new builder / old tek

[BWS]

Hello, Ken Here from BWS Productions in Nebraska. I am 44 years old and have been involved in production sound for 20 years now. Have sold off our old 16 outdoor large peavey cabs 8 x 415 and 8 x 3020. Sold all the power also. Have wanted to make a change for sometime, finally found a cab or cabs I like. The Titans and the DR s. I am so tired over the years with my (brand is better than you brand) BS in the sound world. Can someone with live sound experiance tell me what to expect with riders and how to get around them with custom cabs. The no peavey clause has always been trouble in the rider world since the dawn of caveman rock, but oviously custom cabs Like Bills are starting to get some sneakthru on riders. Any tricks or experiances that can help me after I build 8 x48s and 8 x flown dr s to get managers to agree or atleast hear me out? Thanks in advance

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Any tricks or experiances that can help me after I build 8 x48s and 8 x flown dr s to get managers to agree or atleast hear me out? Thanks in advance

Put grilles on them so no one can see what's in them and when asked what they are reply 'custom made'.

[Les Webb]

What Bill said. And never use the words homebuilt/homebrew, diy, or self built. Give numbers in spl. Use phrases like "custom designed and built; like Dave rat and the Clair Bros do".

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Use phrases like "custom designed and built; like Dave rat and the Clair Bros do".

And 'line array' of course, which puts you a leg up against most of the competition right there.

[Tim A]

I like the term "proprietary designs".

[BWS]

Bill, First off, I am proud to have felt your passion in these cabs, Finally someone said what needed to be said in the 80s. Your design is excellent. Corp America audio is a joke. Wanna sound good, pay us !! Dont get me wrong, lab testing takes funds, but screwing the folks that put food on your table will not be tolarated any longer. You have showed us how to buck the system. And like any other revolution, after time, it is the followed by the masses. Great job! I am proud to put your name on your cabs I am building

[DJPhatman]

Can someone with live sound experience tell me what to expect with riders and how to get around them with custom cabs. The no Peavey clause has always been trouble in the rider world since the dawn of caveman rock, but obviously custom cabs Like Bills are starting to get some sneak thru on riders. Any tricks or experiences that can help me after I build 8 x48s and 8 x flown Dr s to get managers to agree or at least hear me out?

All you can do is be honest and upfront. At negotiation/bid time, explain that you strive for the best possible sound, and after extensive testing, you acquired a proprietary design that measures up to EAW, JBL and others. If they insist on big-name, commercial cabinets in the rider, there is usually nothing you can do to change their minds. Almost all national A-list and quite a few B-list acts have automatic "no custom cabinets" clauses in their riders. Many specify specific brands, and even model numbers! All you can do is build a name for yourself, doing smaller jobs until you are well known as an outstanding sound provider.

[Tom]

If they need a brand, EMINENCE should do it for them.

EMINENCE LOADED CUSTOM-DESIGNED LINE ARRAYS.

[Chris_Allen]

Routing the name into them adds a little more class as well

[Mikey]

If Bill's notariety keeps snowballing, you may not have to worry about riders in a few years.

"OHHH, you have a Fitzmaurice system! You've got the job, my friend!".

Until then, in the immortal words of Mr. Fitzmaurice, "Bullshit".

[djtecthreat]

I have some custom tops, and while I don't do any national acts, I've worked with riders asking for no "Behringer, Peavey, Etc..) for speakers, or in the racks.

I put a piece of black tape over the behringer logo on my DCX2496, because just last month at a gig I had a snooper looking in my rack at what brands I'm running. DBX and Rane, but I also have the B-brand DCX right at the top which is processing the signal from EVERY other piece in the system.

I agree that some equipment doesn't belong in the pro world, but these speakers we use are tested, true, and out perform most "PROFESSIONAL" sound equipment.


As far as speakers, I just brush off questions for people that can make serious decisions. "Are those EAW?" "They're custom designed and produced and they out-spec the comparing EAW product by a long shot on paper, and in listening tests."


I have a friend that has many non-brand cabs, and to conform to a rider he put "EAW" badges on all the cabs. They never knew the difference, and how should they?

[BWS]

Mr Allen, Very nice work, Thanks for the tip. Others as well, Thankyou for the input and I will take these ideas into consideration when playing the rider game. Maybe if I give them the tubesocks or deli tray in advance, They wont notice the custom builds.

[Dave Non-Zero]

I say 'they are Fitmaurice Cabs - havnt you heard of them? (with a puzzled look on my face)'

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

How soon they forget... Clair Bros and Rat Sound, amongst others, once used what were considered 'DIY' cabs. They never had to deal with rider issues, they were hired on the basis of their reputations as pros who provided good sound. OTOH I've heard many the top of the line rig that sounded like crap because the owner of the rig was clueless. The best names have always built their reps based on how well they did the job, not on what they did it with.

[Ron K]

Clairs still use all proprietary cabs and monitors.Most all their amps are in house modded and even some manufactures make amps with special Clair Mods available only to Clairs. It's now possible to purchase Clair gear right from them if you so desire.Since purchasing ShowCo (ok to save face they call it a merger!) they have split into two divisions. Live and Install! They also have operations around the Globe. My Buddy works for Clairs in Switzerland! I hear the Nashville office is quite nice as well. Haven't been to that one yet.

Live they still do most stuff old school style but no doubt in the digital age with new digital gear.For installs they will use a variety of Clairs ,JBL,Crown,Appogee etc to get the job done.I've seen a few of their installs and they are for the most part pristine! They even will supply techs to train operators!

The largest most successful touring sound co. in the world started with DYI and still remains DIY to this day! They never lied or misrepresented their gear. They simply built their reputation one gig at a time. You can do the exact same thing.

If a job requires an air tight rider to be met then rent if it's feasible. A lot of times promoters or band managers will bend on riders if you explain exactly what you have and show confidence in the fact that it will get the job done in a professional manner. Not always but you will run into it.

Anyone wanna buy some Roy boxes? JK no PMS please!

If anyone's interested!

http://www.clair-audio.com/

http://clairglobal.com/news/

Actually great folks too. You can drop buy any of their shops and talk "shop" with them as long as you pick up a tool and help! For you young guys wanting to break in the industry drop them a resume. They will hire based on experience and education!