Using in-ear monitors as the frontman/person for an indie band
November 26, 2014 8:01 PM Subscribe
I'm the frontman for a band and I recently had a come-to-Jesus moment using in-ear monitors for the first time, as opposed to monitor wedges. But some of the pitfalls scare me and I'm interested in your experiences.
We're a five piece powerpop band playing pretty small stages but we are LOUD onstage -- two guitars, Hammond organ, drums, bass, all in a small space. My voice is at its best when I'm not oversinging and as a result I usually end up with the gain on my vocal channel cranked and my monitors absolutely blazing. It's a recipe for feedback and it's very rare that I can really hear myself, which means I'm often off pitch.
I recently tried IEMs and HOLY SHIT I CAN HEAR MYSELF. I was pretty much an instant convert. However as the frontman I really need to be able to interact with the audience properly -- that's a big thing for us -- and there is that weird isolation effect going on. I've been experimenting with ambient mics but it hasn't really helped me feel less of a douche -- I'm just wondering what other people's experiences have been and if it's something I'll just get over. FWIW I am using a Shure PSM300 system, with no problems.
We're a five piece powerpop band playing pretty small stages but we are LOUD onstage -- two guitars, Hammond organ, drums, bass, all in a small space. My voice is at its best when I'm not oversinging and as a result I usually end up with the gain on my vocal channel cranked and my monitors absolutely blazing. It's a recipe for feedback and it's very rare that I can really hear myself, which means I'm often off pitch.
I recently tried IEMs and HOLY SHIT I CAN HEAR MYSELF. I was pretty much an instant convert. However as the frontman I really need to be able to interact with the audience properly -- that's a big thing for us -- and there is that weird isolation effect going on. I've been experimenting with ambient mics but it hasn't really helped me feel less of a douche -- I'm just wondering what other people's experiences have been and if it's something I'll just get over. FWIW I am using a Shure PSM300 system, with no problems.
I kind of feel like I've got some kind of contractual obligation to suggest that maybe you should consider not bein' so dam' loud.
That aside, though . . . . .
While I haven't used IEM's as a performer, I've worked with and, therefore, observed a ton of different acts using them, and I think it really it is just a matter of acclimatizing over time.
Bands that use audience mics or pull one of the earpieces out a little or only use one do seem to have a slightly easier time directly interacting with the audience - they have a better shot at occasionally hearing and responding to actual comments from crowd members.
But (*shrug*) even without IEM's there's a certain amount of "faking it" going on, y'know? In the heat of battle, so to speak, actually clearly hearing and mentally processing audience reactions well enough to respond in a meaningful way can be tough no matter what, and the new sense of isolation is probably freaking you out a little, making you a little more self-conscious.
I think once you get a few more gigs with the ears under your belt, you'll become more adept at interacting with the audience, you'll be better able to mentally process what you do hear through the audience mics or just leaking into open vocal mic channels, and you'll feel less weird.
posted by soundguy99 at 4:49 PM on December 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
That aside, though . . . . .
While I haven't used IEM's as a performer, I've worked with and, therefore, observed a ton of different acts using them, and I think it really it is just a matter of acclimatizing over time.
Bands that use audience mics or pull one of the earpieces out a little or only use one do seem to have a slightly easier time directly interacting with the audience - they have a better shot at occasionally hearing and responding to actual comments from crowd members.
But (*shrug*) even without IEM's there's a certain amount of "faking it" going on, y'know? In the heat of battle, so to speak, actually clearly hearing and mentally processing audience reactions well enough to respond in a meaningful way can be tough no matter what, and the new sense of isolation is probably freaking you out a little, making you a little more self-conscious.
I think once you get a few more gigs with the ears under your belt, you'll become more adept at interacting with the audience, you'll be better able to mentally process what you do hear through the audience mics or just leaking into open vocal mic channels, and you'll feel less weird.
posted by soundguy99 at 4:49 PM on December 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Ha, we are not that loud onstage but I have a quiet voice. My '79 Deluxe Reverb never strays above '2'.
It is interesting -- I watched video of the gig I did with the IEMs and although I felt like I was Skyping with the audience, of course you can't tell anything is any different.
I think the biggest thing I realized was that you really need as much of a monitor mix in the IEMs as you can get, which can be a challenge in smaller clubs where your amps are providing a decent proportion of the FOH sound.
posted by Sportswriters at 8:12 PM on December 15, 2014
It is interesting -- I watched video of the gig I did with the IEMs and although I felt like I was Skyping with the audience, of course you can't tell anything is any different.
I think the biggest thing I realized was that you really need as much of a monitor mix in the IEMs as you can get, which can be a challenge in smaller clubs where your amps are providing a decent proportion of the FOH sound.
posted by Sportswriters at 8:12 PM on December 15, 2014
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Can you get by with one ear in, one ear out? One ear partially out? I don't use monitors that are fitted to my ear (Alien Ears, etc.) I have ear buds that allow me to hear a little more room noise, which works for me.
I'm not a front man, though, so I can't fully relate to not being able to interact with the crowd. Unless I strap on the keytar, which I do sometimes, I'm usally parked behind my keys stage right.
posted by emelenjr at 9:10 PM on November 26, 2014