Episode 026: Taking It to the Streets

Practical Bass

00:00 / 32:14

As the summer comes to an end, let’s talk about handling those outdoor gigs.

Music: Jahzzar, Please Listen Carefully; spinningmerkaba, Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix).

Show notes

So indoor/outdoor, in general, do you have differences in your rig?

Paul:
- Usually take a bigger rig
- Outdoors there are no walls for the lows to bounce off… need more oomph to carry the bass… There’s a reason you see the famous, full-on 8×10 Ampeg SVT stack at the outdoor festival stage!
Dave
- Mostly what changes for me are the accessories in my rig
  - Cable length/power supplies
  - Fan / Windscreen for the mic / Towel
  - Amp Stand
- Because I travel light normally, I really need to consider the air I’m pushing out
- It can be a challenge if there’s no PA:

How do you manage your sound on stage when the outdoor venue is large but your bass isn’t going through the PA?

Paul:
- Oh man, this should never happen! Outdoors in a big venue you need a PA with real subs, and to run through it along with your rig
Dave:
- It can be a struggle but I either place my speaker next to me or
- Daisy chain a 2nd cabinet in front of the line of the band

Is there a difference in how you set your levels/eq?

Paul
- I turn it up — that’s mostly it. Might goose the low lows a bit 😉
Dave
- I really enjoy that outdoor gig where I can kick the lows and highs up a bit more than I usually need. – A little liberating

What are some other areas to consider when playing an outdoor gig?

Paul — I usually think about summer!
- Hydration — need to make sure you have lots of water, NOT ALCOHOL
  - This is the biggest mistake I see people making
  - The alcohol also will make you less aware of your sun exposure and your hydration needs
- Waterproof sunscreen — be careful of face, I always end up with some running into my eyes
Dave
- Watch out for those colder gigs – late/fall, early spring – Gloves?
- I never assume there’s going to be plenty of water – cooler time