Topic: Stealthy taping, taper friendly artists?

[powermonkey]

I'm seeing Ryan Adams at KOKO in Camden, on June 7th, and I'm taking the gear along. While Mr Adams is entirely down with taping, and there's already a bunch people planning on plugging into the board, I'm thinking Aud (for practise more than anything, and maybe for a matrix if it comes out nicely). However, I don't know whether or not the venue will be down with me taping openly, so maybe a stealthy approach will have to be taken.

Would it be worth contacting the venue? All I'd be looking for would be a good spot to stick my CA mics, not a big stand or anything, but I'd hate to get into grief with security for taping at a show where other folks will be plugging in with no worries...

Any thoughts?

[JD]

I have stealthed taper friendly artists many times, sometimes to due venue rules, sometimes to get in the sweet spot, but mostly because I can often get the people around me to remain quiet. You would be amazed how the presence of of mic stand can turn some people into instant asshats!

[powermonkey]

I'm a bit worried about the crowd - last time I saw Ryan we were surrounded throughout by the loudest, most obnoxious people I've ever heard - talking, talking on phones, jumping around (on seats, blocking the view of everyone behind them) and then abusing anyone who told them to shut the hell up. KOKO is general admission, apparently, so I'd be able to avoid particularly odious people, but I can't imagine wandering around is going to do much for my recording.

I had a grand scheme to talk to the venue and try and blag a nice spot, or a pillar to clamp my mics to or something, but I guess I might just have to take my chances.

[Humbug]

I have tried open taping at Koko's and sent a polite email to the venue.

I got one back, asking what I was intending to do (even though I had explained in my previous email), replied, but received no go ahead.

I stealth taped and got an acceptable recording. The band? Explosions In The Sky, in March this year.

I'll drop you a pm with the sweet spot location if you want..there's nowhere to clamp mics to at the venue, a stand would work though, if you do try contacting them in advance..

[powermonkey]

I have tried open taping at Koko's and sent a polite email to the venue.

I got one back, asking what I was intending to do (even though I had explained in my previous email), replied, but received no go ahead.

I stealth taped and got an acceptable recording. The band? Explosions In The Sky, in March this year.

I'll drop you a pm with the sweet spot location if you want..there's nowhere to clamp mics to at the venue, a stand would work though, if you do try contacting them in advance..

That would be very cool, thanks. I think I'm just going to go with a low-profile effort... It would be cool to know where the good sound is.

[goodcooker]

there's nowhere to clamp mics to at the venue, a stand would work though, if you do try contacting them in advance..

you can clamp off to a chair in any venue.....how to get in the telescoping boom attachment you ask?........venue personell are very accomodating to a soft spoken gentleman with a limp

[guitard]

there's nowhere to clamp mics to at the venue, a stand would work though, if you do try contacting them in advance..

you can clamp off to a chair in any venue.....how to get in the telescoping boom attachment you ask?........venue personnel are very accomodating to a soft spoken gentleman with a limp

A pretty girl with a nice rack can get lots of help also!

[travelinbeat]

I'm a bit worried about the crowd - last time I saw Ryan we were surrounded throughout by the loudest, most obnoxious people I've ever heard - talking, talking on phones, jumping around (on seats, blocking the view of everyone behind them) and then abusing anyone who told them to shut the hell up. KOKO is general admission, apparently, so I'd be able to avoid particularly odious people, but I can't imagine wandering around is going to do much for my recording.

I had a grand scheme to talk to the venue and try and blag a nice spot, or a pillar to clamp my mics to or something, but I guess I might just have to take my chances.

I've had good luck just asking concert go'ers to keep it down.  Though there's an obvious risk of them dob'ing you out, I've just looked at the person and judged if they'd be 'cool', then written down my email address and said "hey look, I'm going to be taping this show, so if you could just keep it down a bit, email me afterwards and I'll ship you a copy for free" (not that I usually sell my recordings, but it's easier to just say 'free' to people). It's a useful thing to do if you don't mind mailing out the disk(s) and assuming the risk.  Most people are more than accommodating since they're so excited to get a copy of the show!  I've never had it go any worse than "sorry man, we really like to make noise, can we get a copy of the show anyways?"

[powermonkey]

Well, the gig was stunning. Very happy indeed with the result (see Kickdown section). The crowd were very loud - apparently KOKO is notorious for having enormous numbers of music industry randoms on the guestlist, there to be seen rather than being about the music. Lot of suits, folks talking about work and stuff. All nicely recorded.   

Tried to very subtly move away from the louder folks without the recording suffering, so at least the crowd noise receded a little. By that point I'd been taken to an entirely different place by the music anyway. Same thing with listening back, my brain filters the crowd out, thank gawd. Might have been a quieter spot, might have been some kind of passive inhalation from the suit-wearing weed-smokers standing next to me, who knows.

 

Anyhoo, how are we in the UK going to get a culture of open taping going? If I'd been able to take in a mic stand and get my mics over crowd level then the resulting tape would have been out of this world....

[Humbug]

Anyhoo, how are we in the UK going to get a culture of open taping going? If I'd been able to take in a mic stand and get my mics over crowd level then the resulting tape would have been out of this world....

Glad the taping was a success.

I already have a stand, and somewhere around 30-40% of my taping is open. Mostly smaller venues where you can wander up to the sound guy and ask, or email the band/venue in advance.

Just buy a light stand and try it!

[powermonkey]

Anyhoo, how are we in the UK going to get a culture of open taping going? If I'd been able to take in a mic stand and get my mics over crowd level then the resulting tape would have been out of this world....

Glad the taping was a success.

I already have a stand, and somewhere around 30-40% of my taping is open. Mostly smaller venues where you can wander up to the sound guy and ask, or email the band/venue in advance.

Just buy a light stand and try it!

I shall have to do that. Hehe.... I woke up this morning and my first thought was 'I wonder how much a pair of Schoeps Mk4s would cost....'. Might just be able to stretch to a stand instead though.

[Humbug]

I shall have to do that. Hehe.... I woke up this morning and my first thought was 'I wonder how much a pair of Schoeps Mk4s would cost....'. Might just be able to stretch to a stand instead though.

I think the stand, adapter and flimsy piece of scrap plastic I use as a T-bar came to about 40 quid delivered..

If I sold all three sets of mics, battery boxes, and aging recorders, I think I might run to one Schoeps cap..bugger. Better stay with Audio Technica!

[powermonkey]

I think that these Church Audio mics will last me for a good long time, to be honest, especially when I get a pre.