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JaneH
02-22-2003, 10:30 AM
I have heard a lot of feedback, over the years, from bands and clubgoers. These have always been the top 3 complaints that cause people not to go to a club:

1. Music is WAY too loud - get a decibal meter, Fact: music should never be more than 10 decibals or you will cause people to go deaf.

2. Way to smokey - not enough ventilation

3. Way too many people in the club - when you cannot move, at all, people get hurt, annoyed, and fights will be sure to break out. And what it the sense? People won't be able to get to the bar to drink anyway!

And then there is being described as a DIVE - that will kill a place everytime! If it is not well lit outside and looks like people have pee'd or puked on the building or area just outside the building, and lots of trash is around it, oh, and drunks & druggies hanging outside - there you go, you have a dive! Even bands have been known to snub dives, no matter what they are paid!

And the best way to get the very best bands to play at a club is to treat them well and put in writing what is expected of them. I have promoted some of the best bands and they put on the best performances when they have a place to veg out before a show - when they don't have a place to hide before a show, the singer can lose his voice trying to talk to people over the music, people buy the bands so many drinks they get wasted before a show (although some don't need any help, but they are on good behavior if they know they won't be invited out due to bad behavior), they need a place to change since often times they are coming to the gig directly after work, and this may sound strange, but many bands I work with - the lead singers don't drink alcohol and they are only offered alcohol at clubs! Sure, musicians will do what is expected of them if they know they will be rewarded. They are lied to and crapped on more times than not, so when they land a good gig and are appreciated but with a firm manager, they will go out of their way to make you happy. I have even seen them play at clubs that didn't pay much just because the club treated them well.

There, my 2 cents for the day! :D

soundguy_99
03-17-2003, 04:49 PM
Hi,
I agree with most of your points, and am espically fond of your comment about the volume.
Around my area alot of the clubs have dB meters installed, and the cap is usally set around 100dB most of the time, which on most cases is acceptable, as well as it keeps the D.J's in check from always red lining the system. Now although this bench mark is fairly reasonable, people should remeber that it depends on the capacity of the club, as well as the type of music in the club. For Example because dB meters are more sesitive to bass frequencys, clubs that play alot of techno, R&B as well as Hip Hop Music will tend to push the dB meter higher than a club that plays more classic rock and Pop, even if their being played at roughly the same percieved volume.
Also When it comes to Live Music espically when you are having guest Engineers, or outside production companies comming in and mixing bands, it is great to have a dB meter to limit the bands and Techs from pasting the system, and ruining your customers hears, and possibly damaging the clubs house system.
Hoever to all you owners and Managers out there , remember 1 thing about live music, live music is not the same as a D.J, and there for can`t be expected to play at the same voulume as a D.J
Please keep in mind the sound tech mixing the band has only control over what comes out of the speakers intedead for the audience he does not have control over the bands monitors, stage amp's and accustic sound (ie. drum set and ambient sound), and should not be help accountable for a loud band on stage. I am a sound tech myself and have worked with a number of bands, who's stage volume alone can be around 90-100 dB without turning on the sound system, yet, owner/managers yell at me and want me to keep it below 90dB, and still make it sound good, which leaves me to having to ask the band to turn down, witch starts WWIII.Sound guys need control over the sound and some headroom to make the bands sound good, we need some room inside the P.A to be able to turn things up and down, aside from whats comming off stage So for owners/managers out there who either have db Meters installed in your clubs, or are considering to purchaseing them, remeber that these tools are great for keeping the club volume in check, but its not the absolute answer, use your own ears, listen to your customer, and put blame on the approriate area or person who is resposible for the excess in volume, which in case of live music might not necesarily be the one behind the controls.
Sorry for the long post, but I think this is great topic that often doesn`t get discussed/expained well enough.
Thanks,
soundguy_99

Andrew
03-18-2003, 12:42 PM
I have left a club on a few occasions where the volume was fine but the EQ. was off.
:(

Some DJ's need a soundperson!
:)

I also hate a hot club. Some turn off the air-con to boost alcohol sales (a lousy thing to do, i reckon)

djbob
04-16-2003, 04:49 PM
Originally posted by Andrew
I have left a club on a few occasions where the volume was fine but the EQ. was off.
:(

Some DJ's need a soundperson!
:)

I also hate a hot club. Some turn off the air-con to boost alcohol sales (a lousy thing to do, i reckon)

I agree!

1) Our closest competitor to our club has about the same $$$ in sound equipment but it sounds like crap :eek:

We had our system installed and tuned by a respected club Installer.....I hear that other club had their sound system installed by a CAR AUDIO installer :(

2) I have the same philosphy about nightclub Air Conditioning that I do with nightclub Sound Systems......(budget permitting) always go OVERBOARD!.......you can always turn it down :D

Andrew
04-19-2003, 06:04 PM
DJ Bob, are you serious about the car-audio bit?

BTW, I went to your web-site and the photo (mosbooth) of the DJ booth is amazing! I think they have something similiar to control the space-shuttles :D , truly impressive!

I love the DJ "droppin' bombs" with his MC in the background!

djbob
05-06-2003, 01:23 PM
Originally posted by Andrew
DJ Bob, are you serious about the car-audio bit?

BTW, I went to your web-site and the photo (mosbooth) of the DJ booth is amazing! I think they have something similiar to control the space-shuttles :D , truly impressive!

I love the DJ "droppin' bombs" with his MC in the background!

Yup.....that's what I was told and I believe it. It's waaay to "bassy"......Needs to be tuned properly and they could probably use a couple of these: http://www.eaw.com/products/item_new.phtml?part_number=0997048

Ya that MOS booth is waaay overkill (bragging rights). Just gimme at Rane 24 or 44 and a Denon Dual Player and I'm happy......