The_Sentry
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- Dec 12, 2008
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I know some of y'all love these threads to bits. 
Wait...
OK, more band drama....this time over the PA system.
The backdrop: For months my cover band has been using my PA system. No biggie, right? Well, the problem is this: When I bought the PA system, I bought it for my power trio Sin Nombre. It's a 300 watt Kustom 8 channel PA that has no way to separately power monitors. (Usually I run the 2 monitors off the mains.) It has no separate controls for bass, treble, etc. When I bought it the only thing I was planning on using it for was maybe...1 or 2 vocal microphones. For that...it's OK with a band that small.
Now this band? It's a 5 piece with 4 vocal microphones, percussion (congas) that require a mic so people can hear 'em, and the band has had this long standing issue about micing the instruments up (at least the 2 guitars to get levels checked.)
Well, obviously my 300 watt PA doesn't cut it for a band like this. I've known this, and I've been complaining about it for MONTHS now. I even did a video of the band without the instruments mic'd up and the sound quality is crap.
Now...here's the rub...the bass player AND lead singer of this band...BOTH have better PA systems. The singer inparticular has an 18 channel Carvin mixer with a power amp, EQ, and high end Carvin mains and monitors.
So why in the bloody F%$& does he keep asking me to bring mine?
I've had some long-standing issues with this band over what we've been presenting as a product. From day one over the volume issues I've told said singer that if he wants to play the better paying gigs for the better clientele...we need a professional sound system. He HAS one. For months I let it slide because he kept it at the place where I hosted the Open Jam, and I could understand how it would be a bear to tear it down and set it up over and over. (That was a political move on my part because he allowed me to use the space for other projects....including rehearsals with other ensembles.)
But...he made the decision to abandon it and close it down. So now this killer PA system is just sitting, ready to go....and still he doesn't want to use it.
I think after 8 months I'm also a bit tired of dragging aroud the lion's share of the band's gear....(and in a band where I am NOT the lead singer)....but I think what really pisses me off about this...I've had these conversations with him about this over, and over, and so has another member, and he's sat there and went "Oh yeah, we have to have the best sound possible...I agree with you!" Then he turns around and keeps insisting that we use my crappy little PA system before every show. In my opinion, what he's TELLING me is that when it comes right down to it...he doesn't really give a sh!t what this band sounds like at all. It's more of a case where he's happy having someone else drag their inferior gig...just as long as he doesn't have to drag his out there.
I told him point blank 2 weeks ago after yet another show with a crappy sound check "Dude, I'm sick and f'ing tired of using this PA for our shows! It is NOT ADEQUATE for our needs!" This doesn't stop him from asking though.
I told myself the next time he asks me about that PA, I'm going to ask him straight up if he really gives a sh!t about what this band sounds like, and if he was blowing smoke up my ass about our previous conversations..including one that he KNOWS damned well is a really sore point for me which is a balanced sound from the band. (He's been known to do this: The other topic is material...he keeps agreeing "Oh yeah, we need to take on more material" and of course, every week it's "Brown Eyed Girl/Mustang Sally/Sweet Home Alabama". Last Wednesday it was "Freebird"....Jesus H.)
I get how people don't want to drag gear to shows. It's been a pain in the ass for me for a while. Even with the power trio..I was lugging around that PA and my guitar equipment. But this is different. To me, this is like he's got a brand new Lexus and he wants to go everywhere in my POS Toyota Corolla. His last reason "We don't have the space".
Allrighty.
Hell, I don't know if I should give a sh!t anymore. Maybe I should be like the bass player. He gets other people to drag his bass rig around for him ("Won't fit in my car/on my motorcycle" ). And when he doesn't want to go, he'll make the whole damned band wait on him. The rehearsal prior to the fair gig (our biggest gig to date), he showed up an hour and a half late and ordered dinner.
I'm about at the point where I'm ready to start returning the favors.
So....anyway....am I blowing this out of proportion? Shouldn't I want the band to have the best sound possible?
If someone has a better PA than me, why are they asking to use mine....even though they KNOW it's not adequate for the band's needs? Does the dude give a sh!t in your opinion?
*PS: I have a chance of jumping to another cover band where they are professional about their sound. But, another band...different drama. I'm also getting tired of jumping bands. Plus, my drummer which is in both bands with me...I want us to start getting serious about the original band since we're about ready to finally drop the album once it gets back from Disc Makers*
Wait...
