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By Alan Horvath (1999)
Now ... the technical side of things. This is tough at first, but after a few times it
gets real easy: The first thing you do when you get up in front of the mic, is plug your
guitar in ... test it in conjunction with your mic ... and get a happy balance happening.
Don't get all flustered, and don't expect ANYONE to know what you need! You are the only
one who knows that. Simply say, "A little less guitar, please." Or, "A little less vocal,
please." Notice I said "less." Amateurs tend to ask for "more." Wrong idea. Less IS more ...
as I'll be pointing out. The only time I ask for "more" is in reference to my monitors.
Those are the speakers (usually on the floor, right at your feet, pointing up at you) that
let you hear what you are doing. If they aren't loud enough, you might wind up playing in
one key and singing in another ... without ever knowing it! The audience will though ...
and they'll think you're some sick cow who never should've gotten up there in the first
place! Be sure your monitors are comfortable for you.
Okay. You've got a nice balance happening. You can hear your guitar and you can hear your
vocal. Now you are ready to play. If you ever start playing before applying this discipline
(and you probably will), you will know - and you will never forget - why it is so very
important. If you can't hear yourself in those monitors, you are going to do a lot of very
silly things ... and, like I said, you probably won't even know it ... but the audience
will.
Alan Horvath
http://AlanHorvath.com/
Acoustic Rock ... for real.
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