Hi all
When open mics are underway properly again I fancy trying some. Either playing stuff accompanied by electric guitar only, or maybe with some basic rhythm keeping stored on a looper for more uptempo stuff
But it's been ages since I've done one and I would like to ask what stuff I could take and not look like an annoying plonker with too much kit with me
Would I be ok with:
1. My own amp, or do I have to use theirs?
2. A small pedal board - drive, fuzz, looper (would there be a plug to plug PSU into? Or battery only?)
Actually not sure about the looper thing as it would be better not going into my amp if it was playing a basic rhythm. Though I'm likely to be using a pedal sized power amp so as long as my drive pedal is a preamp then that should be ok (unless I have to use their amp!!)
How would I be best kiting out?
Thanks
Comments
Certainly seen people take pedalboards, probably will be a plug socket somewhere but obviously takes the uncertainty out of it if you use a rechargeable source like a Volto.
Probably just go to one the week before and see how it's set up.
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
https://www.studiowear.co.uk/ -
https://twitter.com/spark240
Facebook - m.me/studiowear.co.uk
Reddit r/newmusicreview
It's always better to use their amp - saves faffing around, mic'ing yours etc. Be prepared for it to be crap/not an electric guitar amp/not there at all, and plan ahead so that whatever you take can be plugged into it or the PA (ie preferably has speaker simulation or at least good EQ, if you're going to use an overdriven sound). Although it's amazing what you can get away with if you have to and are familiar with quickly re-adjusting your pedals...
It's also best if you can use battery-powered pedals. Less to faff around with, quicker and actually more reliable - typical cheap power supplies can break, and there may also not be a socket within easy reach if it doesn't have a long enough cable. No pedal will eat batteries quickly enough not to get you through a short set, so battery failure isn't a problem as long as you know they're good to begin with.
A looper for rhythm tracks should be fine even if it has to go straight into the PA - it's highly unlikely there won't be enough spare channels, and if it's running on batteries you don't need to worry about a ground loop so you can just use a guitar cable into a line input, it doesn't have to be via a DI box.
Your performance is going to be *way* more important than anything to do with your sound .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Thinking the Digitech RP360 - 9v power supply so add a Volto to power it. It's got the same models I use on my GSP1101 rack thing at home, can be used in Stomp mode so I can just set up a preset the same as my base tone on the GSP and then switch in and out the comp/boost, fuzz, and hopefully either a second longer delay on top of the standard slapback (may not be possible, researching it).
With that I can set up three versions of the same preset - into front of amp, into amp fx return, into PA. That way I should be covered right?
EDIT: I have a nano sized pedal train knock off thing which is small and would fit inside my amp cab were I to ever take that.
Hopefully in time, not sure I'm ready yet for non-anonymous fretboarder feedback haha
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
- be prompt, even if the organiser isn't (most are, some are chaotic)
- bring as little gear as possible
- know when you're on, assuming you're told, and start getting your stuff out, guitar tuned etc. during the previous person's last number - changeovers need to be quick and efficient so everyone gets a fair crack
- generally it's three songs and piss off, and keep the chat to a minimum (i.e. a bit of background to a song, but get on with it and don't waste time)
- it's considered polite not to do your set and then leave, particularly if you expect to come back again
As a rule there will be suitable PA/backline available, and possibly a common pedalboard (although I hate that, because you have to take a bit of time to workout what the hell is on it). I have played one venue locally where if you're electric they prefer you to bring your own amp, and it needs to be loud enough to not need micing, so you have to balance it with the sound guy who's doing the vocals/acoustic instruments. All of the others have kit available, certainly for a solo performer, and wanting to run your own as a newbie doesn't always win friends and influence people.The mic makes sense, singers are breathing all over them.
No-one’s breathing heavily over cables, unless they’ve got a really weird fetish.
Plus, if everyone uses the same mic cable, then person after person will be touching the xlr connector/ cable up at that end. Making people bring their own makes perfect sense to me, to be honest.
Bandcamp
Spotify, Apple et al
I'm ok taking my own mic and cables, seems sensible to me to be honest. In terms of kit to take with, I do now have a pedal sized amp inside my cab should the venue prefer this, but my plan would still just to take a minimal pedal setup to sort a clean/crunch/fuzz thing. Whether that's the cheap Digitech modelling thing or a amp-in-a-box pedal plus comp/boost plus fuzz, I still don't know. The only AIAB that's within budget seems to be the Joyo things, I didn't like the Fender one at all so maybe the Mesa one would do it. But yeah - max 3 pedals on a nano board possibly powered by battery or phone powerbank thing. That should be ok I reckon? Oh crap forgot if I need a rhythm track to play along to. Hmm.
Thinking about it, performing electric is pretty pointless by myself isn't it, the setup drawbacks aren't anywhere near outweighed by the result.
The acoustic folk club thing i've been to before is back open which is great - they have only a mic hanging from above so no risk, nothing else plugs in and the sound is surprisingly brilliant. But again I've not had the time to practice the singing enough yet to put anything together to go there, it's only a two song and swap thing but obviously you're on you're own on a stage so rather exposed, therefore you want to be as good as you can be before you decide to go
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
I know I won't be perfect, because I'm not really very good, but for example the folk night I literally have no other songs to do there so would prefer to only go back when I've had time to learn a few others and not just to finger pick pop songs and hope they don't notice (it's an old school crowd, I think I was probably half the average age when I went!). In terms of the electric, my original songs are quite "production dependant" so until I can get the stuff finished I've been trying to work on for a while that is more just guitar and "banging a tambourine on the beat" there's no point me attending to play, only to scout out a good environment for when I am ready.
But then there's the restrictions on places currently, plus the fact because I'm shit at my job I'm having to work 11 hours a day to try to catch up so getting myself drilled enough to get out there is hard. My voice is also dying on a daily basis becausde of having to talk on the phone so much during the day so singing practice has been out.
Woe is me, thoughts and prayers, small violins etc etc
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
@thecolourbox Let me know when you're comfortable with Fretboarders and I'll be there too. Villa and Wolves central in Lichy nowadays tho
Also I've adopted a policy of footballing neutrality as I'd rather that be a talking point than how quickly we can be relegated...
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic