Sipping a mojito in a local bar, munching on mozzarella sticks.

Live band tonight. I know electrical instruments can have the volume lowered coming out the amp. But how about drums. The band is breaking my ears. I’d rather be sitting next to a Barrett.

Do bands usually set volume appropriate to a venue? Or is it just always one volume?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: konata88,

One of the reasons I don't listen to much live music anymore is the noise level. There was a time when I played in the bars that varied in size, acoustics and number of occupants.

Everyone in the band can control their volume and we tried to start out reasonably quiet and up the volume as the crowd size increased and the booze flowed. We knew when we were too loud by the crowd reaction. I don't ever remember someone said "Play Louder."

One rule I've noticed is the worse a band is, the louder they play. Generally when I go out to dinner and discover a band, I rethink my choice of places. If we stay, we generally leave and regret how long we remained. Young bands need to earn money and practice more. That is at odds with how bad they are.

Live bands have one volume

Loud as technically possible

Definitely one of my Pet Peeves!
My hearing is bad enough, I don’t need help in losing what’s left.

Eric Clapton live wasn’t as loud as this shitty band in a way too small bar I got drug to see by my beloved wife.
It won’t happen again.

Stage volume is based on ego and the drums. Then there is the house, if they have a house system, which tries to get a proper mix with what they hear at the mixing board. So they have to add everything else to overcome the ego of the loudest musician, usually the lead guitar player.

In the perfect world the drums would be partitioned by, for instance, plexiglass walls, and all the musicians would wear ear monitors. Have a monitor mix and let the sound man control what people hear.

Once playing the Octagon in NJ we had a stage monitor setup; each of us could have their own monitor mix, which was an incredible luxury. No more being blasted by the lead guitar player's whiney vocal. He could have all he wanted but I took barely a hint. A tiny more kick drum for me.

Earlier this decade I played summerly duo gig at an outdoor bar. We brought one monitor and a power mixer, and went D.I. into the house system. Later, after a bit of cajoling, we began skipping the monitor and went from our power mixer sans-speaker into the house direct box, and listened to ourselves right from the 21 house speakers. The managers could control the house but it was usually set where they wanted it.

The louder the band, the less patrons can converse. The less patrons are able to converse, the more they typically drink. Higher profits for the bar.

The wife and I go to a bar/burger joint a few times a year. Most patrons are old farts like us. They typically surround the drums with sound barriers and mic the drums. That way they can actually control the volume. It makes for a much more pleasurable evening.

I ask to be seated as far as away from the band as possible or simply leave. They are always too loud and generally suck anyway. Perhaps that's just the old fart in me coming me out...

quote:

Originally posted by crash:
The louder the band, the less patrons can converse. The less patrons are able to converse, the more they typically drink. Higher profits for the bar.

If they stay.

If they do not, it’s $0. My friends and I always leave.

If the drums are not mic’d that may be as quiet as they can play especially if it is a small venue. The rest of the band has to play loud enough the drummer and everyone else can hear.

I’ve seen a few guys playa cajon to allow everyone to really dial back the volume in very small venues. Works pretty well.

There is no reason why you guys can't wear ear plugs.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by rbert0005:
There is no reason why you guys can't wear ear plugs.

Bob

Other than, maybe they'd want to hear some conversation, perhaps.

Earplugs.

Going to a bar with a live band? Hmm...gonna have to try and remember what that was like.

Don't go somewhere with live music, then complain it is too loud.

Either don't go, or wear earplugs.

Reusable silicone earplugs are in order. Like these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d..._cr_id=5966644900501

My hearing is trash from work. I don't like loud restaurants because I can't hear people talk. But going somewhere with live music and complaining you can't have a conversation is silly.

Around here it seems like the local bands think that if they play louder they will sound better.

Depending on the band, our local bar will pretty much clear out right when the band starts. Even sitting at one of the furthest tables, once they start playing any chance for conversation is over. Since we go there to socialize we finish up and leave.

Micing a drum kit takes about eight channels. Not many hands have equipment and time for a setup. Drummers can play responsibly, but may not be aware of this shortcoming. Ear plugs are good. I wear them on stage.

Found an old video of Konata helping with the school talent show:




Link to original video: https://youtu.be/lt2BN9SeZsc

My church has an awesome band. The drums are kept inside a little plexiglass/sound deadening room. You can see them, and hear them, but it doesn’t blow you out if your seat. Aside if something if that nature, there isn’t much of a way to play the drums quietly.