Ukulele Cabaret Report
The return of the Ukulele Cabaret at new venue The Zipper Factory was most triumphant. I didn't think I would stay long but I ended up being there all night and then some.
Sweet Soubrette pulled some voodoo magic strings and got us into this really nice space. It's not the Factory proper but the tavern room off to the side. Rather nice. The stage is between the bar and the tables, though, so there's a lot of people walking in front of the performers. Oh well.
Part of the new initiative for the Cabaret is the creation of fancy nice-looking programs. Jamie Scandal did some lovely artwork for the front page. Hot Time Harv provided a Ukulele Manifesto piece for the inside, and there were pics and bios of the performers.
Just before the show started, Ted came to me and said they needed my help. He brought me to the soundboard. There were no monitors, and I was to the side of the speakers, so I actually couldn't hear anything. Fortunately I had a pair of earbuds and a 1/4" adapter in my bag, so I was able to monitor that way. During the first act I set levels that seemed fine to me and then walked around the venue to make sure it sounded okay everywhere. Having ascertained the appropriate volume level, my night was spent mixing the 4 mics and 2 direct inputs as if I were mixing a recording. Lots of dynamic EQ work to get vocals playing nice with instruments and what-not. I'll probably end up doing this for future shows, so it would be wise to bring appropriate headphones and some spare cables in the future.
For my set, I explained that my home caught fire and I'm homeless, and that I've spent my time writing songs about it. I played "That Night" which isn't so much a house fire song as it is a song about an English major being in a relationship with a non-English major. Then I said I don't spend all of my time writing songs about the fire; sometimes I learn to play songs other people have written about fires. I played the opening They Might Be Giants Fingertip "Everything Is Catching On Fire" then the Talking Heads' "Burning Down The House." I totally blanked on the third verse, but fortunately had prefaced the act with a warning that I might forget the words because I usually do, but this time I will use the fire as an excuse. Because I'm so totally stressed out over it.
I had gotten so used to joking about the fire with friends and coworkers that I forgot that people are really nervous to laugh when they first hear about it. This came to the fore when Jamie Scandal wanted to light a candle on stage. I expressed concern over an open flame on a New York City stage and added "I'm really sensitive about fire these days." I thought it was funny, but it upset Ms. Scandal. Note to self: don't upset nice ladies.
I'm rather proud of my board work tonight. Makes me wish I had made a recording of it, because it sounded pretty dang good.
Sweet Soubrette pulled some voodoo magic strings and got us into this really nice space. It's not the Factory proper but the tavern room off to the side. Rather nice. The stage is between the bar and the tables, though, so there's a lot of people walking in front of the performers. Oh well.
Part of the new initiative for the Cabaret is the creation of fancy nice-looking programs. Jamie Scandal did some lovely artwork for the front page. Hot Time Harv provided a Ukulele Manifesto piece for the inside, and there were pics and bios of the performers.
Just before the show started, Ted came to me and said they needed my help. He brought me to the soundboard. There were no monitors, and I was to the side of the speakers, so I actually couldn't hear anything. Fortunately I had a pair of earbuds and a 1/4" adapter in my bag, so I was able to monitor that way. During the first act I set levels that seemed fine to me and then walked around the venue to make sure it sounded okay everywhere. Having ascertained the appropriate volume level, my night was spent mixing the 4 mics and 2 direct inputs as if I were mixing a recording. Lots of dynamic EQ work to get vocals playing nice with instruments and what-not. I'll probably end up doing this for future shows, so it would be wise to bring appropriate headphones and some spare cables in the future.
For my set, I explained that my home caught fire and I'm homeless, and that I've spent my time writing songs about it. I played "That Night" which isn't so much a house fire song as it is a song about an English major being in a relationship with a non-English major. Then I said I don't spend all of my time writing songs about the fire; sometimes I learn to play songs other people have written about fires. I played the opening They Might Be Giants Fingertip "Everything Is Catching On Fire" then the Talking Heads' "Burning Down The House." I totally blanked on the third verse, but fortunately had prefaced the act with a warning that I might forget the words because I usually do, but this time I will use the fire as an excuse. Because I'm so totally stressed out over it.
I had gotten so used to joking about the fire with friends and coworkers that I forgot that people are really nervous to laugh when they first hear about it. This came to the fore when Jamie Scandal wanted to light a candle on stage. I expressed concern over an open flame on a New York City stage and added "I'm really sensitive about fire these days." I thought it was funny, but it upset Ms. Scandal. Note to self: don't upset nice ladies.
I'm rather proud of my board work tonight. Makes me wish I had made a recording of it, because it sounded pretty dang good.