Why do I do acoustic gigs?

Jetfire · August 2019

So I've picked up a few acoustic shows and I always regret them afterwards. Why I hear you ask? Well... Let me tell you....

1. That feedback. The low type, rather than the squeal. I've used the low cut, I'm behind the speakers, the monitor is on low. The phase switch on my guitar helps but sounds like shit.

2. I don't play alot of the songs in a regular gig situation so I usually cock them up.

3. As the monitor volume is low, so I bash them out to hear them and then I just feel like a fraud for bashing out any old nonsense.

TheOtherDennis · August 2019

Don't be so hard on yourself.

1. I know bugger all about the technicalities, so I can't help you there. Have you tried those black plastic cap type things i often see in acoustic guitars on stage? I assume you have, but it's all I can suggest there.

2. Bet nobody notices. Seriously, most people are just happy to hear something being played live, and loads of them don't even notice the mistakes. Are you in a band? If so, have you ever heard of a member of the audience coming up to you after the gig and saying "That was great, but that should have been an C#m in 'Blame it on the boogie" and not a G#m." Or "Great energy, shame about the bum notes."

3. Erm, turn the monitors up? And if you can't, or don't want to, see point 2 again. Anyone who's ever been to a New Order gig (and yes I have) will tell you their energy always makes up for their lack of polish. They're magnificently shambolic. I'm not saying you are, not in the least, my point is that if you're worried about cocking them up, playing them with energy and a good bashing, as it were, is an excellent way to cover the mistakes up.

Seriously, I'll bet your acoustic gigs are fine. At the risk of sounding rude, and I'm genuinely not intending to be, get over yourself.

I say that as someone who only does a couple of songs at a singaround once a month. I always think before I go that I'm rubbish, that I always make mistakes and my voice is horribly whiny and embarrassing, why do I do this to myself? And then at half time a couple of months ago someone came up to me and said "I always look forward to your bit, you always do something we've never heard before or don't expect." Oh, thanks, I always think I'm not that good, or I'm biting off more than I can chew. "Rubbish, your voice is fine and you can definitely sing. Don't worry about it. It's people like you that these things are for, it's people like you that keep these things going and you're one of the reasons we come here to perform too. Looking forward to what you're doing next, seriously, get out there and do it, you'll be fine."

Snags · September 2019

Where is the monitor in relation to your guitar? Straight in front on the floor, or off to the side at an angle? If straight in front, try shifting it so it's off to the side, can help with the howl situation no end.

Cock-ups most people won't notice, and if they're genuinely awful either breeze past them, or make a conspiratorial thing of them. I have lots of experience in this area

Lack of dynamics - trust the FoH to be doing its thing (or position yourself in front of the FoH speakers if you're feeling brave

).

If you keep getting asked to do them, they can't be that bad ...

octatonic · September 2019

Sound like you need to ring the room out.
Have a read of this:

https://www.behindthemixer.com/how-to-easily-ring-out-your-room/

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Why do I do acoustic gigs?

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