I'm putting together a community band - basically all volunteers to support community events. Most of us have been in bands before, my first was in the 70's and I've worked as professional roadie (the Knack with Bruce Gary). So I'm not new to band sounds.
All of us have jobs and family obligations so this is our chance to keep playing without trying hold down a regular band gig. Our drummer is a great guy and has a good attitude, shows up every week to practices but I'm at loss at a way to get him lighten up on the volume. He's been playing about 6 years and is about 30, so he's not a kid - I'm not sure if he's ever been in a band before.
We practice in a large boomy room, our community center (40'x80' cement floors, hard walls, and storefront glass). This is volunteer gig so I don't want to be a jerk because it supposed to be fun. Our first gig is next week and I'm afraid we're going to blast the audience out. We have a 600w PA (300w main, 300w monitors) and the vocals are constantly lost in the music.
We play classic rock, R&B, and beach music (Skynard, Van Morrison, Buffett) - he does get the drum volume down on the quieter songs Margaritaville, Brown eyed Girl, but as soon as a R&R number kicks in we're back to 11. I had a drum machine one week when he was late and practice went so much smoother, the rhythm was monotonous but we could hear each other.
I'm sure this has come up before, he's a pretty decent drummer and I'd like to find a civil way to make this work... Our audience is a mix of all ages so playing at Kiss levels isn't going to cut it. I'm a guitar and bass player, so I thought I'd check with drummers to get some ideas. Help....
All of us have jobs and family obligations so this is our chance to keep playing without trying hold down a regular band gig. Our drummer is a great guy and has a good attitude, shows up every week to practices but I'm at loss at a way to get him lighten up on the volume. He's been playing about 6 years and is about 30, so he's not a kid - I'm not sure if he's ever been in a band before.
We practice in a large boomy room, our community center (40'x80' cement floors, hard walls, and storefront glass). This is volunteer gig so I don't want to be a jerk because it supposed to be fun. Our first gig is next week and I'm afraid we're going to blast the audience out. We have a 600w PA (300w main, 300w monitors) and the vocals are constantly lost in the music.
We play classic rock, R&B, and beach music (Skynard, Van Morrison, Buffett) - he does get the drum volume down on the quieter songs Margaritaville, Brown eyed Girl, but as soon as a R&R number kicks in we're back to 11. I had a drum machine one week when he was late and practice went so much smoother, the rhythm was monotonous but we could hear each other.
I'm sure this has come up before, he's a pretty decent drummer and I'd like to find a civil way to make this work... Our audience is a mix of all ages so playing at Kiss levels isn't going to cut it. I'm a guitar and bass player, so I thought I'd check with drummers to get some ideas. Help....