Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on June 8, 2015 at 3:25am

How big is the room, how reflective are the surfaces, how people will be attending? How long are you playing for?

If it were me, I'd go with a Roland Mobile Cube Stereo amp (around $170-180 at Guitar Center). It has inputs for both mic and instrument, as well as separate volume controls for each channel I'd also pick up an instrument cable and a mic cable ( about $10 each). An extension cord with multiple plug slots ($5-8), two mic stands (around $40, one with a boom; the other you can screw into the base of the Mobile Cube) and a Shure SM 58 mic ($100).

That's about a $375 outlay. Yes, you could probably do it cheaper from eBay or pawn shop gear. Are you getting paid? I hope so...

If the room is typical wood floors and echoey, then you might not need any sound reinforcement at all. Arrange to visit the space prior to performance, and do an acoustic-only sound check. You might be surprised.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on June 8, 2015 at 6:17am

Yeah, rental is waaay cheaper. I only mention the upfront outlay because, eventually, if you keep doing this, you'll want to invest in gear.

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Permalink Reply by Dane Donato on June 8, 2015 at 6:55am

Yeah, Mr. Mike! That is all I need. 

Thanks, guys. The room is an art gallery, Fairly large, but with bay like areas they usually have musicians in during performances. I have four guitars on exhibit there for this year, so this is very casual to promote myself during an opening. This view is about 1/8 maybe of the entire room. From hearing groups there before, I think the acoustics are pretty good (at least for those listening to the music). I have performed in rooms where you could not hear yourself or your fellow group members, but will find out I think when it happens. :) FYI, the building is originally a grain mill from the 1850s. 

Those are two of the four instruments i have on show there. I only wish I lived in such a nice space. :)

I may end up renting from my local music store. Much better for me to keep business local, and the owner is a fantastic guy. 

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on June 8, 2015 at 5:22pm

If you have a good strong voice, forget using a mic and just amplify the guitars. Even if you feel that you need to use a microphone, I would NOT rent PA gear - it sounds like you are unfamiliar with stage equipment, so transporting it, learning to set it up and get a good sound is all hassle that you don't need. If they have other performers there from time to time, find out from the venue who they are, ask their advice and try and borrow their gear if necessary...you may get lucky and find some other local musicians willing to help you - it's a good networking opportunity.

Handy tip..start putting pickups in your guitars, then you don't have to worry about miking them up.

A small 10 watt amp will cope with the guitar. If you are going to do more of this stuff and don't already have an amp, The Roland Microcube Street is a good option. It is a bit pricey, but  better than the ordinary Microcube, and it's twin input.. The Roland Mobile Cube Stereo is OK, but in my experience nothing like as good as the Street Cube, which has bigger speakers and a remarkably big sound for its size. These are all little amps that run on mains or batteries, and are really handy in the workshop and for practice, busking, shows etc. Add a stand and a decent mic (SM58, it's industry standard, don't mess around with cheap crap) and you'll have all you need. I've just used my trusty Microcube and a newly acquired Street Cube at an outdoor festival for my workshops, and the Street Cube was more than man enough for the job to be heard over the general hubbub of thousands of  people wandering round a festival site and a big live stage a couple of hundred metres away. The Street Cube was intended to be a temporary measure until my dealer got the bigger more powerful Streetcube EX in stock (as I didn't have mains power at my pitch, so couldn't use my regular 2 x 200watt compact PA) but I'm not sure if I'll bother upgrading, as the Streetcube worked so well.

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Permalink Reply by Dane Donato on June 8, 2015 at 11:21pm

Thanks for your input, John. I do have a strong voice (trained singer, bass), and I hope the common sense to select songs that are appropriate for my voice and range. You are correct in your assumption that I am not familiar with sound support as a solo player. Oboists generally aren't in need of this type of setup :), and that is what I studied and performed on for many years. That and chamber choirs, military bands, wind ensembles, and so on. If a venue had sound, the sound guys had to worry about that. 

Good advice on the Roland products. Since I don't plan to be a busker or do a lot of live performing anytime soon, that kind of investment is probably not something I will consider until the need arises down the road. 

Whatever happens, it will work out fine, one way or another, as I have plenty of time to come up with a plan. I more stressed about appropriate dress than the performance, in any case, as I don't go to a lot of art show openings. All black is never a bad idea :) This performance opportunity is more a chance to demonstrate cigar box guitars and one-strings through song than a formal set, and should be fun and relaxing. 

