Dealing with feedback with an uncompromising drummer

[TimR]

I love a cowbell.

 

But then I also love the sound an elastic band streched across a shoe makes. 

[StingRayBoy42]

4 minutes ago, TimR said:

I love a cowbell.

Do you know why cows wear bells?

Because the horns don't work.

[Dad3353]

[Jo.gwillim]

Sorry if the point's already been made. But been in exactly the the OP's situation. Really hard when you're the bass player being asked to turn the vocals up mid gig but know you can't.  Most of the feedback we had is was coming from the vocalist's floor monitor rather than FOH speakers. When she switched to iems things got so much easier even though she was the only one using them.

Our band took the decision to get someone else to do the sound even if it meant much less dosh for the band us. It takes that dual role off me and the sound bod can make subtle tweaks mid song that i could never do. 

[nige1968]

A (moderately) famous (at the time) touring band cancelled their gig at our polytechnic ents hall *on the night* because their drummer was sending the noise-o-meter off the scale and they wouldn't/couldn't make him/it any quieter. I helpfully suggested they could use the support band's drum kit and I wish I could convey in words the dirty look I got in response.

[TimR]

17 minutes ago, nige1968 said:

A (moderately) famous (at the time) touring band cancelled their gig at our polytechnic ents hall *on the night* because their drummer was sending the noise-o-meter off the scale and they wouldn't/couldn't make him/it any quieter. I helpfully suggested they could use the support band's drumer kit and I wish I could convey in words the dirty look I got in response.

 

[beely]

Seems to me you are seeking a technical solution to a human problem.

In fairness to your drummer (I know, I know 🙄), perhaps his use of IEM's and controlling his own mix is preventing him from hearing, quite literally, the scale of the problem.

The feedback issue you are experiencing may not be simply attributed to mic volume alone.

As someone who also does sound from the stage, I fully appreciate your situation.

I sometimes feel that my attention is split to the point I feel I'm doing neither job as well as I would like.

I hope you get things sorted out.

[Dad3353]

Can you try a Beta 58A instead, for the vocals..? It's a supercardio, so will reject more from off-centre. A definite improvement on the trusty SM58, and a tried and tested staple in FOH voice mic'ing. Just a thought.