by Andy Reynolds on November 4, 2009
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My name is Andy Reynolds, I am a freelance concert tour manager and live audio engineeer who has been working in the concert touring industry for nearly 25 years.I also lecture in Live Sound Production at Buckinghamshire New University and have written several books about the live music business.
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by Andy Reynolds on January 16, 2010
I am currently editing and adding to a new edition of ‘The Tour Book’. The following information can be found in chapter 7 – At the Show – and I thought it worth repeating here.
“So why does the performance sound so different at sound check than it does at show time? Physics plays a large part. (Bear with me—this is very important!) The speed or velocity of sound in air is approximately 344 meters per second, 1,115 feet per second, or 770 miles per hour at room temperature of 20°C (70°F). The speed varies with the temperature of air, such that sound travels slower at higher altitudes or on cold days. Also, in a cold room, the sound waves will refract (bend) downward as they travel away from their source. Therefore, in a cold, empty room, you will have the sound waves slowing down and dipping in height as they reach into the room. For the high-end frequencies, this causes a lack of clarity and direction. For the low frequencies, a dampening occurs more than usual. The result is a smeary, bass-light mess. Add in the highly reflective walls, floors, and mirrors in a bar or club, and suddenly you can see and hear why sound checks often sound so awful!”
by Andy Reynolds on January 11, 2010
Getting to play any gig is an achievement in itself these days. More and more bands are competing for headline shows or opening slots. You should feel proud of yourself any time you manage to get yourself a booking for yourself or your band.
Getting the gig is the beginning though. You then need to make sure you take advantage of each show you get. Turning up an performing is only a part of your night. Each show you play should achieve three goals:
1) Impress the audience.
2) Get new fans.
3) Sell merchandise.
I see constantly see bands, turntablists and singers waste the opportunity their live appearance presents by failing at step 1 – being un-professional and therefore not impressing the audience. If your audience is not impressed you are not going to achieve steps 2 and 3.
Here is a list of actions you can take at every show to make sure you achieve all three goals. Continue Reading
by Andy Reynolds on November 11, 2009
The Save Our Sound UK campaign launched yesterday to raise awareness that Ofcom will shortly sell-off the radio frequencies that this industry and charitable sectors rely on, with auction proceeds going to the Government. As a consequence of this ‘migration’, the vast majority of the UK’s stocks of wireless microphones, which are essential tools for content production in the creative industries and beyond, will soon be rendered unusable.
I have written briefly about this before and the situation is now getting out-of hand. As well as the unnecessary confusion and administrative costs caused by this sell-off, there must be an environmental concern. There are no figures as yet but it is not hard to imagine the amount of RF kit will have to be junked as it cannot be re-tuned.
I urge anyone involved in the live music business here in the UK to write to your MP, urging them to become involved in order to raise the issue of inadequate redress. Information about the issues and the campaign to seek adequate redress can be found at www.saveoursounduk.com
Continue Reading
