Musician Etiquette

[archnacorda]

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This thread is about etiquette - what musicians should be aware of as a matter of courtesy and basic respect towards other musicians, sound techs and bands. This is not a thread to discuss or debate which genre is better.

Naka suway na pud ko og mga gigs nga dili or lisod makuha ang gusto namo nga timpla, but it is because most of the other bands are performing a different music genre unya na timing nga na in-between mi sa sequence. That's the reason why we make it a point to be present during sound checks. For example, if there are a lot of bands performing different kinds of music genre, usbon man na usahay ang sequence sa performance. Organizers may group together R&B, then Folk, then Reggae, then Heavy Metal etc,....or they sequence the performances according to how fast, slow, soft or loud the music will be.

Dili sayon ang pagusab sa volume and tone levels sa mixers when switching from genre to genre. for example, when the previous band plays a lot of reggae, the bass and acoustic guitars may have increased tones and volumes while a rock and roll band may have louder keyboards and electric guitars. A good technician will have a list ready, aron dali ra pag adjust sa mixes when the turn of that band comes. Each instrument has a specific input on the mixer and thus the technician will know how to adjust, assuming of course that the band was present during the sound check.

Naka kita ko og DVD sa concert sa Bon Jovi nga ang mga mixers connected na to a computer. When a particular song is about to be played, the computer will automatically adjust the levels of every input to match the requirements for that particular song. wala 'nay manual nga adjustment.

Naa lang dyuy mga banda nga huna-huna ra ang ga dako. They come into the gig and assume that the technician knows what they want. Daghan na kaayo ko'g na witness nga mo abot lang ang banda unya diretso og reklamo nga dili makuha sa technician ang gusto nila, apan wala diay sila mo adto sa soundcheck. Mo accuse ra ba dayon nga naay gipa-labi nga banda. Yup, adjusting volume and tone levels is a simple matter of turning a knob to the left or the right. It is not a complicated act, IF na establish na during the soundcheck kung what are the levels ang gusto sa band.

Apan dili ra pud na kung unsay gusto sa banda ang masunod. For example, kapila naka observe mi during a soundcheck nga gusto dyud sa usa ka banda nga pa kusgan ang bass kay mao kunoy ga dala sa ilang kanta. But in reality, ma lum-san man ang uban nga instruments, and as a result, the bass ra ang ma klaro. Technicians already know these situations and we usually leave them to make the right decisions, for as long nga nag klaro na mi og istorya. Technicians know, for example, if a particular genre should have the bass connected to a rear speaker or to a side speaker. Same ra pud sa other instruments. There are instances when a particular instrument comes out better when it is coming from the side speakers rather than the front. Kung ang tanan naa sa front, dili dyud na malikayan nga naay malum-san.

During soundchecks, take note of what speakers you want your instrument to come out from. If your bass playing is supplementary, then nindot usually kung naa sa luyo mag-gikan, same with rhythm guitars. Lead guitars should come from the sides and acoustics from the front. If ang setup is naa sa tanan nga speakers mo gawas ang sounds, then approach the organizers and request them nga ipa-katag ang mga kahon.

For example, your lead guitar may not be connected to the same jack as the previous lead guitarist. Maybe because the location of the speaker for that particular jack is in front unya na sabutan na ninyo nga mas nindot ang lead mo come out from the right side rather than from the front. Mao nang mag adjust pud sa volume and tone levels. That is also the reason why you may see several mixers sa booth. One mixer for rear speakers, one for side and one for front. Ining-ana na aron sayon ra ang pag-pili kung asa ipagawas ang sound sa imong instrument. And all of these are dependent on your presence during the sound check. That’s the reason why you see stagehands moving the speakers to and fro during the soundcheck. Mga gagmay ra kayo nga physical adjustment apan dako kayo og effect sa sound distribution.

Pero kung naa dyuy gusto nga sila ang magbuot sa timpla unya dili maminaw og input from those who know or inconsiderate kayo sa uban nga mga bands, then dili na lang unta mo apil sa mga gig nga there are a lot of performing bands. Mag-organize na lang mo og solo concert ninyo aron ma solo ninyo ang attention. Sigurado pud ko nga ang sunod nga reklamo ani nila mao nga walay mo sponsor sa gasto or walay maminaw nila.

