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Setting up Stage Gear for a Live Performance

MarioBarreti | Aug 4, 2010 |

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Setting up your stage gear in a small to medium sized venue such as a nightclub is usually fairly simple. If you are setting up for a performance in a large venue, then your job will be a lot more complicated.

The basic equipment that you will need are your instruments, microphones, a mixer, amplifiers, monitors and speakers. You will also need all of the cables that must be used to connect these pieces of equipment together.

Some equipment may be available at the venue like audio cables, but you should make sure you have a list of what you need to bring so that you don't forget anything, or leave it behind after the performance. Make sure all the equipment you use, whether it is yours or not, is of the highest possible quality. This will ensure that your music sounds as it is supposed to. Remember to check the cables, as some poor quality cables can cause distortion.

In order to produce the best results, place your speakers on stands at either side of the stage, with the base of the lowest speaker at about head height for the audience. Make sure the speakers are a few feet in front of the band to prevent microphone feedback.

The mixer should be at the rear of the venue, in the center of the room, as this is the best position from which to monitor the sound. If the band has to control the mixer themselves, it can be placed on stage instead. The power amp should be next to the mixer, or just off stage. Both the mixer and the amp need to be within reach of a power supply.

Place a monitor directly in front of each band member, with a speaker facing up towards the performer.

Once all of the equipment is in place, it can be connected together, including all the multicore cables and amps. Use speaker cables to connect the speakers to the mixer and the monitor speakers to the power amp. Connect the power amp to the mixer using a cable with the appropriate impedance for the amp.

Turn all of the volume settings on the power amp and mixer down, and then turn them on.

Set up the microphones on their stands and use microphone cables to connect them with the mixer.

Turn up the main volume on the power amp and mixer, and conduct a sound check, modifying the mixer controls as necessary to get the best sound.

Make sure you have cables with the correct plugs to connect all of the equipment appropriately, and that they are of the right length, particularly if the mixer will be at the back of the room. Keep cable lengths at a minimum in order to reduce distortion, but allow performers enough cable to move around on stage.