Concerns About Meeting Band's Tech Rider Requirments - Need Advice
Hi everyone,
I’m a semi-professional sound engineer and I’m feeling a bit anxious about fulfilling the gear requirements for an upcoming performance this October. The band’s rider is very detailed, and I’m concerned about a few things, especially given the acoustics of the venue.
Here’s a summary of their request:
- A grand piano in good condition and tuned on the day of the performance (a tuner is already arranged to handle this).
- Two SM 58 or comparable microphones on boom stands at the bass and piano positions.
- Two AKG 414 or comparable condenser microphones for the piano on boom stands or two inputs with DI for the keyboard.
- Two Neumann KM 184 or comparable condenser microphones for the vibraphone on boom stands.
- Sennheiser 421 or comparable for the double bass amp on a small boom stand.
- Three good quality monitors (I've got K10s for them and two for FOH).
My main concerns are:
Condenser Microphones Live: The rider specifies AKG 414s for the piano and Neumann KM 184s for the vibraphone. I’m worried about their sensitivity and potential feedback issues in addition to needing to rent as I only have dynamic mics aside from a few Beta58As and a Beta 52A. I haven't used LDCs or many SDCs live before. Any tips for managing these mics live, or am I overthinking this?
Gear Availability: I’m uncertain whether available suppliers will provide the exact models requested or just comparable gear. How strict should I be about sticking to the specified models, or what alternatives would be acceptable? Also, I'm still young and am building up my arsenal but don't have much gear and have been fortunate to be first call for many localish venues, all which have gear on site. I haven't had to rent from an AV company before aside from paying buddies in my audio circle, so tips on renting would be very helpful!
Venue Concerns: The performance will be held in a venue that used to be a YMCA gymnasium, which has wood floors and overall poor acoustics. I know this venue well, though given the band’s detailed requirements and the fact that they're maybe the largest name I'll have worked with means I've gotta get it near perfect. Any advice on optimizing sound in such a space would be helpful.
My additional conserns are:
Pricing: As I am relatively new to doing audio/music fulltime, I have got the technical aspects down but am still refining my business model. My fee is $250 for a show when this venue hires me, covers the band's payment, and retains ticket sales. In this instance, the band has rented the space and will be paying me directly. Should I adjust my fee accordingly, and how can I effectively balance this with the rental costs?
I’m a competent sound engineer, but I’m still feeling a bit uneasy about how everything will come together. Any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!