Topic: Taping in a VERY small bar -- close to P.A. stack or Healey?

[Jeremy Lykins]

I'm gonna try to tape in a very, very small bar tonight and I'm wondering if I should set up really close to one of the P.A. stacks or if I should set up my stand next to one of the vocal mic stands and use the Healey method? 

Some pics:

Pic taken from the "stage."  There's room for about three rows of people until there's a spiral staircase:


Pic taken from the top of the spiral staircase:



Pic taken from the middle of the spiral staircase:



The only places that I can think of to set up in there is on the far right or left by a P.A. stack, clamped onto the ceiling beams, or next to the beam that you see in pic 3.  If I set up close to the P.A. stack I would probably have to be less than twelve inches away, so I'm not sure if that would work (I've recorded 3' away from a P.A. stack and liked the result).  If I clamp onto a ceiling beam I would get a LOT of crowd noise and people tend to bang on those beams during shows, so that's probably not a good idea.  I've never tried the Healey method, but I'm thinking that might be my best bet for this particular bar.  Anyone have any suggestions or advice?

[Patrick]

I would stay far away from Healy method in that place.  I'd probably end up running onstage and hoping that I can get some vocals through a monitor or something.  It's about all you can do in a place like that...

[Dede2002]

Love the lady in red up on the stage. 

[cfox]

onstage+SBD

[muj]

near the stage as possible...not sure if omnis a good idea ( think of the reflections!)

[setboy]

stick one mic in a monitor and put the other dead center to the stage.

[Jeremy Lykins]

stick one mic in a monitor and put the other dead center to the stage.

I really like this idea, and I think that I'm gonna try that.  I'm already assuming that the recording is gonna turn out unlistenable, so anything above that will be considered a victory.  The third pic that I posted is deceptive, because it was taken at an employees' X-Mas party so not many people were there.  Tonight the area between the horizontal handrail that you see in the bottom left of the pic and the vertical pole that you see there will be about 30 people, kinda like in the first pic.  There's no place to set up a mic stand and the staircase in front of the stage area makes it awkward enough to see bands down there, much less try to tape 'em.  The band that I'm taping tonight is a three-piece bluegrass band with mandolin, bass, and banjo, so that's why I was considering going with the Healy method--the bass will be in the middle with no vocals and the mando and banjo will be on the sides with both of them singing. 

[anarkust]

Love the lady in red up on the stage. 

      

[setboy]

stick one mic in a monitor and put the other dead center to the stage.

I really like this idea, and I think that I'm gonna try that.  I'm already assuming that the recording is gonna turn out unlistenable, so anything above that will be considered a victory.  The third pic that I posted is deceptive, because it was taken at an employees' X-Mas party so not many people were there.  Tonight the area between the horizontal handrail that you see in the bottom left of the pic and the vertical pole that you see there will be about 30 people, kinda like in the first pic.  There's no place to set up a mic stand and the staircase in front of the stage area makes it awkward enough to see bands down there, much less try to tape 'em.  The band that I'm taping tonight is a three-piece bluegrass band with mandolin, bass, and banjo, so that's why I was considering going with the Healy method--the bass will be in the middle with no vocals and the mando and banjo will be on the sides with both of them singing. 

let us know what you run and how it comes out. T+ for taping in a odd place.

[Jeremy Lykins]

She's Cella Blue from the White Ghost Shivers.

http://www.whiteghostshivers.com/

[run_run_run]

Now thats what I call a Women

[Charlie Miller]

onstage+SBD

Exactly

[dorrcoq]

Those pics make me feel claustrophobic

[dorrcoq]

She's Cella Blue from the White Ghost Shivers.

http://www.whiteghostshivers.com/

CELLA BLUE - Vocals, fun havin', dancing, skirt lifting.  WOOOOOOOOOOO!

[mr qpl]

make sure you know where the exits are