Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
|
|
A tough gig
|
You are logged in as Guest
|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login | |
|
Miguel de Maria
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
|
A tough gig
|
|
|
Last night I did a 2 hour gig at the Royal Palms, one of Phoenix' many fancy resorts, subbing for Gaetano, a local player. I have played there about 8 times solo, so I knew the drill. There is actually a Mackie mixer which connects to the resort's sound system. Well, I plugged in my newly-electric Vicente Carillo blanca, and got a loud buzzing sound, sort of feedbacky, sort of not. I turned down the volume and lost the buzzing sound, except when I played I got a horrible sound, about half distorted, half clear. I fiddled around with the knobs but couldn't get anything done. As the lounge was completley deserted at 5 pm, I figured I would just go for it acoustic. As I started playing--I think I started with a solo por tangos, I was surprised by how loud my guitar sounded. I was in a corner and it was good. Things went fine until about 6 pm, when the bar got packed. There were about twenty people in this small lounge, all talking and laughing loudly. The manager walked by several times, and it seemed that he looked first at the sound system, and then at my guitar, but never looked at me! I was inwardly groaning as he no doubt was wondering why i wasn't plugged in. As I took my 15 minute break, I strolled the lovely grounds of the resort, casitas organied around verdant, flower-laden gardens, letting the flow of fountain water try to soothe my nerves, yet knowing that soon I would be back in the maelstrom, a single flamenco guitar against a mob of loud rich people. I started the 2nd set, started playing and soon realized that only strumming and aggressive thumbwork would possibly stand out agaisnt the crowd. As I played and of course no one could hear me, I thought this was a good time to work on my volume and projection and see what kind of things could aid it. I ruled out tensing my fingers, because I realize that it doesn't work, it just makes your hand tired. as I played, I slowly learned how to push in with a light yet aggressive touch, how and where to hit the guitar on my strums, and maximize my volume. I don't think volume is a matter of muscle, but more of the angle and the attitude of the fingertips and an idea of always accelerating the stroke into the strings.
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Sep. 9 2004 18:11:19
|
|
New Messages |
No New Messages |
Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
Locked w/ New Messages |
Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET |
0.0625 secs.
|