...... 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?
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It is a worry these bands and their grumpiness. As a musician, although not primarily in your sort of field, I know a sound man can make or break your gig literally!
ReplyDeleteI go to loads of gigs and have a serious interest in a couple of local bands who I consider to be talented, but often the ones who are crap have bad attitude. Why can't they see you have to try and be nice to make it in any field but even more so in music, as there are so many other people involved than just the ones on stage!
Just to asdd a bit of balance however, I have often witnessed the serious grumpiness of many a sound man too. If only every venue had a cheery soul like you!!
Really enojyed reading your blog! Really hope that things go well for you and work out as you hope.
Nikki xxxx
I'm in a band myself, so its interesting to see it from both sides. Its crazy how much difference certain sound guys can make. We witnessed this when playing one venue in Leeds a few times last year - it was a different guy each time. It was always at least good sound, but the last time we did it, it seemed like the best it'd ever been for any band I've been in. I'd often had problems hearing every member clearly - particularly myself (a common issue for some people) - but not this time. My guitar was crystal clear, as was the lead guitarists'. I have my thoughts about how he achieved this, which I think I'll post on some time.
ReplyDeleteAs for the grumpy sound guys, yeh I've seen that a lot too. Usually when they don't like your band's style of music I've found. We were heavy metal, in a Pantera kind of vein, so once we'd done our thing in soundcheck or the actual gig or whatever, his music - totally at odds with the night, IDM or something,
- would come straight back on. I at least try make the in-between music relevant.
Thank you for reading and commenting, its a good push to regularly update and really work on putting quality content up there!
P.S I've just read my comment back and I like to use a lot of commas apparently. Hope it makes sense.