paying and what your Getting for Your dollar. I think Doug From Cruse Audio Would Agree. But also Try Being on our End when we give you the Price and the Phone hits the Floor. Because most want all for nothing.

Yea Doug ( I Also Agree with Dennis ) thanks for the Reply

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

The reason the phone drops is because the sound co. quote is usually about the same as what the clubs are offering a newer band. It's a tough game on either end.

I prefer to stick with the small places for this reason

cruseaudio · Post by **cruseaudio** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

A new band looking for work is like a new sound company spending 20,000.00 on a rig

You obviously do not make all of your investment back from the first couple of shows do you?

The NEW band's investment IS to pay what it takes to make the show the best it can possably be, because it is the only way to insure a profit in the future. And not making ANY real money doesn't ever change for the bands who decided to slack on production.

This is not an opinion but a fact.

Look at bands like green eggs, giants, and any band named after some kinda cheese products. These bands ALWAYS have a crowd and they ALWAYS (even when they first started) had great production, and yet some guys can't understand this simple concept

If you have a better product you will do better than the competition
Something that everyone who lives in a capitolist culture should understand.

Not tryin to make waves but just trying to show that unless you treat your band like a biz, it will probably never turn into a long term investment for you. This is coming from a guy who plays in a band also so I can only tell you what works for me and all the other successful folks out there doin it. What you choose to do only affects me by making my clientel look better almost insuring their profits. And the little guy who doesn't understand that life doesn't bend to you, but in fact you have to learn how to work within a system of established facts to get ahead, will almost always remain the little guy.

Now I am not telling you that you NEED production, I can only tell you that the chances of gettin somewhere in this business are greatly increased when you invest into your product

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

It's simply a numbers game. Look at how much money you have to pay for production, how much you want to be carrying when you walk out of the club, and then choose the right engineer for you.

We hire a number of production companies for a number of reasons. Sometimes it's a price issue; other times it's because the engineer is local to the area; still other times, it may be for "political" reasons.

Always hire an engineer with good gear. There's a reason why pro-level soundmen have Crowns in their racks and EAWs as their mains instead of Pyle amps and Beheringer mains. But the most important asset that a soundman can have is his (or her, if you want to be politically correct) ear. Ritchie Johnson always says that he's just learning the ropes of running sound, but he's one of the best engineers around, IMHO. The reason is because he has such a great ear.

onegunguitar · Post by **onegunguitar** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

The old sound guy from Aldo's,Billy(don't know his last name)man,he could make a band sound incredible,imo.Ritchie Johnson does a damn good job also.There are some good sound guys in this area,Dan at Aldo's has got a pretty good handle on it too.So,on behalf of One Gun Salute,a big THANKS to the guys behind the boards who help make us sound good,we appreciate it!!

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

Sound guys are a necessary evil. There were times where I've played to a decent crowd and left with nothing, because it all went to sound. With IN, we had our own sound guy, which we payed 100 bucks a show. Then we would rent sound for 400....right there is 500 a show! We'd get 500 bucks for playing and, what did the band get? Nothing! That really sucks when you are a band trying to earn some money. Sometimes you gotta bend over and take it. OR, if you are smart, you'll do like The Hurricanes and have a little PA that does the trick because you don't need a huge production. They are great with what they do and they don't have to pay for sound.

HBSPro · Post by **HBSPro** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

It seems we are getting a bit off track here if you can play the gig with a small Pa you can put in the back of a ( pinto ) thats great or if thats the reason your playing really small clubs. but those carry along Pa Systems will not do Pellies, 4 dees , Wild Wood. Electric Ave , or the Valley inn I was looking for responces for the bit bigger clubs.

Thanks for the Replys

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

Yeah Rob, thanks

Most of our clubs dont require a big PA but there have been rooms where we tried with ours and it didnt work out so well. Bigger venues we would call Brian Mcconnell for sound. HSB, i dont remeber you but that may be when John was drumming for the canes. But then i probably do and am senile!

HBSPro · Post by **HBSPro** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

thanks felix for the reply yes it was back when John MCknight was still drumming for you guys and i thik Billy Newsom was playing bass Nice to hear from you .

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

HBSPro wrote:thanks felix for the reply yes it was back when John MCknight was still drumming for you guys and i thik Billy Newsom was playing bass Nice to hear from you .

Yea, that's Bobby Watters..not Felix

ASB10 · Post by **ASB10** » Thursday Feb 02, 2006

The soundmen replying to this topic are right on the head. Great bands get that way, not only because they are talented musicians and entertainers, but also because they have competent and quality sound companies behind them, who don't always get enough credit.
For years we (Third Standard) did our own sound, or played at house sound gigs. Finally, I got pissed and sold the entire PA after one shitty night. We now contract through a brilliant sound company, Laurel Highland Sound and Lights, and they do a stellar production each and every time, no matter the room.
Having a quality stage show can and will set your aband apart from the crowd. Also the benefits of not having to haul or worry about gear is priceless in my mind, although I am sure some take great pride in doing their own sound.
Sound guys deserve a fair fee for a good show. Yes...they will generally make more than the individual members of the band, depending on how much you make, but we have made that up by playing some venues who have quality in-house sound, and making a killing those nights (State College is lovely for that...make $800-1200 per night and not have to pay for sound, but alway be sure to tip the sound guy a little extra)

What I am saying is that sound guys can make or break you, so pick a quality company and pay them a fair fee.....it works well for everyone....

Jones · Post by **Jones** » Thursday Feb 02, 2006

Small PA set up has been the answer for us. One of the guys bought powered Carvin cabs, 2 18's, and 2 15 horn loaded. Easy to set up, and holy shit, plenty of head room, even in the bigger rooms. I wouldn't hesitate to do Wildwood or the other big rooms mentioned with it. In fact we have done some big rooms with it and it's plenty.
However given the chance, I'd rent good production in a heartbeat just so I don't have to be bothered with set up, tear down, and the head aches that go with being ultimately responsible for the band sounding good.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Thursday Feb 02, 2006

Jones wrote:Small PA set up has been the answer for us. One of the guys bought powered Carvin cabs, 2 18's, and 2 15 horn loaded. Easy to set up, and holy shit, plenty of head room, even in the bigger rooms. I wouldn't hesitate to do Wildwood or the other big rooms mentioned with it. In fact we have done some big rooms with it and it's plenty.
However given the chance, I'd rent good production in a heartbeat just so I don't have to be bothered with set up, tear down, and the head aches that go with being ultimately responsible for the band sounding good.

That sounds like a cool deal! The self-powered stuff seems pretty cool. We use a sound guy that uses the self-powered Mackie stuff. We've talked about doing the Wildwood, but we won't take a chance on the door when we have to pay a production company.

cruseaudio · Post by **cruseaudio** » Thursday Feb 02, 2006

I would just like to let everyone know that cruse audio has a wide range of affordable selfe-powered speakers and subs for the do-it-your-selfer

Shameless promotion

Jones · Post by **Jones** » Thursday Feb 02, 2006

if you're going to get into Wildwood, do it soon. my understanding is that Tam sold it and only has a few open dates before she's done. Rumor has it next owner is not having bands.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Thursday Feb 02, 2006

cruseaudio wrote:Look at bands like green eggs, giants, and any band named after some kinda cheese products. These bands ALWAYS have a crowd

This is only because they suck it up and play nothing but commercial party & dance music that no self-respecting band of musicians would play...Why do you think they use the cheesy names? Ask them! They'll tell you! Cheesy names for cheesy music!

And that's why I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.