The group I play with has lined up a gig in a "food tent" in the middle of February, when it's often well below freezing. We assume the tent is heated, but my experience with heated tents is that there are pockets of cold and hot, that the temperature inside is not uniform and that it is still not like being inside a heated building. I'm wondering what experience others have had with "heated tents" and whether you'd play under these conditions or not. What are the possible consequences to fiddles/banjos/guitars, etc? The gig pays well so it would be nice to play it but if we have to fiddle/play banjo and guitar in winter coats or our instruments develop cracks later on it would certainly not be worth it. What has been your experience? Would you play the gig or not?
...And what can happen to sound equipment, particularly speakers, if subjected to the cold. Can it damage the equipment? Are there any precautions you'd take in this type of environment?
We've played as a band in a heated marquee. On that occasion there there was a lot of humidity (the bodhran went very slack!). There could be a problem with humidity and violin glue (it's designed to unstick when it gets wet) but apart from that there shouldn't be a problem and there didn't seem to be a problem with any of our instruments (except the bodhran, but not sure if that counts??!) <ducks for cover>
We often go to festivals for several days with a marquee full of violins and it's occasionally been pretty damp (not heated, admittedly) and have never had a problem.
I'm hoping there might be some ventilation as with a load of people in a marquee it could get very humid indeed.
Anyway, not sure that helps but that's my 2 euro...
I suggest you wear your clothing in layers. I have experienced both warm and stuffy and cold and windy when playing in a tent, sometimes at the same event. It's best to be prepared for anything.
What you need is an electric fiddle. (although the strings are still affected to some extent)
The other problem you run into in tents is generators - you need a surge suppressor on the power bars if you are using any electronics (midi etc).
Warm clothes, fingerless gloves, flask of soup and a decent battery-light all help in a tent.
Some people are also paranoid about getting rust on their box reeds in damp weather.
I would have advised that you think real hard before taking the gig--I myself have never really enjoyed outdoor performances, and in Feburary, the outdoors is present, even in tents. Too many technical things can go wrong, not to mention exposure of instruments to harsh elements. And if it is too chilly, Irish instruments do not lend themselves to playing with gloves on!
But if you take the advice listed above, it will help you with some of the potential problems. Good luck, and I hope it works out.
The second-best/spare fiddle is recommended, plus the banjo might get tuning problems with the skin tension varying in the humidity and tempratures. I second the layered clothing, plus electronic safety measures suggested.
It might be a very good idea to discuss this with the organisers, pointing out that the value of the instruments they are asking to be exposed to these conditions is several times what they will be paying you, and how well can they control these important atmospheric conditions ?
PS Surprising things can come from these inhospitable conditions; my band was playing an open-air street party in London; the air turned cool and the flautist was struggling with her fingers on the cold metal; at the end an elderley gentleman turned up and said how much he had enjoyed her playing - turned out he was the concert flautist who music had inspired her as a teenager ! So, even if you feel you are struggling, you may yet be appreciated.
We have recently played under a canopy, with a propane heater to keep some temperature control.
The temperature on both occasions was around five degrees C. As GP reports, appreciation can run high. My banjo did not suffer, but tuning was a bit of an issue.
Fingerless gloves worked just fine for banjo, whistle, and melodeon, but two hours was all we could manage.
Yes, but what does water do to speakers ?
Drove through a heavy storm with the speakers in a trailer behind the cat, and had to decant the cabs outside the venue before entering. Think it was only the cab that got wet, not the driver/speaker itself.........
We did one like this in Calgary a couple of years ago. The outside temperature was only -1 C. or so, and it was hell. The promoters assured us that they'd have radiant heaters in the tent, and that would make everything ok. There was a very slight breeze, which completely negated the effect of the heaters. After two hours of numb fingers and out-of-tune instruments, we packed up and went home. And we were well-dressed, had extra gloves etc.
I asked the organizer how cold it would have to be before they canceled the gig, and she said, "Minus 15". The problem isn't that you can't play under these circumstances, it's that you can't play WELL, and you can't enjoy the gig. We won't play any gigs where the temperature is below 12 C. - it's just not worth the aggro.
