Just a frivolous topic brought to mind by a great gig last night--I wonder how everyone else's night went.
I'm playing a couple nights a week in a new club on a nearby lake. It is huge, with seating capacity of maybe 4-500. The audience is very diverse, ranging from early twenties to 70's. Most of the people live around the lake, so many income brackets, lifestyles, etc are represented.
It's very interesting because they can drink as much as they want, and still be very close to home. They don't have to worry about DWI's. Everybody pretty much knows everybody else--it's like a big family.
The common thread is that they do love to have a party, and late in the evening they want some loud, rockin' music.
It has been quite awhile since I was able to really crank up the volume. I have a 1000-watt digital power amp, and it was red-lining most of the night. It's a feeling of real power--everybody dancing to whatever beat you play. They want to feel the bass and sing along with the chorus. Great fun, reminiscent of the old rock-n-roll bands that got a lot of us started.
The arranger let me string medleys together, go quickly between songs, and cater to the requests with no time needed to "call" the song to anyone else in the band or load sequences. Just one button and you go from a rocking "Mustang Sally" to a "Treat Me Like A Fool" and back to "Taking Care of Business".
I was so pumped I forgot to take a break for three hours.
DonM

Hi Don

Just some words related to the heading of this topic.
Playing loud is fun, playing louder might be much
more funny, but now I getting the punishment for
the stupid things done in younger days, a high
frequency whistle sound going on in my ears about
all the time, that's not so funny !
Just hoping that no other have to learn to know
about ho it is.
GJ

Wise words. Rest assured I sit BEHIND the mains.
Don

Hey Elvis! Isn't that song called "Love me" ?????

You're right of course Dave. It's one of my favorites. Also like "I Was The One".
I hear you and Donny had a good time too.
Don

I haven't played real loud in a loooooooong time, but it sounds like a lot of fun.

Eric

For what it's worth,
Loud bass is the real key to "feeling" the music - not loud volume. Also, the bass frequencys are not directional, so they are less damaging to the ears.
I'm sure this is not news to many of you, but this is another good justification for bi-amping a sound rig. When a dedicated amp is powering just the looooooow frequencies, you can add "punch" to the mix without increasing the overall volume. The end result is a fuller, more powerful sound that "appears" to be louder, when in fact ... only the bass is louder. It's a much smoother approach to adding guts, than simply turning up the volume.
I was never a fan of real loud music, but I understand the "impact" of moving air. Volume is tolerated differently, depending on the instrument. For example - I can listen to a blaring horn section all day, but a lead guitar ...... NO way! The "edge" cuts through my skull, and I loose the attraction for the music. Lots of DJ's play too loud because there is no "feel" from the source - they depend on the moving air to get the crowd pumped. It's the essence of Rock & Roll. It's all about the energy, but after many years ........... I've made it all about longevity. If I get loud - I am never in direct line with the speakers. It's not healthy. Too many of my friends have "ringing ears" because they didn't follow that rule.
I'm glad you learned the secret Don - that's why you're still at it........I said THAT'S WHY YOU'RE STILL AT IT !!!

UD, I guess you knew this 35 years ago too,
when we played Stones and Beatles, and even
Elvis, as loud as we possably could?
Back then it was important to play loud, and
also to stay right in front of the speakers!!
Anyway, try to tell it to the young ones who
are stepping the discofloor all night long.
Again it's the same thing, that those who live
long enough, is the ones to learn.
GJ

Last december a made a small modification in my sound package.
1-The main sound syst. still is a Peavey powered mixer,two JBL speakers and a small Yamaha MS60S for feed back (with a loop system developed by UD)
2-Then I introduced more one amp(100W) with a small crossover connected in a Bazooka(Sub woofer 12'')only for very low frequency.
Now I can set my mixer with a treble ajustment and still have a nice loud sound.
Chico

GJ,
I really NEVER did the "loud as we could" thing. I always had individual stage monitors, and never had the mains in a damaging position. The only real thing the dancers need is BASS. That what drives the feeling in your gut - you can "feel" it. Make the bass and drums dominant, make the vocal sing out clear ABOVE the rest, and they'll dance. The've been doing it with me since 1969, and I have no "ringing" or deadening of high end.
Speaking of th4e Beatles - look at any pictures of their early concerts - there are NO pa speakers or monitors in sight - just those low powered Vox amps at the back of the stage. I don't know HOW they did it, with all the screaming in the house.

