Hearing protection for playing in a "too loud" band?

[KEW]

I just lined up a gig with a rock band. These guys play loud!

I have some of the mainstream 3M foam earplugs that I can use, but I am wondering if there is something that does better at maintaining the balance of frequencies (I would also use these for going to concerts if they get loud) and it would be nice if they were more discrete (instead of neon orange) so it is not so terribly conspicuous.

Is there such a thing?

 

[lovinthehd]

Professionals use things like that so I'd try to find out what they use....

 

[psbfan9]

Hey Kurt,

A quick Google search found these.

https://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Fidelity-Earplugs-ETY-Plugs-Standard/dp/B0044DEESS?th=1

That led me to this chart;

https://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearing-protection/which-earplug

Congratulations on the gig!

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Try etymotic
Etymotic High-Fidelity Earplugs, ER20XS Standard Fit, 1 pair, Polybag Packaging https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RM6Q9XW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rBILAbAXV9N97

Not sure of your setup, but I like in ear monitors by shure (lots of others out there too). They come with a bunch of tips to fit, and some are the 3m foam style so they block out like 30db and you should be able to get a pa mix or whatever you want to them. Might need a wireless setup though.
Shure SE215-CL Sound Isolating Earphones with Single Dynamic MicroDriver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004PO10E2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_pCILAb0CE1928

 

[shadyJ]

Most people use etymotic ear plugs in these situation, where they try to simply lower the volume at an even level for all mids and highs. The thing is, if these guys play loud enough, the sound will come through, even in regular ear plugs, so even typical ear plugs will work fine in my experience. Even the roll up kind that are 33 dB rated. Some people even use ear muffs on top of ear plugs.

 

[TheWarrior]

Jabra is the brand a certain someone we know has other professional performers wearing, but these are intended for production so that the musician is receiving a voice on the other end.

I think the above suggestions that are clear and more easily concealed would be your best options. You'll still 'hear' of course, you just might not be able to pick up the subtle grammy nomination whispers you normally would...

 

[highfigh]

I just lined up a gig with a rock band. These guys play loud!

I have some of the mainstream 3M foam earplugs that I can use, but I am wondering if there is something that does better at maintaining the balance of frequencies (I would also use these for going to concerts if they get loud) and it would be nice if they were more discrete (instead of neon orange) so it is not so terribly conspicuous.

Is there such a thing?

Why do they play so loud? Are they already deaf?

Is this the kind of band that uses a PA? If so, there's really no reason for the stage level to be high, but the drummer might disagree.

I use silicon rubber plugs when the SPL is extreme and I don't want to wear muffs, or the orange foam ones that have a blue cord from places like Home Depot- I remove the cord because I don't need it. I have a set of Hear-Os, but I can't find them- they're not bad, but they aren't very comfortable. I'm a member at The Guitar Page and TalkBass- they have had this conversation many times.

Etymotic is a name I see a lot- this one is cheap enough that you can try them and if they don't do what you want, they don't break the bank.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EarPlugProS?gclid=CjwKCAiAz-7UBRBAEiwAVrz-9eR8ZZvpKP4_ie-1gUAMiMXtx43I7R1nWcQ4cMFTuJHnaQawweDFiRoCiz8QAvD_BwE

OK, looks like we have the ER-20 covered- what kind of band, Melodic Swedish Death Metal?

 

[TheWarrior]

Why do they play so loud? Are they already deaf?

Is this the kind of band that uses a PA? If so, there's really no reason for the stage level to be high, but the drummer might disagree.

I use silicon rubber plugs when the SPL is extreme and I don't want to wear muffs, or the orange foam ones that have a blue cord from places like Home Depot- I remove the cord because I don't need it. I have a set of Hear-Os, but I can't find them- they're not bad, but they aren't very comfortable. I'm a member at The Guitar Page and TalkBass- they have had this conversation many times.

Etymotic is a name I see a lot- this one is cheap enough that you can try them and if they don't do what you want, they don't break the bank.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EarPlugProS?gclid=CjwKCAiAz-7UBRBAEiwAVrz-9eR8ZZvpKP4_ie-1gUAMiMXtx43I7R1nWcQ4cMFTuJHnaQawweDFiRoCiz8QAvD_BwE

OK, looks like we have the ER-20 covered- what kind of band, Melodic Swedish Death Metal?

Not many have seen Kurt's mohawk on full display!

 

[KEW]

Why do they play so loud? Are they already deaf?

Yeah, deaf, drunk, and stoned!
https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52762-Drinking-and-hearing-loss

Is this the kind of band that uses a PA? If so, there's really no reason for the stage level to be high, but the drummer might disagree.

You are right, of course, but these guys are all over 50 (or close, if not), so I don't see much point in attempting to enlighten their life style choices. "Loud Rock 'n Roll" is definitely a lifestyle choice these guys consider "righteous".

... what kind of band, Melodic Swedish Death Metal?

LOL, no I probably wouldn't do that. It is a good ole boy, party hard, rock n roll band. I am well out of my comfort zone with this, knowing I will probably have a spot light on me for 2 minutes straight (I have intense stage fright), but for the shorter solos I've played with the Big Band, the music seems to take over and I get it right, even though my hands are shaking like leaves as soon as I take them off the sax. But they want me to come play the solo at the end of "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd and, well, it's Pink Floyd, so "hell yeah, damn the torpedoes!" It is going to be a real adventure for me, that is for sure!

