Using Dead Gigs as Practice Gigs-Happily
I had a very quiet DJ gig on Sunday. Basically, no one showed up.
It’s way too hot here in Texas. Most days, it’s probably 100 degrees, school’s in session, Labor Day’s next weekend, football starts—all this kind of stuff.
When I think about it, the booker probably shouldn’t have booked a Sunday afternoon, 1–4 p.m. outdoor gig.
I offered these guys a freebie to come back for an event or something like that. It’s a really cool brewery in Dripping Springs, outside of Austin, called 12 Fox. They do a ton for veterans. There’s got to be a personal connection there. They’re all about veterans.
I’ve never met the owners, but they seem like very good people.
Anyway, as we are now basically in the super-busy fall season, it was really an opportune three hours to nail down my rig and work through some different things.
I’ve got the new full-size MIDI platter, which has been wonderful, coupled with the Teenage Engineering mixer I talked about the other day, and I really figured out how those pieces work together.
For instance, I had the mixer’s compressor set far too wooly. Just smashed. It was crazy. I used that setting Friday night, and it must have sounded thick. Must have thought I meant to do it.
Whatever. It sounds incredible now. Can’t wait for the next Dumbest Show on Earth because I’m going to sound wonderful.
And I went deep into the looping controls on the platter controller. Makes life real easy for mixing.
Anyway, at one point, there was no one outside for quite a while, but I’m grateful for the timing. I believe in the world enough to know that this show probably set me up for the fall. I did learn all about how everything works together.
I really figured out that mixer. I also figured out how to work without a crossfader because it doesn’t have one.
No surprise, I really liked it. It makes you more active and engaged.
And, you know, connecting a mixer to your computer with USB audio does not automatically give you MIDI control over the DJ software. Those are separate functions, and this mixer gives me the audio connection without providing MIDI control for the DJ program itself. Which is nice.
Separate audio controls change how you interact with the music. Instead of relying on MIDI or letting the software handle everything automatically. With this setup you have to make more of the decisions and adjustments yourself.
It’s much more visceral and hands-on. Not so auto. People know when you’re drifting off into autopilot because the controls are making it maybe a bit too easy.
So, this quiet gig, it was a perfect setup for the fall.
And it’ll be nice to go back and help out with something at this venue. Oddly, I’ve got an event later this month that benefits veteran charities.
Why is all of this veteran stuff showing up? You know, trust the world.
I don’t know.
But I bet I find out soon.