I played with the brass band at Westminster last night. We were on a
gazebo-like structure with a solid roof. It was pretty nice and decorated
for Christmas. About 30-40 of the residents came down and sat on benches
and chairs in the courtyard. This included Dan Wilson, who joined us on
percussion for Sleigh Ride. Some of the people listened from their rooms
or patios.
There is a considerable amount of ambient noise in the courtyard that
includes the HVAC, a gurgling fountain, traffic on MoPac and the occasional
train and siren. The ambient noise was about 25-35 dB below the brass band
playing at its loudest. In *ppp* sections, the band was probably just
above the ambient noise. For our upcoming concert, the PA should help, but
keep in mind mics will pick up ambient noise as well. I think there are
two mics in the ACWE PA kit. Putting mics closer will help avoid the
ambient noise, but will also mean needing more mics. If anyone has some
mics that might work (dynamic stage vocal or instrumental mics like Schure
57 or 58), it would be good to bring them. I have cables and mic stands I
can bring. I don't think I have any mics that would work well in that kind
of environment. I might be able to find something at work.
Mike
On Thu, Dec 9, 2021 at 4:01 PM Ellen Knapton <eknapton@xxxxxxx> wrote:
That would definitely work.
Ellen
Sent from my iPad
On Dec 9, 2021, at 2:45 PM, Jessica Johnson <jessica.a.johnson@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
We were planning to bring the PA system to Westminster, right? I'm
guessing it'd be easier to pick it up Sunday after the concert and bring it
to Westminster Tuesday.
Jessica
On Dec 9, 2021, 1:23 PM -0600, Ellen Knapton <eknapton@xxxxxxx>, wrote:
With the exception of Westminster, all other concerts are inside.
Ellen
Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
Windows
*From:* Michael Bell <mikekb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* Thursday, December 9, 2021 1:21 PM
*To:* acweboard@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [acweboard] Re: Westminster
Pati told me the ballroom is finished and the Polka Band played there
recently. Hard to know what is going on here. But if Ruth really wants us
outside, I guess that is where we will be. Probably safer that way
anyway. Maybe there was a pause in construction and then it started up
again?
We are inside at Unity, right? I don't mind being outside there because
the patio is covered and nice enough.
Mike
On Thu, Dec 9, 2021 at 1:09 PM Ellen Knapton <eknapton@xxxxxxx> wrote:
I just placed a call to Ruth Sunil who is my contact. The ballroom is
under construction according to her. She is aware that we are having small
ensembles performing rather than the whole band.
Ellen
Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
Windows
*From:* Michael Bell <mikekb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* Thursday, December 9, 2021 10:28 AM
*To:* acweboard@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [acweboard] Westminster
Hi All
Someone from the brass band mentioned he played with a small group in the
ballroom at Westminster. So, it sounds like the renovations are complete.
Or complete enough for people to use the ballroom. They still want the
brass band to play in the courtyard, but that may be because of the size of
the group. We may want to see if we can do the small ensemble concert
inside. The weather should be nice, but I worry about the sound of the
smaller groups getting lost in the courtyard.
Mike