We did a colonial dance in an unheated tent last spring where the temperature turned out to be lower than most anything we've had up our way so far this winter! I would think twice about doing it again under those conditions, if I knew ahead of time. The dancers could hardly keep warm! Our instruments didn't seem to suffer, but we did.
I wish to add I have never towed a trailer behind a cat !
I did get asked to play with my old band at "The Mayflower Barn" at Old Jordans, for an April wedding a few years ago. A single layer of ill-fitting shingles nailed to the outside of the timbers did not seal out the draughts. The heating was totally inadequate. Global warming didn't seem to have taken effect yet. The guests were in their wedding finery, and hating us, could not keep dancing enough to stay warm, whilst we were at least fore-warned; the called did the second half in a ski-suit, I had four layers on top and thick cords tucked into my cowboy boots, etc..........don't remember any effect on instruments or fingers.
Then once we turned up at a golf club, thinking it would be a reasonable indoor environment - turned out the hall was a barn halfway through renovation with no end wall....we were at the other end but still....organiser said "But you're a barn dance band, aint you ?"
Maybe people aren't so energetic any more, or I don't whip them into the same kind of frenzy, but it often used to be the case that the dancers perspired and flung all the doors and windows open, and then the band shivered. Don't remember that so much from recent events.
DECISION: We decided NOT to play the gig based on the advice received from this forum and other people we consulted. Another band quickly took our place when we didn’t sign the contract (over a month ago) and played the gig.
WEATHER: The weather was much warmer than it was just one week ago, at about 10-15 degrees above freezing. Just last week it was 20 degrees colder. There was a strong wind outside the tent that came in now and then through holes in the tent as well as where the walls meet the roof and the floor.
INSTRUMENTS: The banjo went out of tune more than the guitar or fiddle, but all needed re-tuning now and then. It was tolerable, however.
COMFORT OF PERFORMERS: The performers seemed to be reasonably comfortable. I watched them near the beginning of their time slot for about two hours. They wore heavy sweaters. They had nothing on their hands. They put coats on at breaks. The performers and food area were located at opposite corners of the tent. There were several Nescoes with hot food lined up on one wall of the tent.
CONDITIONS IN THE TENT: The tent was warm in the center and colder near its perimeter. Heaters were placed at the perimeter and spaced roughly six meters apart, directed towards the center. They were fairly small units with fans about 0.3 meters in diameter. I sat in two places for about an hour each. First, I sat in the center of the tent, then at a table near one wall of the tent. It was pretty warm at the center but at the wall my feet were freezing after about an hour and the rest of me was getting cold. I had heavy boots and two pairs of socks on in addition to my heavy winter coat, partially unzipped.
The floor of the tent was wood chips.
CONDENSATION and HUMIDITY: Humidity did seem fairly high in the tent. When the wind blew enough to shake the roof, drops of condensed water rained down on participants inside. It was tolerable but kind of annoying at times.
SUMMARY: Yesterday, with temperatures 20 degrees above freezing, things seemed bearable, at least for the two hours I was there. If the temperature had been ten or twenty degrees lower, I would wonder if the performers would have been comfortable, as their hands might have been affected and the quality of their performance would have suffered. Also, I’m fairly certain the edges of the tent would have been very cold. (It was 40 degrees colder outside at the same event last year). Although yesterday might have worked, when I left the performers still had more than three hours to play. Personally, I was glad it wasn’t me who signed up to do the gig and we heeded the advice given on this discussion board.
Gig in a heated tent in February
Gig in a heated tent in February
The group I play with has lined up a gig in a "food tent" in the middle of February, when it's often well below freezing. We assume the tent is heated, but my experience with heated tents is that there are pockets of cold and hot, that the temperature inside is not uniform and that it is still not like being inside a heated building. I'm wondering what experience others have had with "heated tents" and whether you'd play under these conditions or not. What are the possible consequences to fiddles/banjos/guitars, etc? The gig pays well so it would be nice to play it but if we have to fiddle/play banjo and guitar in winter coats or our instruments develop cracks later on it would certainly not be worth it. What has been your experience? Would you play the gig or not?