I guess it also depends of what type of music
you performing at the time, and the audience
you're playing for etc.
Talking of speakers, i.e. look at Pink Floyd's
gigging, A whole wall of it, and I few watt's I
guess
But you're right, it's the bass who make you feel
the "boost".
GJ

My Wife and I on hols in Galway say 5 yrs ago and we went to adance 5 piece band --huge mixer approx 15 ft wide and a huge inflexibe guy operating it.It was abusively loud and I "survived" but my wife has the noise in her ears thing ever since. All members of the band had two ear plugs in to ensure that they didnt suffer. While I try to live in peace I was dissapointed that my wife didnt take legal action. It may have helped some others (and herself financially).
I try to get vol low usually but yes I love the lift we all get when its at a level that drives audience and myself into action. Myears are affected in that I dont hear as well as I would wish. Pierce

I'm sorry - there is simply NO reason to play loud enough to hurt your hearing. That is my most precious gift, and I'd be lost without it. I'd rather be blind.

Gentlemen, Gentlemen, .........I know is fun to play loud and "move the air" all we can; but aren't we beeing a little selfish here? Have you ever been on the other side of the picture, you know, in the audience, trying to convey a thought to someone else, but you can't because you can't hear yourself think, all due to the sound being "painfuly" loud? How about trying to enjoy your meal with just some music in the background?
Sometimes "air moves" for 4 straight hours during a time when people are not necesarily at a concert but to enjoy all the other things beside music that make an affair a fun place to be; things like the food, the ambiance, friends, telling some jokes they can hear. Hate to sound like a "party pooper" here but we, as musicians, can be a bit more considerate by being more sensitive of people's needs when they are out to have fun. This does not mean that, at sometime during the affair, musicians shouldn't play "loud"; but this should be done more selectivly towards the end of the affair, after everone is done eating, and done enough talking. So many times when I am a guest to an affair I here peoples' most frequent comment:....."everything was great, but the music was sooooo loud!" oops! I think I just revealed my age!
Mario

UD, Gunnar, Chico, Eric, Don.... I hope you still like me! ....Pleeeease.

Here Here Mario...
My sentiments exactly. A lot of the regular places I play say they hire a LOUD band only once. Just like tempos should ebb and flow, same with volumes.
Eddie

Mario: Excellent point. There is a time and place for softer/louder music. As entertainers, it is our responsibility to gauge the volume level as well as music style appropriate for the occasion.

My rule of thumb is to always start out playing 'quieter' than what I initially think the audience expects. Contrary to what many people think, playing softer can sometimes be an effective way to 'draw' the audience in. This can suddenly quiet the room down so they can hear you. Nothing's worse than playing louder and louder to compete with a boisterist crowd. It doesn't work !

A key to a successful musician/entertainer is the ability to gauge the mood of the audience and use our music to transform the mood of the room. What song set works one night may be inappropriate for another. Every night is different so it's important to stay in touch with the audience's mood & energy level. The key is to maintain spontaneity & flexibility. As musicians, we really do have awesome powers.

Good point Mario,

that's why I think an arranger has a great advantage over a band. You can turn the WHOLE thing down and still sound great, depending on your surroundings.
We can squeeze into any little corner of a coffe shop or fill out a large party room.

I always make sure my audience is comfortable and has fun, that's why I wrote that I haven't played loud in a long time.

On our last christmas party (about 700 present) we had a DJ. Dinner music OK, but than started the dance....
The subwoofer way to loud/strong.
I like to move my lungs through my own breathing efforts and not by a subwoofer.
OK I too like to feel the base, but that was way to much and a lot of people left after a short while, including myself.
The year before they had a live band. It was much better. Loud, but good loud without pain.

I sliped Human rsources a demo tape. Who knows... Next year?

Eric

Volume Tip when performing:

If YOU can't hear the Hum of the audience while playing ..... Your too Loud. Works for me after 30+ yrs still performing live.

Don't misunderstand, I always monitor the audience. This was just a huge place and big crowd and it was necessary to play louder than I normally do.
DonM

Don,

ya sure you wer'nt Flashbackin to your 60's Rock days that night!!? :>)

It was a Hard Day's Night.
DonM