outdoor concert help

[norwintd]

In honor of district superintendant getting a state award for supporting the arts the district has decided to throw a large concert outside in our stadium.
I am looking for suggestions to mic all the different groups ranging from 4th to 12th grade.

7 choral groups from 30 to 400 students per group
4 bands 50 to 100 students per group
4 orchestras 30 to 75 students group

the choral groups are moving in a parade type movement each coming forward to perform. I was planning on using hanging mics on booms for them. open for other ideas as well

Im open for ideas on on how to mic the bands and orchestras.
They are all going to be arrange in a fan shape on the field.

Each group is doing one or two songs a piece

all will be run through 6 per side yamaha s115v (15's and horns)

we do have a rental budget but im trying to conserve the money for a different project.

 

[avkid]

yamaha[/autolink] s115v (15's and horns)

For the love of god, go rent the proper equipment.

 

[avkid]

Play nice, AVkid.

Club 15's in a stadium?
Use the right tool for the job.

 

[museav]

all will be run through 6 per side yamaha s115v (15's and horns).

This definitely does appear as rather unusual approach. When you say 6 per side do you mean a) 6 speakers left of the performers and 6 right of the performers or b) 6 speakers spaced down each side of the field facing the audience sitting in the stands or c) 6 speakers spaced down each side of the field and facing in towards the audience sitting on the field?

As far as the micing, while all the bands and orchestras may not play at the same time, it sounds like you will have to switch between them without any changes or setup as well as addressing the choral groups and I'm guessing a person or two speaking. It also sounds like you are likely going to have a wide variation in the size and output of the various groups. And if it is typical of these types of events, you may get little, if any, setup and rehearsal time with each of the groups prior to the event. Are these assumptions accurate?

You mentioned having a rental budget, but what in general do you see as being realistic to have available as far as a mixer and mics? It would help to know if you might be limited but what is available or what you can afford.

It at least sounds like this may be a case where less is more may be a good approach, using just a few mics and relying greatly on the natural mix of each individual group. However, it may also be an unusual experience for bands and orchestras that are probably used to playing indoors, unless they bring portable shells with them they are not going to have any of the room effect they are used to having and may have some difficulty performing as an ensemble.

Also, is there a backup plan to move the event indoors in case of inclement weather? That may entail a very different physical arrangement for both the performers and audience and you may have to be prepared to address that possibility on short notice.

 

[norwintd]

we are only playing to one side of the stadium. I was planning on using 6 on the left 6 on the right of the performers. about 2000 people no audience on the field. (using yamahas because its what i got)
like I said each group is doing one song roughly three minutes a piece
the whole concert is suppose to take around an hour
its a one after another situation
no setup time
no rehearsal
i was considering just using a stereo approach high in front to just pic up the natural mix.
as far as gear
mackie mixer
mics i have
akg c1000
akg hm1000
sm57's
sm58's
beta 58s
assorted akg vocal mics


no rain plan if it doesnt go the first day we have one more shot the next day if not it just gets cancelled.


so avkid what would you use since you have it all figured out
let me guess line array right?

 

[avare]

This is serious. Rent the equipment required or explain that the owned equipment can not effectively do bands/orchestras etc. that have significant low frequency content. You can be the public address system, but that is about it with the equipment you detailed.

Andre

 

[Eboy87]

Agreed with the rest. You don't have enough rig for the gig. I'd seriously consider spending the money to have someone come in and do it right.

 

[avkid]

According to Google maps you are about 40 minutes away from Pittsburgh.
It should be no big deal to find a good audio rental house in a city that size.

 

[norwintd]

Well i convinced them to give me more money and be able to bring in outside help. It started to become a real headache that i dont get paid nearly enough to deal with. Hopefully it will all work out
-t