live show production

[[UEAK]Clowd]

So the other night I randomly got a job taking down the stage for Fleetwood Mac, and I got to see the last two songs from more-or-less on stage.

The way they put on a show is almost akin to producing an album or maybe a tv show or something, it's ridiculous. They have guys off-stage playing additional keyboard parts, etc... the entire show is scripted(there's a teleprompter with all the lyrics and everything to say and do in between songs)
and basically it just made me re-think the way my band (and probably most of our bands here) goes about playing these crappy shows we play.

They take hours meticulously micing the amps and drums, they have over-the-top lighting and video stuff, not to mention the guys offstage playing keyboard parts and automating the vocal FX stuff... and the end result is that the show feels like something substantial. it's epic.

local band shows throw some drum mics up(if you are lucky) and go... there's little to no lighting and the PA usually sucks ass... and the end result is that the show feels like something nobody gives a shit about.

obviously most of us don't have the budget to put on a ridiculous production but there must be some ways to bridge the gap at least a little bit?

 

[Yhanthlei]

I guess you could get closer by running a laptop with a click, additional synths, even fx automation if you're running your vox through it...
Could be a bit risky though, if your laptop decides not to work properly you're pretty much fucked
You can't do much about PA and lights and stuff I suppose...

 

[Torniojaws]

You can't do much about PA and lights and stuff I suppose...

You could bring your own

 

[StefTD]

and you could "automate" the strobes to the kick track or something like that,
saw that a few times and it was really cool, especially during the part than all the lights were off and the drummer started a doublebass part and the rest started playing 4 bars later.

 

[digitaldeath]

and you could "automate" the strobes to the kick track or something like that,
saw that a few times and it was really cool, especially during the part than all the lights were off and the drummer started a doublebass part and the rest started playing 4 bars later.

Yeah, if you're playing to a click, you can program your lights via MIDI.

 

[HeadCrusher]

...and your amp/fx-switches.

 

[smy1]

I say the only thing you have to worry about is your stage action. If you have a good frontman who can connect with the crowd and a band who comes across as earnest then all you need is enough light to light the stage properly.

Of course it would be nice to have all that, but Fleetwood Mac sold millions of records and probably sold thousands of tickets at high prices, so they can afford it. Work on your songs, your playing and your audience interaction first. 99% of all bands are shit at all of these. No wonder they play the same crappy shows for only family and friends.

 

[DanLights]

I think live show production is very important for a band's image on stage. Of course the music is the most important apect of all, but a good production (good sound, some decent lighting, probably some stage decoration or a banner with the band logo on the back, video, etc.) makes the difference from a "cool" band of some dudes that many people don't care about or notice, to a "real" serious band with something to tell and something to show that will bring the attention of all attendants. As someone said above, take your own stuff! In my band we use a click track with sequenced keyboards, have our wardrobe decided before the show, and we're looking to buy maybe some candleholders (the english name slips my head, sorry) and see what we can do with some cheap lighting, and other stuff. To make the show have a bigger impact in the viewers/listeners, to give the show a bit more seriousness and not just make it look like some dudes who made some cool riffs and are showing it to some friends. we even have some DIY in-ear monitors so we can all have the click track and a monitor mix in our ears, besides being very useful it looks pretty damn cool.

 

[smy1]

SlipkyesBass: yes, I agree. And still, if your singer comes across like a complete idiot cause he never rehearsed what to say or just can't interact with the audience, your drummer can't play to the click and your bass player is from the school of Crab Core all the fancy backdrops in the world won't help you ... while regular dudes who bring the party convincingly can rock without a single banner and sell cds/merch like crazy (even on a local level I've seen it often enough) ...

One thing that really helped polish up my stage presentation were two foldable 2m x 1m banners. You just insert a broomstick across the top and then hang them up on microphone stands. Best 150 Euros I spent on stage presentation, especially because of the portability ...

