Members pogo97 Posted July 27, 2017 Members Share Posted July 27, 2017 I'm doing a wallpaper gig that's going very well. It was my proposal: dinner time jazz-age jazz. More and more people are coming in and they say nice things about what they hear. Mostly they're there for supper and conversation and that's fine -- some of the time they listen and that's why I'm there -- and to create an ambiance. I'm content to focus on singing and playing and just perform one song after another without comment. I'm working, by choice, without a PA and my singing voice cuts through fine. But my speaking voice doesn't and sometimes folks want to interact. That's a good thing, but I'm unsure how to handle it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted July 27, 2017 Moderators Share Posted July 27, 2017 Bullhorn.... or a megaphone, which would be 'period correct'... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted July 27, 2017 Author Members Share Posted July 27, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted July 28, 2017 Moderators Share Posted July 28, 2017 yep, ol' Rudy Vallee...he had it all going on! He was the bee's knees, the cat's pajamas... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kbeaumont Posted July 28, 2017 Members Share Posted July 28, 2017 Do an unobtrusive PA. Small single speaker like a Roland Cube 30 or such. Attach a lavalier mic with a switch or wireless use it when speaking. Or even attach a condenser ambient mic on a stand. It will pick everything and provide just enough amplification to make your speech audible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members senorblues Posted July 28, 2017 Members Share Posted July 28, 2017 Why not run a mic directly into your keyboard amp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted July 29, 2017 Moderators Share Posted July 29, 2017 you are assuming he is using an amp, but what if he is truly old skool and playing an actual acoustic piano? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted July 29, 2017 Author Members Share Posted July 29, 2017 Wish I was. I just use the built-in speakers in my Korg SP250 for the piano sound. It's loud enough for the purpose. Some pianos have an input to mix other sources into the built in amp. The SP250 does not. I have two prime reasons for going 'acoustic' on this gig: 1) simplicity 2) I prefer unamplified voice -- sounds more like someone just singing. Went to a new pub in town last night. They have a music room that's all sofas and comfy chairs -- not huge at all. The singer stood on the stage, played acoustic guitar and sang without using the provided PA. Sounded just dandy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted July 29, 2017 Author Members Share Posted July 29, 2017 Old joke: What are the two best days of a young musician's life?1) the day he joins Rudy Valee's orchestra2) they day he leaves Rudy Valee's orchestra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted July 29, 2017 Author Members Share Posted July 29, 2017 Actually, I mentioned the "no mic, no PA" thing because that's part of the setup. I'm most interested in the psychological move from "I'm completely in the background" to "I'm talking to you." It's not trivial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted July 29, 2017 Moderators Share Posted July 29, 2017 In my experience, if you are singing, you are more than just wall paper; to me instrumental gigs are the background thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted July 30, 2017 Author Members Share Posted July 30, 2017 Wall paper with words on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve mac Posted July 30, 2017 Members Share Posted July 30, 2017 Tell the poor folk to clap along and the rich to just rattle their jewelry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted July 30, 2017 Moderators Share Posted July 30, 2017 like graffiti? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted July 30, 2017 Moderators Share Posted July 30, 2017 Tell the poor folk to clap along and the rich to just rattle their jewelry ‘For our last number, I’d like to ask your help. Will the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands? And for the rest of you, if you’ll just rattle your jewelry…’ John Lennon, Nov. 1963 The Queen and Princess Margaret were in the Royal Box...and considering the amount of wealth the Beatles all amassed, a very cheeky comment in retrospect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.