Fostering a good relationship with a band...

...... or "how to break through a layer of musician grumpiness".

For whatever reason, when a band rolls in for a sound check they quite often come across as petulant and pissed off. Perhaps they've been to work before the gig, maybe they don't like the look of the venue or the gear, or maybe they're just naturally grumpy gits. Whatever it is its best to figure out how to deal with it, and quickly. The sooner you can create a rapport the better because then you will help each other out more readily.

Get them on-side and you will likely:
* find they set-up quicker.
* find they communicate important details (at all/more readily).
* have more patience and respect.

Okay, so obviously a good vibe is important. However, achieving it may be a touch more difficult. So engage with them - pick the relevant things; the band, their equipment, your equipment, the venue, the other bands, bands they like etc etc

Mix equal parts:
* self effacing
* humour
* professionalism

Well, perhaps not equal parts, whatever works for you personally. Perhaps the self effacing would be best in minimal amounts, just enough to catch them off-guard from the stereotype of the disinterested techie. Because, thinking about it, I've seen as many grumpy sound guys (proportionally) as I have grumpy musicians.

The main advice, therefore is the following: smile for fucks sake!

Big-O

P.S If you never smile at these things then why are you doing them? Music is meant to be enjoyable?

Not much so far/ new plans

The best I've had so far is one reply from one of the people behind tuska open air, Finland. That was, unfortunately, a no thank-you email. Since sending those letters out my time at the Vine has also ended, the company behind the pub was no longer willing to pay for the nights (a deal we were lucky to have in the first place!) unless we could raise £1000 of business behind the bar each time we were there. That was unreasonably high - remember it has the dodgy reputation. Those who don't know about it or who can be convinced to come down regardless were all loathe to make repeat visits. I for one also got sick of feeling on edge whilst setting up there due to the dodgy characters that inhabit that pub. We never had any trouble, but we were very lucky.

So I suppose I'm actually pleased to be out of there, but it does leave me without a regular spot for doing live sound. Which brings me to this blog; there's now much more free time to work on the content. So expect to see more features and featurettes in the future. Get reading, get commenting!

Mr Big-O