Solomon Douglas

Solomon Douglas Swingtet technical requirements

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The Solomon Douglas Swingtet is a ten-piece band which consists of three brass, three saxophones, guitar, piano, bass, and drums. (In some cases, it may also be an eight-piece band, with one fewer brass and one fewer saxophone.)

I’ll need you to provide all necessary sound equipment, suitable lighting, and a sound technician. We’ll also need time for rehearsal and set-up. In addition to the mixing board, the power amplifier, and the main speakers, specific technical requirements are as follows:

Piano

Unless you make special arrangements with me, I will need you to provide either an acoustic piano (grand or upright, tuned) or a suitable digital keyboard with 88 weighted notes such as any one of the following:

• Roland fp-3, fp-5, fp-8, fp-9, RD-150, RD-500, RD-600, RD-700, a-90
• Yamaha P-60, P-80, P-90, P-120, P-150, P-200
• Kawai ES-X
• Korg SP100
• Kurzweil sp88x
• Casio Privia PX-300, PX-310

Microphones

For the ten-piece band, the sound system should include either 10 or 12 instrument microphones (e.g. Shure SM-57), and one vocal microphone (e.g. Shure SM-58 or SM-57), all with boom stands and cables. For the eight-piece band, the sound system should include either 8 or 10 instrument microphones (e.g. Shure SM-57), and one vocal microphone (e.g. Shure SM-58 or SM-57), all with boom stands and cables.

• six mics for the six horns (or four in the case of the eight-piece band)
• one mic for the guitar
• one mic for the bass
• two mics for the drums
• one of the following:
  • either two mics for the piano (if it is real)
  • or two ¼″ inputs and cables for the keyboard (if it is digital)
• one vocal mic for me to speak into

Monitors

You’ll also need to provide three monitor wedges, with at least two independent monitor mixes: one for the piano, one for the drums, and one for the horns.

Set-up and reheasal time

We generally ask for three hours’ set-up and rehearsal time in the performance venue on the evening of the performance. The venue should be closed to the public during this time, although of course anyone involved in running the event is more than welcome. In particular, the sound technician should be there during the rehearsal to set up sound and conduct a sound-check.