How Do They Do It With All That Noise?
Wine bottles in wood display cases lining the walls from near the front to the
back, huge wood-framed mirrors on the only remaining wall space, wooden chairs
and bar stools lined up along tiled tables down the entire center, concrete
floors ... that's the decorative, functional layout of one of my neighborhood
wine bars. All of those lovely surfaces reflect sound, in effect amplifying the
sound of conversations among fifty or more customers.
At the front, just inside the sound reflecting floor-to-ceiling glass windows and door, is a musician singing his heart out, playing favorites from three decades as well as a few originals. He's pretty good but he's background music to the customers. Those sitting closest to him are paying attention and applauding at the end of each song. The rest of us are aware that he's there but our conversations and beverages are the focus of activity. The talking is louder than the singing. The total reflected sound level is close to deafening.
How does a singer do it? Performers all seek attention to some degree. It's why they do what they do in front people. I'm impressed that a good singer can play in a place with inattentive customers and bad acoustics.
I met my singer/songwriter friend Pete at this wine bar a few years ago, where
he played and sang and did his best to interact with the patrons. He was
asked once to perform at a "comfort concert," which is basically a
small show in somebody's home. He invited me and a few other wine bar regulars
to share an evening of his original songs. It was the first time I really heard
him and the first time I heard most of his own music. He's great.
In this setting, twenty people pay complete attention to the performer and the performer makes a truly intimate connection with an audience. The acoustics of this particular home basement entertainment room were designed for this use.
I have seen Pete perform many times since, in bars, charity events, private receptions and a pool party. Each of those settings had crappy acoustics and most people in attendance weren't really there to pay attention to the music. Pete and others who play in this kind of environment as part of their living accept that they are mostly background.
I'm happy that they are ok with those conditions but I truly don't know how they do it.
At the front, just inside the sound reflecting floor-to-ceiling glass windows and door, is a musician singing his heart out, playing favorites from three decades as well as a few originals. He's pretty good but he's background music to the customers. Those sitting closest to him are paying attention and applauding at the end of each song. The rest of us are aware that he's there but our conversations and beverages are the focus of activity. The talking is louder than the singing. The total reflected sound level is close to deafening.
How does a singer do it? Performers all seek attention to some degree. It's why they do what they do in front people. I'm impressed that a good singer can play in a place with inattentive customers and bad acoustics.
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| Pete |
In this setting, twenty people pay complete attention to the performer and the performer makes a truly intimate connection with an audience. The acoustics of this particular home basement entertainment room were designed for this use.
I have seen Pete perform many times since, in bars, charity events, private receptions and a pool party. Each of those settings had crappy acoustics and most people in attendance weren't really there to pay attention to the music. Pete and others who play in this kind of environment as part of their living accept that they are mostly background.
I'm happy that they are ok with those conditions but I truly don't know how they do it.
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