This is a problem for probably everyone doing it or who has already done it!!!
On stage is the hardest to control, yet should be the most important to control. Jeez; the guys I've been working with for nearly 10 years now control it by turning it all up to ten and then waiting for the ringing in our ears to stop before we try to talk to anyone.
A soundman is the ONLY answer!!!
Sure; go ahead and spend on a great PA, but without an OBJECTIVE set of ears in front of the band there is NO controlling this problem because music is a place for egos to flaunt themselves, mostly.
Lose the egos and get a truly objective soundman who can not only set limits, but get you to stick to them and you might have something there...
I want to address my question to the knowledgeable audience who has already been there and done that:
We are a cover band just starting out, been practicing in our studio 2-3 nights a week, now beginning to do open mics for experience. We get up on stage, plug in to the house amps (not a mixer) try to adjust our volume accordingly but have been having difficulty balancing our volume between instruments. There are no floor monitor speakers. How do other bands approach this ? Do you have someone stand in front of the band and listen for volume balance ? Do all the instruments set their volume to a reference instrument, such as a keyboard ?
Thank you for your suggestions.
Our band consists of a female singer, Lead guitar, Rythm guitar, Bass guitar, Keyboard and Drums.
