BillFitzmaurice.info

Just as the title says, here's the situation:

I'm very much thrilled with my current setup (compared to previous) for our acoustic duo/trio/four piece (sometimes more), especially with the new board and eq (got an XLS1500 on the way, from the bay).

I'll just suffice to say that even though we do gigs that don't require us to bring our sound equipment, I'd rather. The next gig that we're scheduled for I was paid to run sound the other year (which I gave them on the cheap to plant the seed for future events) has "rented equipment" and "no sound man". So much for trying to plant seeds.

I've seen, and heard their Yamaha powered mixer and 15" mains (no monitors) which they rent. My friends that played through it at the last event sounded like crap (and they usually sound good).

Note: I used to enjoy when we didn't have to bring our own stuff, and just plug in.

Actually, I just want to show up and use our stuff, and let them rent their own stuff on their own whether we use it or not. I'll probably just run with it and not "make waves", but doesn't mean I'll have to like it.

Why do I feel this way? Because I'm a BFM snob.

Or am I? I think I am, but I can't be the only one. Tell me I'm not the only one, and please share what you do in situations similar to this.

Aaron

If it's a gig where you really care what you sound like - then use your gear. If it's a guest deal where you play 3 songs in the midst of 5 other bands....use their stuff.

But, I totally understand. While not a speaker issue, I've been running sound for a rock band and using their old Behringer POS mixer. No effects, one aux send is shot and about 7 channels don't work....I finally threw in the towel and took my Presonus to the last gig and informed 'em that I would from now on. Life is too short to use crap equipment. I don't get paid any more, but it's worth it to me to be able to do a better job and not be frustrated all night.

Yes, I can understand. "Things have been done this way forever, and people have been happy enough with it", I tell myself. I don't have to convert everyone, I can offer some advice when it's appropriate.

I'd take the gig and do your best as a performer and leave the production to the event managers. Maybe the seed needs a season of rain to grow.

kekani wrote: I've seen, and heard their Yamaha powered mixer and 15" mains (no monitors) which they rent. My friends that played through it at the last event sounded like crap (and they usually sound good).
Aaron

Sometimes if it sounds like crap, it's more the fault of the guy running the mixer than the actual gear. A good sound tech will understand the limitations of the system and mix accordingly.

Even the best sound rig can be made to sound terrible under the wrong hands. I agree though, if you're performing for a lengthy time, use your own gear if you have the physical room and time for set up.

I've played in some venues like that where the young punk "sound tech" didn't have a clue, and the production was a disaster. Since then, we now use our own rig in such situations, or at the very least, I send them a FOH mix off our own mixer, and I drive the monitor system from my board as well. It makes it pretty tough to screw up the mix if they only have one fader to deal with, and they have a grave threat issued against them for touching that fader.

me too, I dont have bfm tops yet, but already my arrogance has taken over the bass portion of my brain (95% of it btw ). everytime I go to an event I always think to myself how my rig sounds better. and alot of the times it's up against jbl dual 18s, and I alway notice how clean bfm sounds compared to them. maybe it is the amount of sweat put into the cabs that influence it maybe not- someday i'd like to walk into an event not knowing the guy has a couple bfm cabs in the corner to really see if i'm biased on my system. maybe there is a difference in sq maybe not.