Klarinet Archive - Posting 000405.txt from 1995/06

From: John Baetens <JSBtens@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Deaf Sound Technicians
Date: Sun, 18 Jun 1995 21:36:41 -0400

Ed Lacy writes:

>But, they were playing in a fairly small auditorium
>(about 1200 seats)with very live acoustics, and hardly
>any amplification would have been necessary. Yet, the
>sound technician, who was hired by the local
>promoters, not the band, had placed 30 or so microphones
>on the stage, and proceded to jack up the volume level until
>it was actually painful to try to listen to the concert. He was
>fairly young, and probably used to working with rock groups,
>and obviously didn't know the slightest thing about what this
>type of music is supposed to sound like.

This seems to be a trend among modern music groups today.
I went to a 50th wedding anniversary party recently and they
were fortunate enough to get a 40s style dance band to play
music of the era when the couple were newlyweds. For some
reason, this 20 piece band, setting up in a hall with about 100
people in it, thought it was necessary to amplify their sound
with a big sound system and about 10 mikes spread around
the group. When they played all conversation stopped.
High school marching bands seem to be getting into the act
as well. Most high school bands in our area always include
a sideline section consisting of heavily amplified keyboards,
marimbas, and xylophones. I have even heard a few bands
that have a particulary weak or sparcely populated brass
section obtain one good keyboard player, put him or her in
front of a synthesizer keyboard, and turn up the volume and
completely drown out the rest of the band.

John Baetens