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by FiddleCrazy
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
...And what can happen to sound equipment, particularly speakers, if subjected to the cold. Can it damage the equipment? Are there any precautions you'd take in this type of environment?
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by FiddleCrazy
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
We've played as a band in a heated marquee. On that occasion there there was a lot of humidity (the bodhran went very slack!). There could be a problem with humidity and violin glue (it's designed to unstick when it gets wet) but apart from that there shouldn't be a problem and there didn't seem to be a problem with any of our instruments (except the bodhran, but not sure if that counts??!) <ducks for cover>
We often go to festivals for several days with a marquee full of violins and it's occasionally been pretty damp (not heated, admittedly) and have never had a problem.
I'm hoping there might be some ventilation as with a load of people in a marquee it could get very humid indeed.
Anyway, not sure that helps but that's my 2 euro...
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by Mark Harmer
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
I suggest you wear your clothing in layers. I have experienced both warm and stuffy and cold and windy when playing in a tent, sometimes at the same event. It's best to be prepared for anything.
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by len
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
I know someone who cracked the varnish on her fiddle by playing under such conditions.
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by dafydd
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
What you need is an electric fiddle. (although the strings are still affected to some extent)
The other problem you run into in tents is generators - you need a surge suppressor on the power bars if you are using any electronics (midi etc).
Warm clothes, fingerless gloves, flask of soup and a decent battery-light all help in a tent.
Some people are also paranoid about getting rust on their box reeds in damp weather.
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by geoffwright
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
Yeh . . a 2 bar electric fiddle is what you want . .
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by Justintime
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
You could use a hot poker to bow it with . .
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by Justintime
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
I would have advised that you think real hard before taking the gig--I myself have never really enjoyed outdoor performances, and in Feburary, the outdoors is present, even in tents. Too many technical things can go wrong, not to mention exposure of instruments to harsh elements. And if it is too chilly, Irish instruments do not lend themselves to playing with gloves on!
But if you take the advice listed above, it will help you with some of the potential problems. Good luck, and I hope it works out.
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
The second-best/spare fiddle is recommended, plus the banjo might get tuning problems with the skin tension varying in the humidity and tempratures. I second the layered clothing, plus electronic safety measures suggested.
It might be a very good idea to discuss this with the organisers, pointing out that the value of the instruments they are asking to be exposed to these conditions is several times what they will be paying you, and how well can they control these important atmospheric conditions ?
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
PS Surprising things can come from these inhospitable conditions; my band was playing an open-air street party in London; the air turned cool and the flautist was struggling with her fingers on the cold metal; at the end an elderley gentleman turned up and said how much he had enjoyed her playing - turned out he was the concert flautist who music had inspired her as a teenager ! So, even if you feel you are struggling, you may yet be appreciated.
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
We have recently played under a canopy, with a propane heater to keep some temperature control.
The temperature on both occasions was around five degrees C. As GP reports, appreciation can run high. My banjo did not suffer, but tuning was a bit of an issue.
Fingerless gloves worked just fine for banjo, whistle, and melodeon, but two hours was all we could manage.
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by oldstrings
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
as far as sound gear and speakers go, you don't have to worry about that. the cold don't hurt 'em.
# Posted on January 3rd 2007 by rob_handel
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
Yes, but what does water do to speakers ?
Drove through a heavy storm with the speakers in a trailer behind the cat, and had to decant the cabs outside the venue before entering. Think it was only the cab that got wet, not the driver/speaker itself.........
# Posted on January 3rd 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
We did one like this in Calgary a couple of years ago. The outside temperature was only -1 C. or so, and it was hell. The promoters assured us that they'd have radiant heaters in the tent, and that would make everything ok. There was a very slight breeze, which completely negated the effect of the heaters. After two hours of numb fingers and out-of-tune instruments, we packed up and went home. And we were well-dressed, had extra gloves etc.
I asked the organizer how cold it would have to be before they canceled the gig, and she said, "Minus 15". The problem isn't that you can't play under these circumstances, it's that you can't play WELL, and you can't enjoy the gig. We won't play any gigs where the temperature is below 12 C. - it's just not worth the aggro.