OK, more band drama....this time over the PA system.
The backdrop: For months my cover band has been using my PA system. No biggie, right? Well, the problem is this: When I bought the PA system, I bought it for my power trio Sin Nombre. It's a 300 watt Kustom 8 channel PA that has no way to separately power monitors. (Usually I run the 2 monitors off the mains.) It has no separate controls for bass, treble, etc. When I bought it the only thing I was planning on using it for was maybe...1 or 2 vocal microphones. For that...it's OK with a band that small.
Now this band? It's a 5 piece with 4 vocal microphones, percussion (congas) that require a mic so people can hear 'em, and the band has had this long standing issue about micing the instruments up (at least the 2 guitars to get levels checked.)
Well, obviously my 300 watt PA doesn't cut it for a band like this. I've known this, and I've been complaining about it for MONTHS now. I even did a video of the band without the instruments mic'd up and the sound quality is crap.
Now...here's the rub...the bass player AND lead singer of this band...BOTH have better PA systems. The singer inparticular has an 18 channel Carvin mixer with a power amp, EQ, and high end Carvin mains and monitors.
So why in the bloody F%$& does he keep asking me to bring mine?
I've had some long-standing issues with this band over what we've been presenting as a product. From day one over the volume issues I've told said singer that if he wants to play the better paying gigs for the better clientele...we need a professional sound system. He HAS one. For months I let it slide because he kept it at the place where I hosted the Open Jam, and I could understand how it would be a bear to tear it down and set it up over and over. (That was a political move on my part because he allowed me to use the space for other projects....including rehearsals with other ensembles.)
But...he made the decision to abandon it and close it down. So now this killer PA system is just sitting, ready to go....and still he doesn't want to use it.
I think after 8 months I'm also a bit tired of dragging aroud the lion's share of the band's gear....(and in a band where I am NOT the lead singer)....but I think what really pisses me off about this...I've had these conversations with him about this over, and over, and so has another member, and he's sat there and went "Oh yeah, we have to have the best sound possible...I agree with you!" Then he turns around and keeps insisting that we use my crappy little PA system before every show. In my opinion, what he's TELLING me is that when it comes right down to it...he doesn't really give a sh!t what this band sounds like at all. It's more of a case where he's happy having someone else drag their inferior gig...just as long as he doesn't have to drag his out there.
I told him point blank 2 weeks ago after yet another show with a crappy sound check "Dude, I'm sick and f'ing tired of using this PA for our shows! It is NOT ADEQUATE for our needs!" This doesn't stop him from asking though.
I told myself the next time he asks me about that PA, I'm going to ask him straight up if he really gives a sh!t about what this band sounds like, and if he was blowing smoke up my ass about our previous conversations..including one that he KNOWS damned well is a really sore point for me which is a balanced sound from the band. (He's been known to do this: The other topic is material...he keeps agreeing "Oh yeah, we need to take on more material" and of course, every week it's "Brown Eyed Girl/Mustang Sally/Sweet Home Alabama". Last Wednesday it was "Freebird"....Jesus H.)
I get how people don't want to drag gear to shows. It's been a pain in the ass for me for a while. Even with the power trio..I was lugging around that PA and my guitar equipment. But this is different. To me, this is like he's got a brand new Lexus and he wants to go everywhere in my POS Toyota Corolla. His last reason "We don't have the space".
Allrighty.
Hell, I don't know if I should give a sh!t anymore. Maybe I should be like the bass player. He gets other people to drag his bass rig around for him ("Won't fit in my car/on my motorcycle"
). And when he doesn't want to go, he'll make the whole damned band wait on him. The rehearsal prior to the fair gig (our biggest gig to date), he showed up an hour and a half late and ordered dinner. I'm about at the point where I'm ready to start returning the favors.
So....anyway....am I blowing this out of proportion? Shouldn't I want the band to have the best sound possible?
If someone has a better PA than me, why are they asking to use mine....even though they KNOW it's not adequate for the band's needs? Does the dude give a sh!t in your opinion?
*PS: I have a chance of jumping to another cover band where they are professional about their sound. But, another band...different drama. I'm also getting tired of jumping bands. Plus, my drummer which is in both bands with me...I want us to start getting serious about the original band since we're about ready to finally drop the album once it gets back from Disc Makers*
