FASH CHAT
Having written a few editions ago about some good and bad experiences with the sound quality at gigs, I have discussed the topic with some sound engineers and received an ear bashing in return. They are too modest to write a reply themselves, but below is a compilation of their thoughts.
There are a few lady engineers around, but it seems that being a sound engineer is a rather strange job. You have to be a mixture of a friendly outward person for whom nothing is too much trouble and a grumpy swine from hell. It depends on the band, but sometimes you have to take charge and be Mr Nasty due to all the egos involved. Working with female crew can help dissolve egos.
If the sound seems too loud, it may be that the sound is too harsh rather than too loud. Harsh is when the sound hits your ears and wants to give you a full frontal lobotomy. There are three main causes of harsh sound. First the sound engineer either does not own any graphic equalisers or does not know how to use them. Secondly he may be deaf, which is apparently more common than you might think. Thirdly the engineer may be drunk. Alcohol dulls the top end of your hearing so after a couple of pints the engineer will decide the sound is a tad flat and boost the top end making it harsh to everybody that is sober. The last one is always noticeable at the end of the night, if the sound starts off ok but gets really harsh at the end.
If the sound really is too loud, then it might be that the engineer is used to doing rock and roll instead of folk. Folk is about enhancing the music, more of sound reinforcement rather than amplification, whereas other genres are about feeling every kick drum beat.
Another cause of being too loud is the band itself. The band may have their own "backline speakers". If the band are used to performing in large venues they will be used to turning them up really loud. The engineer has no control of these, so if you are in a small venue all you hear is the musicians' amps and speakers, not the sound produced by the engineer. In fact, this is one of the main disagreements between bands and engineers.
At the end of the day, there are good and bad engineers, and even good engineers can do gigs that no matter what they do they can't get the sound to fall into that comfortable zone.
Being the sound engineer is the world's most lonely job, audiences DO complain to the engineer all the time, and as everybody's perception is different, you can have one person saying one thing and somebody else saying the complete opposite. When it all goes wrong, everybody turns round and looks at the sound man and then people moan or mutter just within earshot. But when they do get a thank you, they normally get embarrassed as they like to be guys that move around in the dark, never seen or thanked.
The best piece of advice when booking a sound company is to ask them if they have ever done folk, and if they ever mention they are also DJ then steer clear. Also, what do they do as a full time job? Lastly, "you can tell when an engineer hasn't been treated right by a band, when they forget to supply him with a bunk on the tour bus!"
We regret to hear that Paul died unexpectedly on 6 April, aged 69 years. For the past 28 years Paul has been an active member of Eastleigh FDC, where he always joined in enthusiastically as a dancer, caller or organiser. Other folk activities included - being a regular at Twyford Ceilidhs, helping to run a Saturday morning workshop for musicians, and assisting with crafts and leadership at Folk Camps. He was a Council Member of the Halsway Manor Society and had particular responsibility for maintenance of the Manor which is a listed building. He was intending to celebrate his 70th birthday by running the London Marathon for the fourth time.
Janet and Steve Harrison have stepped down as club organisers and we thank them for their many years of service and for their commitment to bringing quality live music to the village. I hope they will still be regular visitors. I am now picking up the baton and ask for continued support in taking the club forward and being able to bring quality live music, so come along and enjoy.
I look forward to seeing you at the club, perhaps on May 9th when Barrie and Ingrid Temple will being their fine vocal harmonies and musical interpretation to traditional songs and their own material, along with their own brand of Northeast humour. They are internationally known and regarded on the folk scene and are regulars at many festivals up and down the country
Rod Smith
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Submitted by (to whom technical queries and requests for additional links only) and Edited by Dennis Wheeler, Penshurst, Vicarage Lane, Swanmore, Hants SO32 2PW 01489 892911 editor@fash.org.uk).