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on June 9, 2015 at 1:20am

Thanks for posting the discussion.  I have to play an outdoor wedding in October.  I play about 20 mins before the ceremony, the bridal march and something after they get hitched.  The reception has a DJ.

Given the outdoors, I don't know if there will be electric and I have decided to buy the Roland Cube Street.  If I sell a couple guitars and some more slides before then I might bump up to the EX that Chickenbone John  mentioned.  

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Permalink Reply by Dane Donato on June 9, 2015 at 4:08am

The best on the wedding gig. I used to sell sheet music at Carl Fischer, in Boston. We always dreaded wedding season, as so many would ask for Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and the like. The Pachelbel Canon was endlessly popular. So was Stardust. 

Be prepared for the unexpected. I performed at a Jewish wedding in a garden setting in the mid 1990s, and had to arrange some traditional Jewish music for oboe, clarinet, flute and violin (really). The wind picked up and blew our sheet music off the stands, but we had rehearsed enough to muddle through. The mimosas were very welcome after all that. :)

Classical pieces are always great if you can pull that off on a 3 or four string. I can't yet myself.Anything by JS Bach, Vivaldi, etc. I love baroque period music. I assume you are playing a home made guitar? 

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on June 9, 2015 at 4:19am

I am playing my Sawzall box resonator guitar.  I have total musical freedom for what I play.  It is my cousin's wedding and she knows what she has asked for.  The ceremony and reception are at Dave Matthews' winery in Virginia.  I don't think I'll bring along any DMB tunes though.

Gonna play that blues, like a freight train rolling through.  Got some soul and good ol' rock n' roll too.  Singin' 'bout what I'm living, plus a little bit more. - Eric Bibb "Troubadour"

I'm even trying to arrange the bridal march with my blueshammer style <gasp!>.  If that doesn't work, I do have a delicate finger picking arrangement as well, but it is coming along.

I get paid in moonshine.  :)

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Permalink Reply by Dane Donato on June 9, 2015 at 4:36am

I am so pleased you aren't doing the above 90s musicians! Whitney Houston shit was popular then, and even Brittany Spears. 

Sounds like great fun. Be careful not to mix moonshine with wine, though. 

Careful about too crazy an interpretation of wedding march. That piece is almost sacred at weddings.If you mess that up, you will get dark looks all evening from whoever is paying for it (bride's family, probably) :)

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on June 9, 2015 at 4:49am

I was a mobile DJ from '92-'97.  The stereotypical and utter crap I had to own and play.  

One wedding party wanted some Michael Bolton song played for the bridal dance.  I didn't have that one and said I'd buy the CD.  Bride says, "No, I'll bring it."  I said, "No way.  I'll buy.  Something could go wrong."  The groom says, "It'll be OK.  I'll make sure."

FFWD to the bridal dance and the Michael Bolton CD they gave me.  I pop it open and there's Bryan flippin' Adams.  So I go to the groom . . .  I got a pretty bad review off that one.  They brought up I wouldn't play the bride's bro's request.  He was that one guy, you know the one guy, the only guy, who wants to hear Grateful Dead at a wedding reception.

In October, the bride's father is my mom's brother.  I'm pretty safe and I plan to split after dinner is served anyway - possibly before.  Family gatherings aren't my thing and I get plenty of dark looks.  :)  I do plan to have fun.  The melody of the bridal march will be very close and easily recognizable, it is the rest that's going all helter skelter.  I do plan to test out a couple versions on trusted ears here and maybe post a demo vid once things come together a bit more.

Good luck at your event.  I'd like to do a gallery thing eventually.  

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Permalink Reply by Dane Donato on June 9, 2015 at 5:10am

Thanks for the luck wish. 

There is of course that one jerk....and Brian Adams was so huge back then. That was another wedding staple. When people would come in, we would try to steer them to something better than what they thought they wanted, but the customer is always right, until he / she  is wrong. :) Even the classical people...one woman bitched and moaned because we had 10 arrangements of whatever it is she wanted in choral SATB. I told her how about you have no choices at all, would that be better for you? 

If you really really want to have fun, gradually speed up the tempo as they march in. Make them almost run by the time they walk the isle. :) 

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Permalink Reply by TN Twang on June 10, 2015 at 1:31am

You guys are seriously twisted! Weddings are always scary. Miss a note and the vows don't count--you have to do the ceremony over again.

The only thing worse is wedding photography. No amount of Photoshop is gonna' make that chick look like she thinks she should on her wedding day. And let's not talk about the mother of the bride...

Oh yeah, PS, the Roland advice above is good. The Cube line ain't really cheap, but they're useful gadgets.

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