Advice on first gig

not yet · 31-05-2012 3:09pm #1

My daughter has just got her first gig, Date to be confirmed when she's ready to go.

Only problem is she has no equipment, She sings to backing tracks and has them all on a memory stick. My question is what will she need from scratch. Speakers,amp etc.Am I right in think she can route all this trough her lap top.

Sorry if this sounds a bit naive...

Cheers.

slavetothegrind · 31-05-2012 4:38pm

there will be a sound hire company near where you live and they will hire you a small mixer and two speakers, microphone, cable,stand and a cable to link your laptop to the mixer

they will explain the set up to you when you hire, it is fairly straightforward

what you need shouldn't cost more than 60 - 80 euro i'd imagine

best of luck to her!

not yet · 31-05-2012 5:30pm

slavetothegrind wrote: »

there will be a sound hire company near where you live and they will hire you a small mixer and two speakers, microphone, cable,stand and a cable to link your laptop to the mixer

they will explain the set up to you when you hire, it is fairly straightforward

what you need shouldn't cost more than 60 - 80 euro i'd imagine

best of luck to her!

Brill thanks a mill. no doubt I'll be paying and setting it up

martinedwards · 31-05-2012 5:33pm

yup.

there are a number of companies which make small PAs that are really portable.... they lock together into a hard case a little bigger than a golf bag.

they come with a pair of speakers , mixer, amp and some mics all in one box.

I've used them a fair bit as the school I teach in has one for the performing arts dept.

this is the peavey version.....

other options could be a Marshall AS amp.

I have the AS50R which is a 50 watt acoustic guitar amp. it has mic and phono inputs as well as 2 Jacks for guitar etc. I have used it as a small PA several times, and it works well with an input from a laptop as I've used it to beef up the sound when watching DVDs on a data projector screen.

may I suggest that whatever you end up using that either you or someone else your daughter trusts sets it all up and has it working before she steps on stage..... AFTER she's heard herself singing through it at home.....

she needs no extra hassles before her first gig!

not yet · 31-05-2012 9:34pm

martinedwards wrote: »

yup.

there are a number of companies which make small PAs that are really portable.... they lock together into a hard case a little bigger than a golf bag.

they come with a pair of speakers , mixer, amp and some mics all in one box.

I've used them a fair bit as the school I teach in has one for the performing arts dept.

this is the peavey version.....

other options could be a Marshall AS amp.

I have the AS50R which is a 50 watt acoustic guitar amp. it has mic and phono inputs as well as 2 Jacks for guitar etc. I have used it as a small PA several times, and it works well with an input from a laptop as I've used it to beef up the sound when watching DVDs on a data projector screen.

may I suggest that whatever you end up using that either you or someone else your daughter trusts sets it all up and has it working before she steps on stage..... AFTER she's heard herself singing through it at home.....

she needs no extra hassles before her first gig!

Cheers all sound advice, she has sang 50-60 times in different venues from comps to charity gigs, so she'll have no prob with nerves etc, I agree with the advice of setting it up and rehearsing the day before and even doing a sound check. I'm thinking maybe a 2 hour set with 10 min break

TedNewgent · 01-06-2012 9:41am

you can look up www.thomann.de they sell all types of PA's large and small and theae at great prices as well. and i would get her to interact with the crowd every couple of songs just to get them involved and it help's keep there attention on her

not yet · 01-06-2012 11:23am

Thanks all.

Am I right in thinking the modern way to do it is have all your tracks on a lap top and route them to the amp/mixer.

Savman · 01-06-2012 1:29pm

I'd trust an iPod a lot more than a laptop. Neater setup too.

not yet · 01-06-2012 2:26pm

Savman wrote: »

I'd trust an iPod a lot more than a laptop. Neater setup too.

