Too cold at the Club Stage

[caballoballo]

Hola Bongoceros,

On Friday Sept 23 we played at a Club named El Palo 11,the air conditioning was so high (too cold,I did not sweat) that it hurt to play the Bongó plus the sound was dull. The same thing happens to me at my home while playing close to the air conditioner,the sound just drops . I thought synthetics heads were not affected by temperature but their sound is not the same as when you play in a warmer place. Last Friday I went to the same Club but this time to dance SalSa and Sammy Garcia (Pearl endorser) was playing there (Fyberskin,Wooden Pearl Elite Bongó) and he was complaining about the cold plus his volume was not big. Do not misunderstan me,Sammy is a great Bongocero but after listening and watching him having the same problem I think synthetics are somehow affected by temperature or may is that the cold don't let you move the hands with flexibility and power. What you guys think ?

[bongomikee]

Hmmm.....cant say that I can speak from experience on this matter but why not carry a mic?

[ABAKUA]

Regardless of temperature, I always make sure that my joints and muscles are well warmed up before playing.
Stretches and excercises are vital.

I can say I have ever experienced this problem you face, and I have played in all sorts of temperature surroundings.
Even in the snowy regions to tropics.

Sure, alternating temperature can affect tuning or pitch, but some quick tuning quickly fixes the problem. They key is to have top qulaity skins and a good understanding of tuning.

All the best to you. :;):

[Raymond]

Supposedly, temperature do not affect synthetic heads. (I know, of course after hitting them, they could lose their tuning...remember they stretch). Accoustics play a great part in the projection of sound..if there is a carpet, if the stage is sort of "covered", etc, come into effect...The cold could mess with your hands....

Palo 11 is a small place (at least last time I was there) and the band plays in an ackward place...(I'll ask Sammy)...

Saludos!

[caballoballo]

Vaya,

Palo 11 has been rebuilt to accomodate more people.The stage is now in the back which is bigger. But yes,the stage has a carpet and indeed that is going to absorb your sound but I tell you,it gets so cold that you don't even sweat. I was very uncomfortable plus when you are the one who got the gig,have to make sure the soundman is there on time plus making sure all the players are there, that really is going to put stress on you and that is going to drain your energy. So when I got to the stage I was too tense to play. Another 2 cents.Pa' encima

[onile]

¡Adelante mi hermano Caballoballo!
¡Espero que todo este bien contigo pana!

I have had some experience being the frontman for my own group, “Charanga Melao”, and it’s not an easy task. I have to say, I would have been much happier relegating the responsibility to someone else on some occasions, but no such luck! The more you do it, the better you get at it!

I had to learn sound, how to mix on the spot with my the PA, follow which cord goes where, and then there’s the monitors! Everyone wants something different. Oy Vey! Such a thing this sound, give a look!

It is much easier being a sideman in a group, letting someone else worry, or just paying someone else to worry about the stuff!

I can relate to having stress on these type of gigs! Pero hay que recordar que “somos cabezas y no colas” mi hermano. We can do it! I’m sure that you sounded great mi pana, it’s just the stress level gets in the way and numbs us at times to what we actually hear!

¡La bendicion mi hermano!

Onile!



Edited By onile on 1128361872

[caballoballo]

Vaya Onile,

Yes,it is better sometime to only be a player,get to the Club,play,pickup the Bongó and the Campana,go home,no problem. The band belongs to my cousin but I am the presentao who is always going into clubs to get a gig. Monitors, you can not please everybody because you add more volume to one and then everybody wants the same,are you people deaf ? is always my answer. I use to be a soundman,I went to the Escuela Libre the Musica to learn that technique so let me know what equipment you have and I tell you how to wire everything. Check the equipment made by Behringer, is not expensive and built under ISO 9000 which is a quality standard and not all manufacturers are certify by that. Arre Caballo

[onile]

Alafia Caballoballo!
I hope that you are well my friend!

Sorry it took so long to get back to you with the type of PA equipment I have. I actually have two PAs, both are Yamaha, one is for a small group EMX 88s (800w, 8 channels), the other is an EMX 5000 (1000w, 20 channels) for larger gigs!

The times I've used the EMX 5000, I've had a sound guy run it, so I really haven't had the luxury to pick up the nuances of it. The smaller one is more convenient!

I do have two Behringer 1202 pre-mixers which I use for the congas, and other instruments to augment the smaller PA EMX 88s. La cosa es que todavía estoy tratando de conocer el equipo.

Suave!
Onile!

[caballoballo]

Onile,como estamos Hermano,

We were going to buy the Yamaha EMX5000 but was not available here at the Island so we decided to go with Behringer. Everytime we buy something new,I get together with the timabalero who is also a sound men to play with the equipment. That way we try to get the best sound possible. Last time we add one Parametric Equalizer and a Crossover to the rest of the equipment which includes,2 Qsc amps,A sound enhancer,the mixing console,2 Subwoofers,2 two way speakers and 4 monitors. Now I have to find somebody to do the sound beacuse I can not pitch and catch at the same time,I mean I can do the pre mix and sound check but somebody has to do the fine tunning while I play.Arre Caballo