How prepared are you to advance your next show?
There are many moving parts to getting a show from a proposal/idea to a successful event. Don't believe me? Ask your local promoter how much time goes into one night of music.
When you are approached to play at a show, how much help are you in getting the process from proposed to success? Having the right information on-hand can make your part in the machine that is a rock show go way more smoothly. So what do should you have handy?
At the very least you should have an input list and a stage plot - the input list is the number of channels you need on a mixer in a list/table format that indicates what the input is for (Guitar, Floor Tom, Vocal -C-) and what the preferred mic is (SM57, Sennheiser 604, SM58) and if you want to be really helpful, what stands will be needed. The stage plot is some form of graphical representation of where everything goes on the stage. As an example, I have posted the Beau Hodges Band stage plot above. Each area of the stage has information about equipment, mic stands, power (A/C) drops and floor monitors. We don't use pictures, but I've seen plenty of stage plots that actually use pictures along with text to get the point across. There is no standard for stage plots. That means that in my years doing sound I saw everything from hand drawn stage layouts that looked like someone's 5 year old son was asked to make the image to really detailed computer generated stage plots. The information that I think is important on a stage plot is pretty straight-forward.
Looking at the stage plot I've included (because I made it) you'll see that in the top-left corner is information about contacting the band (me) for any production questions. In the top-right corner there is the indication of direction (in this case, the down-stage-right is at the top right.) From there, there are 3 areas on the down-stage (front of stage) area that need equipment. On the Stage Left side (S-L) Guitarist Hoz and Bass player Slater need power (A/C), a Monitor, a Boom mic stand and a vocal mic. In the Center (-C-) Singer Beau will need a Monitor, A Straight mic stand, a Vocal Mic and for some shows a Direct Box (D.I.). On Stage Right (S-R) Jon (ME!) will need power (A/C), a Monitor, a Boom mic stand and a vocal mic and a Direct Box. On the Upstage side (Backline/Drum Riser) we need two power drops (one on either side of the drum riser) for the guitar and bass amps. On Stage Left there will be a guitar amp that needs a short boom mic stand and an SM57 and a bass amp that will need a Direct Box. Stage right will have two guitar amps (one running a 'Dry' signal and one running a 'Wet' signal) and will need two short boom mic stands and two SM57's. The drum riser for Tyler will have a drumset, indicated by the individual microphones (Kick, Hi Hat, Snare, Rack Tom, Floor Tom, Overheads) as well as a Monitor, a Boom mic stand and a vocal mic.
I include Band members names. When I was doing sound I liked to be able to talk TO people instead of talking AT them.... "Hey Slater, can I get you to play that bass for me?' does way more than 'Bass Player, I need to check your level...'. I've been told that this is useless, but I still do it because I really liked to see them on the stage plot when I was the guy on the mixer.
All mic recommendations are ‘or equivalent’
Kick Drum
Snare Shure SM 57
Rack Tom Shure SM 57
Floor Tom Shure SM 57
Hi Hat Pencil condenser
Overhead L Large Diaphragm condenser
Overhead R Large Diaphragm condenser
Bass amp D.I.
Shure Beta 52
When you are approached to play at a show, how much help are you in getting the process from proposed to success? Having the right information on-hand can make your part in the machine that is a rock show go way more smoothly. So what do should you have handy?
At the very least you should have an input list and a stage plot - the input list is the number of channels you need on a mixer in a list/table format that indicates what the input is for (Guitar, Floor Tom, Vocal -C-) and what the preferred mic is (SM57, Sennheiser 604, SM58) and if you want to be really helpful, what stands will be needed. The stage plot is some form of graphical representation of where everything goes on the stage. As an example, I have posted the Beau Hodges Band stage plot above. Each area of the stage has information about equipment, mic stands, power (A/C) drops and floor monitors. We don't use pictures, but I've seen plenty of stage plots that actually use pictures along with text to get the point across. There is no standard for stage plots. That means that in my years doing sound I saw everything from hand drawn stage layouts that looked like someone's 5 year old son was asked to make the image to really detailed computer generated stage plots. The information that I think is important on a stage plot is pretty straight-forward.
Looking at the stage plot I've included (because I made it) you'll see that in the top-left corner is information about contacting the band (me) for any production questions. In the top-right corner there is the indication of direction (in this case, the down-stage-right is at the top right.) From there, there are 3 areas on the down-stage (front of stage) area that need equipment. On the Stage Left side (S-L) Guitarist Hoz and Bass player Slater need power (A/C), a Monitor, a Boom mic stand and a vocal mic. In the Center (-C-) Singer Beau will need a Monitor, A Straight mic stand, a Vocal Mic and for some shows a Direct Box (D.I.). On Stage Right (S-R) Jon (ME!) will need power (A/C), a Monitor, a Boom mic stand and a vocal mic and a Direct Box. On the Upstage side (Backline/Drum Riser) we need two power drops (one on either side of the drum riser) for the guitar and bass amps. On Stage Left there will be a guitar amp that needs a short boom mic stand and an SM57 and a bass amp that will need a Direct Box. Stage right will have two guitar amps (one running a 'Dry' signal and one running a 'Wet' signal) and will need two short boom mic stands and two SM57's. The drum riser for Tyler will have a drumset, indicated by the individual microphones (Kick, Hi Hat, Snare, Rack Tom, Floor Tom, Overheads) as well as a Monitor, a Boom mic stand and a vocal mic.
I include Band members names. When I was doing sound I liked to be able to talk TO people instead of talking AT them.... "Hey Slater, can I get you to play that bass for me?' does way more than 'Bass Player, I need to check your level...'. I've been told that this is useless, but I still do it because I really liked to see them on the stage plot when I was the guy on the mixer.
All mic recommendations are ‘or equivalent’
Kick Drum
Snare Shure SM 57
Rack Tom Shure SM 57
Floor Tom Shure SM 57
Hi Hat Pencil condenser
Overhead L Large Diaphragm condenser
Overhead R Large Diaphragm condenser
Bass amp D.I.
Shure Beta 52