Anyway, I’ll just share some of my preferences regarding sound distribution depending on genre:

1. If Acoustic ang set, I prefer low bass volumes and request nga sa rear speakers ang bass and percussions. The acoustic guitars should be up front.

2. For reggae and carribean, front ang acoustic guitars, side ang bass and electric guitars as well as the keyboards, rear ang percussions.

3. For soft pop music, sides ang bass and percussions, rear ang guitars and front ang keyboards and acoustic instruments.

4. For Rock and Roll and Heavy Metal, side and rear ang bass and percussions, side ang lead and electric guitars, and only the volcals should come from the front aron dili ma lumos.

However, kani nga mga suggestions applicable ra kung dako ang gig unya dako pud ang lugar. Basically, spreading the sound around produces a surround-sound effect. Pero kung gamay ang lugar, then you take what is given to you. If naa sa front ang tanan nga speakers then play with the volume and tone levels na lang. Of course, everybody has their own preference. Depend ra dyud ni on HOW you play and not WHAT you play.

[Kolussus]

unsay banda nimo migo... para ma susi namu mga istoryans! para mapaminaw namu inyo songs..
nyc mani ingon ani nog dating well organize, but in small gigs sa mga bars lyk outpost,handuraw etc.
wala may uso soundcheckay ang mga banda wui coz uban cla na mismo mu mu tech. but in big events lyk ato bob day sa paseo naa jud mga churva2x souncheck or mga battle of the bands or mga dagko na concerts. pila raman pud mka enjoy ana na oppurtunity? kana raman mga pro cguro wui, pru mga beginners if not in local clubs mag huwat kong asa ang fiesta! paets! sad to say we are in the underground scene d kaau ni apply namu, but kasuway mi tukar na dako2x og set-up sad to say 'KNOW-IT-ALL' man ang tech. mao ni nka lisud basta pas sweto effect ang tech.. paets jud ni! but nways thanks for the guidelines, please share whats ur band so we could also see u guys how well you play!
support local musick! EY! EY! EY!

[jahbert]

a musician without an instrument is not a musician.... unless he is a vocalist.]

hmmmm medyo lalisonon pa ni na quote..heheheh! naa koy kaila na naay mga instrument pero ang tag.iya way hilig sa instrumento kay lagi nag papalit kay nasuya ra human gipul.an lang, i think if your a musician it runs from the blood, ako musician ko i have bass guitar sauna pero akong gibaligya, the music still runs on my blood, hi-tech naman Fruity loops na ako gamit...heheh! but it deals music creation of your own..

[jahbert]

Dili sayon ang pagusab sa volume and tone levels sa mixers when switching from genre to genre. for example, when the previous band plays a lot of reggae, the bass and acoustic guitars may have increased tones and volumes while a rock and roll band may have louder keyboards and electric guitars. A good technician will have a list ready, aron dali ra pag adjust sa mixes when the turn of that band comes. Each instrument has a specific input on the mixer and thus the technician will know how to adjust, assuming of course that the band was present during the sound check.

Naka kita ko og DVD sa concert sa Bon Jovi nga ang mga mixers connected na to a computer. When a particular song is about to be played, the computer will automatically adjust the levels of every input to match the requirements for that particular song. wala 'nay manual nga adjustment.

Naa lang dyuy mga banda nga huna-huna ra ang ga dako. They come into the gig and assume that the technician knows what they want. Daghan na kaayo ko'g na witness nga mo abot lang ang banda unya diretso og reklamo nga dili makuha sa technician ang gusto nila, apan wala diay sila mo adto sa soundcheck. Mo accuse ra ba dayon nga naay gipa-labi nga banda. Yup, adjusting volume and tone levels is a simple matter of turning a knob to the left or the right. It is not a complicated act, IF na establish na during the soundcheck kung what are the levels ang gusto sa band.

