It’s all about perspective.
Creating a live music experience has a lot of moving parts. First off, you have to have a venue to host the event. Next, a performer, which can be either a solo, a duo, a trio or a band. The event needs a theme, so the audience has some expectations prior to the event. The theme can be as simple as the entertainment that will be at the venue and of course, there’s lots of marketing of the event.
It’s show time! The gear is moved in, the stage is set, sound check made and everyone is ready to go. The group comes on and the first song begins. What happens next, is all about the perspective and the perspective is based on where you are standing. The performers hear one thing and the audience hears another. It’s the same song.
Everyone likes to feel the music however, there are limits. An outdoor concert is expected to be loud, probably loud enough, that you have to yell at the friend you brought with you to communicate. You can vary the loudness based on where you are sitting or standing. Inside a venue, you may be more limited on your proximity to the band and the ability to adjust your personal volume. From the audience’s perspective, is the event enjoyable? If you came for live music, but you still wanted to chat with the group you arrived with, the volume makes a big difference.
The volume the artist hears may or may not be the same the audience hears, based on the monitoring system used. In ear monitors block out a lot of external sound, like that of loud amplifiers, making it easier for the artist to hear themselves. From the artist or band perspective, louder might seem better, but it’s probably good idea to read the audience. If asking the audience for a volume check is not possible or appropriate, have a band member go out in the audience and get some feedback. At the end of day, providing a quality show is what really matters. Dial in your sound for an awesome audience experience.