[Guncho]

When bands come to the ACC, Budweiser Stage, etc, is there any PA gear supplied from the venue or do they bring every single speaker with them?

 

[Granny Gremlin]

Depends. The venues definitely have their own gear, but major tours often bring in (some or all of) their own stuff so they can be sure they don't have to learn new gear every night and have a consistant sound etc .

 

[Guncho]

I was listening to an interview talking about how much pollution touring causes and it made me think, is it really necessary to truck your entire sound system from city to city. Couldn't they just come up with an industry standard? You walk in, plug in your laptop, external hard drive, with all your presets and you're good to go.

I understand back in the day it was necessary because the sound gear from one venue to the next could be dramatically different but these days ae the speakers at the ACC that different from the ones at the MTS Centre, etc.

 

[Granny Gremlin]

Yeah, unfortunately that seems to be the Behringer X32 digital console. Big acts want to use better stuff.

Really, it doesn't take up that much more room in the truck for your own console and a rack or 3 of outboard considerring all the other stuff you still need to bring - the whole backline and instruments. But yeah, if bringing all the rigging and front of House speakers then that gets a bit excessive.

 

[Chito]

Big acts/bands usually provide a stage plot and also has a rider explaining what they require. In my last band, unless we are playing a private event, the sound system is provided by the venue. I have played at the Canadian Tire Centre here about 20 years ago now and all they asked us was our stage plot. Same as 2 years ago when we played at the Bluesfest (offsite at the Casino Lac Leamy) We provided a stage plot and a rider.

 

[Guncho]

So at the Amp they don't hang different speakers for each show?

 

[Granny Gremlin]

Not for each show, but sometimes. It's only the very biggest acts that can afford to do that.

 

[Guncho]

Ahh well that's good!

 

[High/Deaf]

Arenas and stadiums never have sound systems appropriate for a rock band - they always tour with their own rigs. But for many other events, like the circus or tractor pulls or stand-up comics, they will use what's installed. The installed systems were never designed to achieve SPL's most band require. Not to mention the familiarity with using the same rig night after night.

The only thing touring acts used in the Saddledome (30 years ago) was our Clearcom system, which is a hardwired headset system that allowed the LD to talk to the followspot operators in the rafters. They may use their own wireless systems in this day and age.

[edited] The previous roof of stadium out here, Canada Place, was inflated. For huge flown rigs like the one Pink Floyd used, they would turn on extra fans to keep the roof inflated enough. The extra fans were installed for just such a purpose.

 

[Guncho]

That seems very inefficient and costly.

 

[High/Deaf]

Arenas and stadiums find it inefficient and costly to install 10X the PA they actually need to benefit touring acts. There's two sides to the math equation.