Advice please: playing outside

[PGibson]

We are playing outside at a private birthday party in a couple of weeks. It's a large garden out in the country. Having never done anything like it it before, I am concerned about getting the sound right and being loud enough (I use a Fender Junior Blues amp). I would appreciate any advice from more experienced people.
Paul

[Martin Page]

Also, make sure you can read any settings on LED echo patches - sunlight can make them unreadable.

Martin.

[PGibson]

Thanks Martin. It is an evening event so I think we are more likely to be troubled by cold than bright sunshine.
Paul

[RayL]

Unlike playing indoors, the sound will not be returned to you by nearby walls so having foldback is particularly important. Don't have your guitar amps pointing at your ankles - put them on stands or crates (but stands look smarter). If your band includes vocals make sure everyone can hear a monitor speaker. Watch out for distant walls that can bounce back an echo that will mess up playing and singing unless your monitors are louder than the echo.

The way the wind is blowing will make a difference to what your audience hears. Do you mic up the drums? If the wind is in your face you may have to (even if you don't normally) because their acoustic sound will be blown away from the audience. On the other hand, if the wind is on your back and you mic up the drums, the cymbals especially will be over-emphasised and you will get complaints from the audience.

The most important thing is the SOUNDCHECK. If you are in charge of getting the band's sound right , then get a wireless system for your guitar and go and stand where the audience will be standing. It is the BALANCE of the band that you have to get right.

Ray

[PGibson]

Thanks Ray. That's very helpful. Mic the drums? My ears are still ringing from standing near him last time! Wind? Oh dear, I had not thought of that problem. We are using a pa system supplied by the bass guitarist. He is reluctant to put anything other than the vocals through the pa for fear of 'overloading the system'. A wireless system sounds very useful for a diy sound check; as yet I do not have one. Thank you. Much food for thought!
Paul

[51 Relic]

Hi found this on the internet may be of help

The first and most important matter is safety. Discard any cables, particularly mains cables, that have any nicks or look generally tatty - damp grass makes an excellent earth. Tighten up all the connections on plugs and distribution boards. And make sure you take (and use) a Residual Current Detector (RCD) - a little box built like a two-way mains plug adaptor. An RCD detects any current leaks to earth, and cuts off the mains supply before (hopefully) you get a nasty dose of electric shock treatment. It's not a total guarantee of safety but it is a step in the right direction. Insist on some form of staging, even if it's just some boards laid on the ground - it's amazing how much earth hum is generated by having to stand your gear on that aforementioned damp grass.

Try to find out even before you accept the gig what sort of power supply you'll have. Will the organisers be providing mains electricity, or will a generator be used? If the latter, check that it will provide enough current to meet your requirements. As a rough guideline, a 1K rig will draw something like five amps at full price. It's also worth asking if there's going to be adequate earthing - there's not much you can do if there isn't, but you may just stimulate the organiser into checking with his/her electrical bods. You'll almost certainly need a mains filter if you use any computer-based equipment on generator power.

You'll need more poke from your kit in the open than you do inside - the sound literally disappears into thin air. You may already have loads of headroom on your gear, but if you're already pushing it to the limit indoors, then you should consider begging, borrowing or even hiring a more powerful system. Even on the sunniest and driest days, damp can be a real problem in marquees

[JimTidmarsh]

You probably don't want to hear this, but I sing with a 'modern' male voice choir which uses a 1k PA rig, backing tracks and all the paraphenalia.
We flatly refuse to perform outdoors because we can't get the sound reproduction that satisifes us.

[George Geddes]

We have played at a charity fundraiser in similar circumstances and use the same gear as we do for indoors gigs. We don't use PA or monitors. Perhaps Alan or John can add to this.

Keep checking the weather - we have at least one photo of me gazing heavenwards. Not seeking inspiration, just checking the clouds...

George

[noelford]

I actually love the opportunity to play outdoors and have no problem with the sound being right. Next Thursday evening our West Of Wales Shadows and Guitar club is meeting at a members' place for a change, provisionally in his barn but, if the weather is kind, we plan to set up outdoors. Any members here are welcome to join us, just PM me for details.

[dave robinson]

We often play outdoors and never have a problem. Just plug in and play.