ive experience that bro, mga pa as if na banda, di motunga inig soundcheck nag sunod2x man sila anang mga mainstream band oi na motunga lang kung ila ng time mo tukar, info lang sa ubang aspiring band ma local or indie NA FEELING KAYO NA DI MUTUNGA UG SOUNDCHECK unya mo reklamo dayon na bati ilang output pag tukar nila, Mainstream bands had thier own Music Engineer na kuyog nila, sila nay mo take over sa mixer. so kay ilaha man ng kaugalingong Music Engineer, so kabalo na na sa adjustment..

we have sound set.up for band / public adress ug akoy naka assign sa mixer during our set.up makasugat jud kag mga ungas na banda, samot na mga bisrock band (sorry sa na offend diha pero mao ni tinood). mas mo appreciate pko sa banda na mo ask jud na patabang sila ug adjust sa ilang tingog kay lagi wala silay sound engineer or ato lang ingon na wla silay kauban na kabalo mo adjust sa mixer..

way back 2008 hapit ko kitag away sa usa ka Bisrock band during sa event ug kami ang gigamit na band set.up..5 to sila ka banda ang main band kay showband man, and the rest mga guest nalang ug kini sila guest ra. ang ni reklamo pa jud kay ang wa pa jud ka attend sa sound check (except for the showband kay kabalo naman ko sa ilang set.up)

gi doul ko derecho "bai batia ug output ato amoa oi, kabalo ka mo adjust diha? dapat unta kusog ang guitar namo"

ug ni ulbo akong kaspa na tubag nko siya.. "bai sound engineer ko ninyo? ug usa pa kamo raman wa mag pa soundcheck ganiha kay dugay mo ni abot, dapat unta ni doul mo dire na mao ni mao na ang adjuson para maka determine mi na mao na inyong gusto... kung in.ani inyong buhatan sa laing event, pag dala mog inyong sound engineer kay feeling mainstream kayo mo dah derecho ra mog saka sa stage"

[bbnescia]

daaah! sakto na imong sulti sir, maayo ng suphon dretso para hilom dayon.

[archnacorda]

anyway, I hope na establish nato that when it comes to sound-checks, importante kaayo nga naa ang band or ang ilang soundman. If the band cannot attend the soundcheck, then at least have the decency to inform the sound engineer or mixer, thru a written list, what instruments ang gusto nila nga medyo kusog. Apan dili lang gihapon ni assurance nga makuha ang timpla nga gusto ninyo. for a gig featuring amateur bands medyo okay pa ni. But if you are just a guest band or front-act then ayaw pag-expect nga kuha ang imong timpla.

If all of the bands on one gig performs one particular genre, then there is not much adjustment to do between sets. Most organizers and sound engineers for gigs such as these usually tell the bands that there will be a uniform distribution of sounds. Example, the bands will be told that the bass will be coming from the left, the electric lead guitars from the right, the vocals and acoustics sa front and the percussion from both sides and backs. This is sometimes done aron ma simplfy ang set-up. Diretso na lang og plug-in, crank-up for some volume adjustment, then tukar dayon. Wala nay pabalhin-balhin og plug-in. An example of this was the Guitar Fest at the Outpost last year. Gihimo nila og one night-one genre. so menos ra kaayo ang mixing adjustments.

[jahbert]

^^

nice suggestion bro, kay di bya jud lalim kung soundman ka, tan.awn lang sa uban dali ra kay lagi adjust2x sa mixer pero nag regor ng utok ana ug huna2x na ma balance ang tingog in short period of time... ang ubang soundman gi eskwelahan pa gani ni. akoa kay based on experience raman pero someone teached me na certified sound engineer the basic adjustment...

kay di pa kaya sa bulsa ug sa time kung mo eskwela ko ani... mura pud nig culinary arts..hehehe!
it takes didication and will from the heart...
busa respeto-ay lang ta..

banda ngadto sa sound man /crew/technician and vice versa...

[nirdle_phogi]

ako sab, bisan sa studio kay saputon ko anang tudahan pag-ayo nila ang instrumento, dili na nuon mi magdungog..

[krayziebone]

a musician without an instrument is not a musician.... unless he is a vocalist.

sorry bro but i don't agree with this, there are drummers who don't have a drum set but still they play good music..am i ryt??

[nyxgorf]

sorry bro but i don't agree with this, there are drummers who don't have a drum set but still they play good music..am i ryt??

right!! agree ko ani...