Cheers, is everything then routed trough the i pod,

Savman · 01-06-2012 2:39pm

not yet wrote: »

Cheers, is everything then routed trough the i pod,

Cable from iPod to Mixing Desk, press play on iPod. That's it in a nutshell tbh.
Peats or Maplins would have the cable you need, it'll have a headphone plug on one end and 2 x RCA (Red & White) or XLR (Mic) connectors on the other end.

not yet · 01-06-2012 4:33pm

Savman wrote: »

Cable from iPod to Mixing Desk, press play on iPod. That's it in a nutshell tbh.
Peats or Maplins would have the cable you need, it'll have a headphone plug on one end and 2 x RCA (Red & White) or XLR (Mic) connectors on the other end.

Cheers man, thnx for the help.

Daycentbill · 07-06-2012 4:59pm

most places she going to play they ll have it all there so she can just bring her laptop and the sound engineer will connect it to there system there, just get her to ask the venue before hand and should be al, grand no need to go renting the gear

rcaz · 08-06-2012 11:33am

As Daycentbill said, no need to go renting gear if the gig is in a place where gigs usually happen. If you're playing in a garden or a house or something like that, then yeah you might need to rent stuff, but if this is in a bar or club or other kind of music venue, they'll have all that.

Savman · 08-06-2012 11:49am

rcaz wrote: »

As Daycentbill said, no need to go renting gear if the gig is in a place where gigs usually happen. If you're playing in a garden or a house or something like that, then yeah you might need to rent stuff, but if this is in a bar or club or other kind of music venue, they'll have all that.

I'm sure there's exceptions, but I can assure you most bars will not let incoming acts use/abuse any gear they have in house, in fact most will tell you to take a long walk off a short cliff. They usually only have small install PA's for background music etc and not suitable for a live act whatsoever.

This is a whole world away from Music Venues with in-house PA Systems and Engineers where they have everything on site.

But to suggest the OP needs absolutely nothing to walk into an average bar and do a gig is horrifically inaccurate.

godfrey · 08-06-2012 7:54pm

While not wishing to piss off you or your daughter, or hurt your feelings, may I respectfully suggest she finds some musicians to play with and once they are condifent they can do enough songs to a reasonable standard, then go and seek some gigs, and earn the respect of those who are more discerning. With some luck, some talent and a lot of hard work, this route could lead to an actual career, and more important, satisfaction for all involved.

Best of luck to ye...

g

not yet · 11-06-2012 6:31pm

godfrey wrote: »

While not wishing to piss off you or your daughter, or hurt your feelings, may I respectfully suggest she finds some musicians to play with and once they are condifent they can do enough songs to a reasonable standard, then go and seek some gigs, and earn the respect of those who are more discerning. With some luck, some talent and a lot of hard work, this route could lead to an actual career, and more important, satisfaction for all involved.

Best of luck to ye...

g

Very true, but at the moment she's in the gaiety acting school full time plus after hour rehearsals etc, so has very little time to rehearse with a band. as it stands she has 30+ songs she can do to backing tracks so is ready to go.. She will eventually hope to play with a band. thanks for the input.

slavetothegrind · 12-06-2012 12:39am

love the total commitment to supporting her, fair play to you, hope all goes well for you both.

not yet · 12-06-2012 9:14am

slavetothegrind wrote: »

love the total commitment to supporting her, fair play to you, hope all goes well for you both.

What can you do she's my Little girl growing up fast. plus I think she has something very very special and could make something of it given the right break, so it's a long term commitment for my nursing home ha ha...

paligulus1 · 12-06-2012 12:30pm

not yet wrote: »

What can you do she's my Little girl growing up fast. plus I think she has something very very special and could make something of it given the right break.

Big kudos and respect to you sir - this is great to see.

Cheers

not yet · 12-06-2012 12:39pm

paligulus1 wrote: »

Big kudos and respect to you sir - this is great to see.

Cheers

Thanks

rcaz · 14-06-2012 6:39pm

Savman wrote: »

horrifically inaccurate.

Which is why I said

rcaz wrote:

if the gig is in a place where gigs usually happen.

Advice on first gig

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