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Hi all, I’ve been asked to play at a local “Picnic in the park” event on 2nd July, however it is in a small acoustic tent which is unamplified, so essentially a sort of busking type set up. I’m not really an acoustic player generally speaking though I am reasonable at it, was always more natural than electric playing to me but ultimately more dull also. But I’m happy to be asked and will be a nice thing to do – the chap who is organizing this tent unfortunately lost his daughter to a speeding motorist (they mounted the kerb at 50mph and hit her at the bus stop, really sad story) and this is something he wants to run in her memory as she was a fan of live music. So obviously very keen to do a good job for my little stint.
I was wondering if you chaps had any good tips for this type of scenario specifically – I’ve done a few small solo gigs in the last year where it’s just me and electric guitar/amp so I’m happy with the format, but the lack of electricity and therefore amplification does concern me a bit! A few questions specifically I have are:
Presumably I’ll be best to stand rather than sit in order to project sound better?
I have a quiet voice (talking and singing) so will be working on my projection in general, but any tips for this would be great - So far I’ve got “Deep breaths and stand with your feet shoulder width apart”. I assume I’ll be better singing slightly toward the higher end of my range than the lower for volume purposes too?
In terms of guitar, I don’t really like strumming all that much, sounds a bit camp fire scout camp. But will finger picking carry enough volume?
What do you reckon to using a cajon with a drum pedal to stamp out a beat with my feet?
I’m fairly happy with my potential repertoire of covers, but should I avoid doing the odd original song?
All hints and tips would be much appreciated
Thank you
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Comments
I don't know nuffink about singing but in my experience it is very hard to be heard playing an un-amplified acoustic guitar over a crowd of talking people, so they would need to be quiet! You could take a little amp anyway just to crank the sound up a bit, just have it a bit louder than the un-amplified guitar, and it doesn't really matter what amp it is.
It's for charity so just play the songs and don't worry too much. Everyone else playing in that tent will have the same conditions.
Good luck and have fun.
Yes I think the people there will be largely quiet when listening, I don't imagine it'll be very big - there's a proper stage elsewhere with electricity and proper music so that'll be more the rowdier bit. I'm thinking deckchairs or similar...
I can't take an amp as there's no electricity!
I'm thinking of doing one song with only rhythm accompaniment...but I'll need to get my guts ready for that particular one haha Something like Nina Simone's Be My Husband, or Moby's Natural Blues in the same style
My Trading Feedback | You Bring The Band
Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youFailing those I suspect you've got to take a busking approach and belt it out a bit, or at least have some strummy songs up your sleeve if the fingerpicking isn't cutting it. The acoustic guitar is quite a poor instrument in some ways for unplugged playing - you need an accordion!
It's Sunday 2nd of July, the chap is running it as a fairly free and easy type thing so no set times as yet but we shall see, I'd like to know roughly what time and how long I need to be on for...think he's got about 6 acts so far but usually those numbers fall don't they.
I say go for it anyway, it could well be fun but accept that it's far from ideal.
My Trading Feedback | You Bring The Band
Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youLindisfarne - Hey Mr Dream seller
Steelers wheel - Stuck in the middle
I would explain this to the organizer and give him the decision to make...
1 Cancel with no hard feelings
2 Get some for of amplification/electricity for the 'tent'
3 Get a short slot on the proper stage
A mate of mine did a similar event years ago. He was solo and the stage was so far away from the main action that he was halfway through his set when we found him. He said that was the first time he outnumbered the audience on his own.
Never assume competence on the behalf of an organizer and always negotiate gently.
Put it another way, I live in a terraced house and I wouldn't be able to practice singing at my normal gigging levels (and by that I mean the volume I naturally sing at under those circumstances, not including the fact that at a gig it is amplified through a PA) as it really is quite loud and neighbours would complain.
I've looked at the Roland Street Cube and that appears to be 2x2.5watts output...that can't be the right one surely?
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Why don't you pop into your lgs and try what they've got as loud as you can go?
My Trading Feedback | You Bring The Band
Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youHere's the kind of thing, which shows that the switch to acoustic wouldn't be that much of a stretch as it's essentially similar playing just on an electric