So, NOT CRAP, is what I'm saying.
Sound Guy
52The last time I had an issue with a sound guy was the usual 'turn down' nonsense. The band at the time was a guitar/drums duo. I genially complied until the "more... umm.. more.. umm.. way more" rendered my sound to an anemic plink. I was just beyond the point where the wiper hits the graphite and the amp is 'on'.
Me: "We can't play like this, guy. I have no tone and more importantly I'm standing next to our drummer who hits like a cannon. We're gonna get lost."
B: "Well we've been having problems with noise complaints."
Me: "Well, you should stop booking shows then."
B: "This is how it's gotta be."
Me: "Alright." (starts packing up gear)
B: "Whoa, whoa, wait whatareyoudoing?"
Me: "Not playing. No offense, I don't want to look foolish in front of all of these people."
He was STUNNED. It was no big deal to us. No aggro or anything. Just packed up, wheeled our gear aside, wiped our name off the chalkboard outside and went to the bar for a drink. He sent us drinks, approached and peppered me with questions like he was interviewing me for a Rolling Stone cover. Sat next to us between each band. I thought he was gonna make a pass at me.
The other bands (who witnessed our exchange) played and were obnoxiously loud. All of them pulled the 'start the song and turn up' game. I don't play that. If we had been left alone we would have been the quietest band on the bill.
That was about 5 years ago and was the last time I have ever been asked to turn down.
Good karma, I guess.
The only other time we walked out was when an English soundguy decided he didn't like me because I'm Irish.
Me: "Hi (extends hand), I'm Patrick Walsh from 'bandname'. We're playing the opening slot tonight. Nice to meet you."
Twat: (stares at my hand and folds his arms) "Well, patrick I certainly hope you know what your doing. (saunters off)
Drummer: (pregnant pause) "What. the fuck. was that?
Me: "I have nooooo idea."
We set up promptly, asked him if he needed anything from the bar and again from the corner shop when we ran for smokes. Both times we were met with a blank stare. We sat at the table next to his booth and told him and his 'assistant' that we're ready whenever he is.
Twat: "Don't you think they should open the doors of the club first, patrick?"
Me: "Look, you're the boss. Whenever you want us we're ready."
After an hour the club had filled up and I leaned over to him and said, "Um we're ready to go whenever you are."
A broad smile cracked on his face, "Well, according to me you're 20 minutes into your set."
"You know you're a fucking douchebag, right?"
We got onstage and began breaking down the gear while he threw a very vocal hissyfit about who the hell do i think i am and that he did sound for Prince once (i shit you not). People started running up and asking what happened. "That scumbag right there has decided we're not good enough to play here", glasses begin flying.
Afterwards the assistant came to me on the sly and apologetically said that he was calling us "irish trash" the whole time and bragging that there was "no way in hell that I'm letting that band play here." We got paid $118 dollars and I had to claim it.
That said, 99.9% of soundguys are sound guys.
Me: "We can't play like this, guy. I have no tone and more importantly I'm standing next to our drummer who hits like a cannon. We're gonna get lost."
B: "Well we've been having problems with noise complaints."
Me: "Well, you should stop booking shows then."
B: "This is how it's gotta be."
Me: "Alright." (starts packing up gear)
B: "Whoa, whoa, wait whatareyoudoing?"
Me: "Not playing. No offense, I don't want to look foolish in front of all of these people."
He was STUNNED. It was no big deal to us. No aggro or anything. Just packed up, wheeled our gear aside, wiped our name off the chalkboard outside and went to the bar for a drink. He sent us drinks, approached and peppered me with questions like he was interviewing me for a Rolling Stone cover. Sat next to us between each band. I thought he was gonna make a pass at me.
The other bands (who witnessed our exchange) played and were obnoxiously loud. All of them pulled the 'start the song and turn up' game. I don't play that. If we had been left alone we would have been the quietest band on the bill.
That was about 5 years ago and was the last time I have ever been asked to turn down.
Good karma, I guess.
The only other time we walked out was when an English soundguy decided he didn't like me because I'm Irish.
Me: "Hi (extends hand), I'm Patrick Walsh from 'bandname'. We're playing the opening slot tonight. Nice to meet you."
Twat: (stares at my hand and folds his arms) "Well, patrick I certainly hope you know what your doing. (saunters off)
Drummer: (pregnant pause) "What. the fuck. was that?
Me: "I have nooooo idea."
We set up promptly, asked him if he needed anything from the bar and again from the corner shop when we ran for smokes. Both times we were met with a blank stare. We sat at the table next to his booth and told him and his 'assistant' that we're ready whenever he is.
Twat: "Don't you think they should open the doors of the club first, patrick?"
Me: "Look, you're the boss. Whenever you want us we're ready."
After an hour the club had filled up and I leaned over to him and said, "Um we're ready to go whenever you are."
A broad smile cracked on his face, "Well, according to me you're 20 minutes into your set."
"You know you're a fucking douchebag, right?"
We got onstage and began breaking down the gear while he threw a very vocal hissyfit about who the hell do i think i am and that he did sound for Prince once (i shit you not). People started running up and asking what happened. "That scumbag right there has decided we're not good enough to play here", glasses begin flying.
Afterwards the assistant came to me on the sly and apologetically said that he was calling us "irish trash" the whole time and bragging that there was "no way in hell that I'm letting that band play here." We got paid $118 dollars and I had to claim it.
That said, 99.9% of soundguys are sound guys.
Christopher J. McGarvey wrote:In the 1988 season the Orioles lost their first 21 games to set a ML record for most consecutive losses. I decided then to have their logo as my avatar.
Rock-a-lock