alvinthedrummer
New member
I thought I have seen the worst for the last 15 years worth of performances....until last night that is.
During setup, I requested for a rather minimal microphone arrangement for the small percussion kit that we have brought. I requested for one mic to be used as an overhead microphone and one of the mics to be used on the miniature "floor tom" (14" by 10" in size). I was rejected at an instant by the sound engineer. His reason was that by placing the vocal mic ( shure sm58 ), we will "blow" the system up. I then reassured him that I have used this setup for countless shows using either the sm57s or sm58s with no issues whatsoever. In fact, my most recent show was an outdoor setup very similar to what we were going to be presenting last evening and that was at Paragon shopping centre's outdoor stage (The Gift Of Music series). In fact, the PA speakers we used at Paragon were similar Mackie speakers that were setup last evening. I even reassured him that I have used the similar setup at local clubs too with no issues at all. His reply to me was that the club situations were different since those speakers didn't belong to me so it didn't matter if I were to "blow" it up. I found that really unreasonable, rude and disrespectful.
Having heard that, my bassist who was present, walked to the sound engineer and requested for an explanation as to why he refused to mic up the percussion set as requested. He replied my bassist in mandarin saying that he had asked the "wrong" question and said that he will not answer it. My bassist then requested for an explanation as to why his question was "wrong" and that he only needed to know the details of his initial refusal to our microphone arrangement. At this point, the engineer started to raise his voice and asked in Mandarin if my bassist was "looking for trouble". My bassist was taken a back and tried to explain again that he was only merely asking for an explanation. Then the engineer began shouting and decided to "nudge" my bassist with his hand. My bassist then took offense and raised his voice back at the engineer saying that he was being unreasonable. The engineer stood up and began challenging my bassist to a fight. Even the engineer's team of young helpers started gesturing with their hands in a manner as if to provoke a physical fight. My guitarist then stepped in to divide the groups.
I really question this sound-engineer's integrity as a professional. His claim that mic'ing up a mini floor tom would blow up a pair of Mackie speakers was most ridiculous! So, if you guys ever spot this sound team...beware!! Either you agree of you might just get beaten up for the silliest reason ever!
By the way, the engineer's name is Keith and he is from Lee Kwong Seng Music Centre. So beware!
During setup, I requested for a rather minimal microphone arrangement for the small percussion kit that we have brought. I requested for one mic to be used as an overhead microphone and one of the mics to be used on the miniature "floor tom" (14" by 10" in size). I was rejected at an instant by the sound engineer. His reason was that by placing the vocal mic ( shure sm58 ), we will "blow" the system up. I then reassured him that I have used this setup for countless shows using either the sm57s or sm58s with no issues whatsoever. In fact, my most recent show was an outdoor setup very similar to what we were going to be presenting last evening and that was at Paragon shopping centre's outdoor stage (The Gift Of Music series). In fact, the PA speakers we used at Paragon were similar Mackie speakers that were setup last evening. I even reassured him that I have used the similar setup at local clubs too with no issues at all. His reply to me was that the club situations were different since those speakers didn't belong to me so it didn't matter if I were to "blow" it up. I found that really unreasonable, rude and disrespectful.
Having heard that, my bassist who was present, walked to the sound engineer and requested for an explanation as to why he refused to mic up the percussion set as requested. He replied my bassist in mandarin saying that he had asked the "wrong" question and said that he will not answer it. My bassist then requested for an explanation as to why his question was "wrong" and that he only needed to know the details of his initial refusal to our microphone arrangement. At this point, the engineer started to raise his voice and asked in Mandarin if my bassist was "looking for trouble". My bassist was taken a back and tried to explain again that he was only merely asking for an explanation. Then the engineer began shouting and decided to "nudge" my bassist with his hand. My bassist then took offense and raised his voice back at the engineer saying that he was being unreasonable. The engineer stood up and began challenging my bassist to a fight. Even the engineer's team of young helpers started gesturing with their hands in a manner as if to provoke a physical fight. My guitarist then stepped in to divide the groups.
I really question this sound-engineer's integrity as a professional. His claim that mic'ing up a mini floor tom would blow up a pair of Mackie speakers was most ridiculous! So, if you guys ever spot this sound team...beware!! Either you agree of you might just get beaten up for the silliest reason ever!
By the way, the engineer's name is Keith and he is from Lee Kwong Seng Music Centre. So beware!
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