Welcome to the community for the live music industry - sign up for free.
Everything you wanted to know about gigging but didn't know who to ask.
To receive our fortnightly newsletter and be able to get free advice from a professional roadie,sign up now! Once signed up,click here to send in your question.
Q. Hi, upon preping for a sound check what obvious eq (grafic and parametric), compresser and gate settings should I adjust to make the sound check proceed at a faster rate?
A. Hi, for me this depends on the gig. If I am setting the system I like the desk zeroed and graphics flat. I ike the fx and dynamics to be patched in but not set and the first thing I do is to run a line check to make sure everything is where it should be and working. Obviously if time is tight or you are not the headliner I will roughly set comps and gates roughly eq everything, top cuts on voxes, oheads and hi hat, lo mid out of kick etc. Always unwise to do too much until you have heard the system and band. Providing everything is working and the room doesn't sound too bad it shouldn't take long to get a mix up. Hope this helps! Andy @ FTTS
"YouTube video blogger and singer/songwriter Alex Day has sold 52,881 units of his song Forever Yours in the last week - enough to bag the No.4 spot on tonight's Official Christmas Singles Chart. Day, who has built an audience via social networking, has achieved the feat without a record label and minimal radio and TV support.
All of his sales have come via digital download sites, arranged by 'Nermie Army HQ'. His UK sales tally - revealed by Official Charts Company data this evening is big enough to fend off Coldplay's Paradise, which takes the No.5 slot on the Christmas Chart behind Day with just over 50,000 weekly sales.
If you are a UK or EU passport holder you can travel and work throughout Europe without restriction. However to work in many places outside of the EU you will need a VISA and possibly a WORK PERMIT. The most obvious example being bands and crew working in the USA.
The sadness of the tragic loss of a hugely talented singer and songwriter at a disgracefully early age is in no way diminished by it's seeming inevitability and historical precedent. At 27 Amy Winehouse was the same age as Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Cass Elliot, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones and Kurt Cobain when they died.
As well as raising questions about the association between fame, talent and addictive self destruction her death also brings under scrutiny the systems and people who supposedly nurture, care for and profit from the careers of the talented and vulnerable.
Her music and force of personality will be sadly missed shining as they did like a beacon in a fog of manufactured musical mediocrity.
Live and Unsigned talks to The Agency Group’s Geoff Meall
Geoff Meall talks to Live and Unsigned about how to make it in the music industry. Geoff is the director of one of the world’s leading booking agencies, The Agency Group. Geoff is one of the most well known music industry agents in the UK. Like many agents, he started his career in live music as College Social Secretary at Oxford Polytechnic before taking the step into the booking agency world.
Based in the UK, Geoff is responsible for the London arm of the international Agency and books some of the biggest acts in the music industry. He’s worked with the likes of Muse, Paramore, My Chemical Romance, Doves, Funeral for a Friend, Super Furry Animals, The Zutons and The Pogues. click here for the full article on Live and Unsigned.
Hi. I'm trying to find a splitter van to take to Belgium- 15/16 july. Tiger Tours don't have any. Do you have contact details for Aloha or any other London based firms? Many thanks, Paul - Yaaba Funk
Hi, Roger, Aloha is on 07970458509 or try Val on 07774750416 Good luck. Best FTTS
Hi Guys, wicked website may i add, really learnt alot from this. Im currently TM/GT/Backline for a band STATES OF EMOTION, who are doing big things this year, and im looking for a good multi guitar rack between 6-8 guitars, and have about 100-150 quid to spend, Any ideas? Most of the ones ive been looking at that are custom Pro ones, run from about £300+ and are a bit excesive for a splitter bus tour haha, but i do want one thats in a flight case of some sort! Regards Rishi
Hi Rishi, Try the usual, Ebay, here's one http://bit.ly/g9i9MQ and another with a buy it now of £150.00 Good luck with your band. Best FTTS
Hi. What are the vital things a Guitar tech should have in their kit?
Hi Jon, Thanks for the question; Depends on what kind of show it is, but... 1 An accurate tuner, most techs like Petersons www.petersontuners.com/ But this may be snobbery! 2 A towel or something soft to lay the guitar on when you are changing strings + duster to wipe down guitar neck after show 3 A string winder 4 A pair of snips for cutting off string ends 5 A torch, even a naff head one so you can see what you’re doing
I think those are the essentials but you will end up with lots of other bits like; -Leatherman or other multi tool - Hex keys for bridge adjustments - Strings in popular sizes - Selection of picks - Spare jack leads - Spare fuses - Practice amp and headphones - Couple of guitar stands - Multi meter - Duct and pvc tape - Sharpies -Notepad + Whatever other bits you find that particular clients need!
If you are a UK or EU passport holder you can travel and work throughout Europe without restriction. However to work in many places outside of the EU you will need a VISA and possibly a WORK PERMIT. The most obvious example being bands and crew working in the USA.