# Posted on January 3rd 2007 by Gzeg
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
We did a colonial dance in an unheated tent last spring where the temperature turned out to be lower than most anything we've had up our way so far this winter! I would think twice about doing it again under those conditions, if I knew ahead of time. The dancers could hardly keep warm! Our instruments didn't seem to suffer, but we did.
# Posted on January 3rd 2007 by vonnieestes
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
I wish to add I have never towed a trailer behind a cat !
I did get asked to play with my old band at "The Mayflower Barn" at Old Jordans, for an April wedding a few years ago. A single layer of ill-fitting shingles nailed to the outside of the timbers did not seal out the draughts. The heating was totally inadequate. Global warming didn't seem to have taken effect yet. The guests were in their wedding finery, and hating us, could not keep dancing enough to stay warm, whilst we were at least fore-warned; the called did the second half in a ski-suit, I had four layers on top and thick cords tucked into my cowboy boots, etc..........don't remember any effect on instruments or fingers.
Then once we turned up at a golf club, thinking it would be a reasonable indoor environment - turned out the hall was a barn halfway through renovation with no end wall....we were at the other end but still....organiser said "But you're a barn dance band, aint you ?"
Maybe people aren't so energetic any more, or I don't whip them into the same kind of frenzy, but it often used to be the case that the dancers perspired and flung all the doors and windows open, and then the band shivered. Don't remember that so much from recent events.
# Posted on January 3rd 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
The caller did the second half..........sack the proofreader.
# Posted on January 3rd 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
Thanks to you all for your good advice and suggestions. It is much appreciated!
# Posted on January 3rd 2007 by FiddleCrazy
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
Dying to know - d'you think you're going to do it? If you do, let us know how it goes...
# Posted on January 10th 2007 by Mark Harmer
Re: Gig in a heated tent in February
UPDATE: The gig was yesterday.
DECISION: We decided NOT to play the gig based on the advice received from this forum and other people we consulted. Another band quickly took our place when we didn’t sign the contract (over a month ago) and played the gig.
WEATHER: The weather was much warmer than it was just one week ago, at about 10-15 degrees above freezing. Just last week it was 20 degrees colder. There was a strong wind outside the tent that came in now and then through holes in the tent as well as where the walls meet the roof and the floor.
INSTRUMENTS: The banjo went out of tune more than the guitar or fiddle, but all needed re-tuning now and then. It was tolerable, however.
COMFORT OF PERFORMERS: The performers seemed to be reasonably comfortable. I watched them near the beginning of their time slot for about two hours. They wore heavy sweaters. They had nothing on their hands. They put coats on at breaks. The performers and food area were located at opposite corners of the tent. There were several Nescoes with hot food lined up on one wall of the tent.
CONDITIONS IN THE TENT: The tent was warm in the center and colder near its perimeter. Heaters were placed at the perimeter and spaced roughly six meters apart, directed towards the center. They were fairly small units with fans about 0.3 meters in diameter. I sat in two places for about an hour each. First, I sat in the center of the tent, then at a table near one wall of the tent. It was pretty warm at the center but at the wall my feet were freezing after about an hour and the rest of me was getting cold. I had heavy boots and two pairs of socks on in addition to my heavy winter coat, partially unzipped.
The floor of the tent was wood chips.
CONDENSATION and HUMIDITY: Humidity did seem fairly high in the tent. When the wind blew enough to shake the roof, drops of condensed water rained down on participants inside. It was tolerable but kind of annoying at times.
SUMMARY: Yesterday, with temperatures 20 degrees above freezing, things seemed bearable, at least for the two hours I was there. If the temperature had been ten or twenty degrees lower, I would wonder if the performers would have been comfortable, as their hands might have been affected and the quality of their performance would have suffered. Also, I’m fairly certain the edges of the tent would have been very cold. (It was 40 degrees colder outside at the same event last year). Although yesterday might have worked, when I left the performers still had more than three hours to play. Personally, I was glad it wasn’t me who signed up to do the gig and we heeded the advice given on this discussion board.
# Posted on February 18th 2007 by FiddleCrazy