I typically SE for local cover bands in your typical bar of typically no more than a capacity of about 200-250. I do have a few regular bands and sometimes I pick up a couple new groups along the way. Well, the bassist from one of my regular bands has joined a band that is quite possibly 'up and coming'. This band is from a small town about 1 hour north of me. They have a couple CD's out, have had some radio play, did some tours with the likes of Chris Daughtry and Candlebox. They were scheduled to play the local bar in town where they started this past Saturday and were in the need of sound. The bassist called me and we sealed the deal. He asked that I be at the venue by 4:00, the bar was closing between 4:00 and 7:00 for setup and soundcheck. I arrive, and start loading in, and the band arrives right behind me. We chit chat and they ask me lots of questions, and inform me about their setup etc. I told them to do what they normally do, and I should be able to accommodate, and if there are any issues we'll correct them during soundcheck. The setup and leave the stage promptly and without much ear bleeding 'warm up' that often accompanies set up. Wow, kind of nice.
I get my gear set, play a CD, and they promptly arrive on stage. I do a level check, we talk about monitors (just vocals) and they play a couple songs. Everything sounds great, very little tweeking needed, didn't even have to adjust monitors. Earlier during setup, one mentioned "you know when you're in trouble when the SE says, fuck it, we'll just go with that," I had been dying to say that to them the whole time
I must have forgot. They play through a few more tunes, and I mostly just listened, no real changes, so far so good.7:00 - They tell me they're leaving, be back later, I ask what time they plan on starting, I hear one of the say last time they started at 11:00.
Shit, I gotta hang out and DJ for 4 hours. Oh well, hope I'm still sober when they start.Doors open, and the line at the door flows in, by 7:45 ther is not an empty seat in the house, by 8:45 there is hardly an empty 1/2 sq ft to stand, holy crap this place is packed. The band shows up about 9:00 and begin to socialize, I'm still playing music. I have been dreading going to the bathroom because it's on the opposite side of the already over capacity bar, but I better go soon, about this time the drummer comes up and says we'll be on the stage when this song ends.
I make a run for it and probably almost insinuate a riot plowing through the crowd. I make it back with about 20 seconds to spare, band takes the stage, it's party time. Crowd goes wild, band is great, smooth night.12:00 - I'm on stage wrapping cables, tearing down, kind of sucks cause the crowd is still huge. Anyhow, I'm kneeling down pulling cables when the drummer taps on my shoulder, I turn my head and look at him and ask "Whats up?"
He stands there and says "Stand up."
Now I'm thinking, the show went great, wtf, is he gonna knock me out or something? So I stand up and turn towards him and he gives me this great big hug! Now I'm really thinking WTF!
He tells me so many people were blown away by the sound, and that they have never heard them sound so good, and the whole band was so happy with how easy I was to work with.
I have been hearing this comment alot lately, but never before I started running BFD FOH speakers. I don't think I'm a hack regarding SE, but DR's and Titans sure do make my job alot easier to do well. If you look up "top" in a thesaurus you'll see words like Crest, Crown, Apex, Eminence (ironic isn't it?) but BFD should be added as well. Sorry to hog your forum, but I feel like giving a big thanks every time I get overwhelming compliments about the amazing sound. You can tell a difference between when people are just complementing you to be nice, and people that are truly blown away. Maybe I should give a big thanks to my competition as well!
Bill, either you're a genius or the sound reinforcement designers/manufactures has gone complacent. I'm leaning for the former.
