Day 10

8am at the Burning Hills Amphitheater 

 Today we got to the amphitheater at 8am. We left at 10pm. 8-11 was sound for the band. 11-1pm was sound for the singers. We are still nowhere near done. But I will say this, at about 11am I was literally in tears on the gazebo pretending I wasn't having to wipe tears off my face because the sound in my brand new in ear monitors was so bad. I kept saying that there was a lot of crackling in my ears but everyone kept telling me that you have to get used to the in ears and that that was just how it was. finally I was sniffing and wiping tears of my face begging the most patient sound guy in the history of the world to make it stop crackling. I just kept thinking "I can't do this all summer. I can't do this all summer. I can't do this all summer."  It turns out that my wireless receiver needed new batteries. And now it sounds great. my fiddle sounds a little like a toy fiddle but all the levels are correct and everything is clear. And in the house the fiddle sounds good. Sandy also pointed out something which I need to keep in mind whenever I sound check. I play an instrument that involves a lot of feeling as well as hearing. I feel the notes through my my hand and they echo through my jaw. There is no way to recreate that sound in reality outside of my own scull. As Sandy said, fiddle players are chasing a tone that doesn't exist. So while I should pursue a great tone, I need to practice some moderation. Either way, while there is still a tun of work to do on the sound my in ears are now clean and clear, which is what they are for.

 

 That right there is a wireless output box (surely that is the wrong word but it sends sound FROM my fiddle) wrapped in a towel and attached to my fiddle with two rubber bands. It is surprisingly stable. Presumably they will make me something more attractive. But for now this totally works. The wireless receiver clips to my belt and goes into my ears so that I am completely free of cords. Having spent so much time tossing a cord over my shoulder when I pick my fiddle up it is amazingly freeing. It's like driving automatic and slamming your foot on the "clutch." I keep tossing an air-cord over my shoulder.

We have of course continued to have some band drama. It did get pretty epic today. I think I said this last post but I will say it again. The band is having serious issues with one of it's members and I think it is a credit to the rest of us that no one even mentioned they disliked him until he crossed way past the line. We just kept our cool and tried to make the best of it. Now that we had a "band meeting" (drinking after rehearsal because we were all about to go crazy with stress) we are all on the same page. I think we have all been very good about blowing off steam on breaks so that we can behave like the professionals we are when we are in rehearsal. I feel confident that things may change, but we will make it work because we are all motivated to roll with the punches so as to make us a good band, however things come out.

8pm at the Burning Hills Amphitheater