Advice for outdoor gig

[asingardenof]

I'm after a bit of advice for what my band might need to do to beef up our setup for outdoor gigs.

 

We're a 5-piece with keys, guitar and bass, and usually we use the PA for vocals and keys, with the drums un-mic'd and the guitar and bass coming from the backline only. We've been asked to play at a small outdoor event in the summer, where all I'm told about the setup is that it's a corporate event for a local company, where there'll also be food vans, bouncy castle, and so on. We've been asked to use our PA not only for us but also for music in between sets. Past experience tells us that our current setup, which consists of a pair of Behringer B112D speakers, isn't up to the job, though it's perfectly adequate indoors. We're not keen to buy anything new because we don't do many of these types of gig at all, so would be looking at either hiring something or buying secondhand.

 

But the question is what should we be looking for? Are we just looking at something like a pair of subs to take the pressure off the main speakers, or a whole new PA?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Hire, with a sound man. In terms of what you need for outdoors versus indoors it's at least twice the kit.

[PaulWarning]

we've got a similar set up, Yamaha EMX 512 power amp with Wharfdale titans we use just for vocals and maybe bass drum, done a few outdoor gigs, exactly the same setup outdoors as indoors, works fine.

[Chienmortbb]

I think you have to ask what exactly is expected of you. With all due respect, are the band just background music too? If so just go with what you have, 

 

If you are expected to really entertain, you may need more kit. Of course you need to be aware of the cost, are the company happy to fund it or is that within your fee? 

[JPJ]

Hire in with a sound guy (it’s a corporate gig, they should be able to afford it, and they’ll be setting the cost off against tax). I’ve done out door gigs with our rig (2xEV ZLX15P’s on poles above our old Peavey Pro15P bass bins) and got away with it. Someone once told me you need a minimum of 4 x the quantity of bass bins for an outside gig, don’t know whether that’s true or not but it sounds plausible to me. 

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Not 4x but 2x at any rate. Indoors the bass bins get boundary reinforcement, outdoors they do not. That translates to no less than 6dB less output to the audience outdoors. Doubling the cab count realizes 6dB additional output.

[Phil Starr]

The human part of this is the bit you need to address first. What are your clients expectations and are they willing to pay for it?

 

if they are paying your usual fee then they should expect no more than your usual service. If they want a bigger PA then they need to pay the hire fee plus something for your trouble in setting things up even if that is just booking a hire company for them. The strife comes when you have different expectations. The problem with events like this is that they are often organised by people with no experience of what’s involved. Ask what the budget is and be clear about what they should expect for that.

 

Technically it’s fairly straightforward. Your high frequencies are relatively unaffected and will go as loud as indoors. your bass will be lost without reflective surfaces so you’ll need that extra 6db Bill mentioned. Probably a couple of 15” subs to go with your tops. You might need to go even louder though because you will be trying to get the sound out over a bigger area outdoors and you will need to factor in the wind and extraneous noise.

 

The simplest thing would be to get in a hire company. They should have the expertise to accurately assess your needs and if they get it wrong they take the blame. Also you don’t want to set up an unfamiliar system for a one off gig.