You can see them here (in a few shots from approximately 0:44):

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugaX1N1woKA&feature=channel_page[/ame]

 

[digitaldeath]

If your drummer can't play to a click, then I suppose most of the ideas here are out the window...
But if he can, then you can have lots of fun!

 

[DanLights]

SlipkyesBass: yes, I agree. And still, if your singer comes across like a complete idiot cause he never rehearsed what to say or just can't interact with the audience, your drummer can't play to the click and your bass player is from the school of Crab Core all the fancy backdrops in the world won't help you ... while regular dudes who bring the party convincingly can rock without a single banner and sell cds/merch like crazy (even on a local level I've seen it often enough) ...

One thing that really helped polish up my stage presentation were two foldable 2m x 1m banners. You just insert a broomstick across the top and then hang them up on microphone stands. Best 150 Euros I spent on stage presentation, especially because of the portability ...

You can see them here (in a few shots from approximately 0:44):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugaX1N1woKA&feature=channel_page

Yeah well I AM the singer and the bassist, so that gives less responsibility to other to fail hahaha.

Seriously, I get your point, as I said the music is the most important part of all. I prefer to see a good set of musicians with no visual show whatsoever than a shitty group of worthless fucks with lighting, porn videos and uniforms.

Can't see the video right now cause I'm at work but I'll see it later

 

[joeymusicguy]

most of the bands i record end up having to play to a backing track unless they dont give a shit about all the stuff i add

 

[Damphire]

I guess you could get closer by running a laptop with a click, additional synths, even fx automation if you're running your vox through it...

I'm interested. My band in the process of improving stage performance by adding backing tracks. What do I need to automate vocal effects? (gear + soft)

 

[Executioner213]

I kind of wish I had the ability to facilitate my band playing to a backing/click track in a live setting. How bands do this with just an ipod eludes me still...

 

[Torniojaws]

How bands do this with just an ipod eludes me still...

One stereo track, with a click on hard left, and the backing stuff hard right. You split the signal with a small mixer or some other device that does it, and send the backing stuff to FOH and the click track to the monitor mix which is then sent to in-ear monitors.

 

[DanLights]

I kind of wish I had the ability to facilitate my band playing to a backing/click track in a live setting. How bands do this with just an ipod eludes me still...

One stereo track, with a click on hard left, and the backing stuff hard right. You split the signal with a small mixer or some other device that does it, and send the backing stuff to FOH and the click track to the monitor mix which is then sent to in-ear monitors.

This is exactly what I do in my band, works nicely. I have a small Nady mixer with which I separate the signals and rout the click (mixed with keyboards too) to my samson headphone amp and the keyboard signal alone is sent to the FOH. I always joke around that my Iphone is my Keyboard player.

 

[Executioner213]

On this subject, anyone know how DAATH have thier shit set up running the lights and everything? I was impressed with thier show and how fairly choreographed everything was...

 

[Sacha]

I think it's a good thing to aspire too even though obviously you aren't going to be able to match the big productions.

We play to backing tracks and occasionally have a programmed light show that we bust out. It takes some cash, a lot of work, and more shit to haul around and set up but I think it's worth it to put on a killer show.

A visual element definitely adds to it, both playing and watching, especially for todays miniscule attention span!

 

[DanLights]

I think it's a good thing to aspire too even though obviously you aren't going to be able to match the big productions.

We play to backing tracks and occasionally have a programmed light show that we bust out. It takes some cash, a lot of work, and more shit to haul around and set up but I think it's worth it to put on a killer show.

A visual element definitely adds to it, both playing and watching, especially for todays miniscule attention span!

totally nailed my thoughts there

 

[John_C]

Myself if i'm going to see a band, i'm going to see musicians, onstage, playing music together.
Given the choice i'd say no clicks, human communication means so much more than tempo precision in a live context.

Obv if you want to perform stuff that requires non-live elements then that's a bit different.

I wonder if there's some sort of intelligent MIDI thing that take it's timing off the drums, constantly adjusting itself. That would avoid having to have a click