 

[highfigh]

Yeah, deaf, drunk, and stoned!
https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52762-Drinking-and-hearing-loss

You are right, of course, but these guys are all over 50 (or close, if not), so I don't see much point in attempting to enlighten their life style choices. "Loud Rock 'n Roll" is definitely a lifestyle choice these guys consider "righteous".

LOL, no I probably wouldn't do that. It is a good ole boy, party hard, rock n roll band. I am well out of my comfort zone with this, knowing I will probably have a spot light on me for 2 minutes straight (I have intense stage fright), but for the shorter solos I've played with the Big Band, the music seems to take over and I get it right, even though my hands are shaking like leaves as soon as I take them off the sax. But they want me to come play the solo at the end of "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd and, well, it's Pink Floyd, so "hell yeah, damn the torpedoes!" It is going to be a real adventure for me, that is for sure!

Bill Cosby had a bit about drinking and how people act when they drink- beer drinkers, apparently, go deaf as they drink more.

Righteous, as in, "That was really righteous, dude!"?

WRT stage fright- nothing a few (hundred) drinks can't cure, right? Play to the musicians. If they like it, the crowd will probably like it.

I forgot- what part of Jowjah?

 

[KEW]

Bill Cosby had a bit about drinking and how people act when they drink- beer drinkers, apparently, go deaf as they drink more.

Righteous, as in, "That was really righteous, dude!"?

Exactly, we're talking the epitome of the proverbial guy who's last words were, "Here, hold my beer and watch this!"

WRT stage fright- nothing a few (hundred) drinks can't cure, right? Play to the musicians. If they like it, the crowd will probably like it.

I forgot- what part of Jowjah?

I know I'm capable, my fear is that I get struck by some type of fright-paralysis or just totally spaz out in nervousness! One good thing is once I'm playing sax, I can't start shallow breathing.
I used to be a college professor and even after teaching for years, I would be nervous and have a tremor in my voice the entire first week or two of class. I thought teaching would get rid of it once and for all; it takes too much energy to be nervous all of the time. Unfortunately, my nervousness just got selective instead of going away entirely.

Northeast of the (Atlanta) perimeter north of Kennessaw. It takes me 45 to 90 minutes to get downtown, depending on traffic.

 

[Irvrobinson]

My wife was in a band like that a few years ago. I measured over 100db on average from 15 feet away. It wasn't that horrible for her, because drummers are in the back of the stage, out of the line of fire of the PA systems, but I started refusing to go. I used 3M foam ear plugs too, and they weren't enough to make the band's sound level reasonable.

According to 3M, the Superfit 33s have the highest attenuation. I use the 1100s, and they're slightly less effective, but good enough for use in my garage when working on cars (for air compressors, shop vacs, etc.), and they're what I use when flying. You can still understand speech well with the 1100s, less so with the 33s.

 

[Verdinut]

Exactly, we're talking the epitome of the proverbial guy who's last words were, "Here, hold my beer and watch this!"


I know I'm capable, my fear is that I get struck by some type of fright-paralysis or just totally spaz out in nervousness! One good thing is once I'm playing sax, I can't start shallow breathing.
I used to be a college professor and even after teaching for years, I would be nervous and have a tremor in my voice the entire first week or two of class. I thought teaching would get rid of it once and for all; it takes too much energy to be nervous all of the time. Unfortunately, my nervousness just got selective instead of going away entirely.

Northeast of the (Atlanta) perimeter north of Kennessaw. It takes me 45 to 90 minutes to get downtown, depending on traffic.

Have you ever thought of practicing yoga for relaxation? That would definitely help you to control your stage fright. Just my two cents.

Cheers,

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

 

[KEW]

Have you ever thought of practicing yoga for relaxation? That would definitely help you to control your stage fright. Just my two cents.

Cheers,

Never thought about Yoga and stage fright, I'll ask around!

 

[Verdinut]

Never thought about Yoga and stage fright, I'll ask around!

Most actors and professional singers have stage fright before getting on the stage to perform. Even speakers are subjected to it before addressing the audience.

Some practice yoga and some have a minimal dose of Bisoprolol prescribed by their doctor. It's a beta blocker which is normally used to lower blood pressure, but also acts to slow down the pulse rate.

 

[highfigh]

Never thought about Yoga and stage fright, I'll ask around!

I don't know if he still practices, but one of the members of Phil Collins' band has been into yoga for decades and they have played in front of >500K people on many occasions with, and without, Genesis.

I can't imagine walking onstage and seeing that kind of crowd. Watch the link to see what they played to in Rome at the end of their 2007 tour-

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Recently I've learned that I've completely missed one big joke in BTTF. In this scene I've linked above, the "boring" guy in eyeglasses who stands up, is Huey Lewis himself, right after Marty and band started to play Huey Lewis and News - Power of Love song opening. Apparently, this was not a subtle joke at all, but I guess I don't pay much attention to rock musicians faces, except then they have 3ft beards.

 

[Dan]

As someone who is shy around strangers and used to have stage fright, I have a few suggestions, nothing earthshaking.
My old man made me take a speech class in high school. I hated it but it did me good, speaking to a bunch of kids who all had to do it in front of the rest of it as well. The class bonded over it and was very close. So having someone sympathetic in the crowd you can focus on helps a lot.
I did radio in college and speaking on the air to "no one" was very difficult at first. So I imagined a friend sitting on the couch and spoke as if I was talking to him. You can imagine someone in the crowd if that helps.
You needn't make eye contact at all. Just look out blankly or stare at your instrument. Everyone will think you're just a very intense musician. No worries. Hardly anyone will realize if you mess up. If the band drinks a lot, I'll bet the crowd does too.
A little fear can be your friend. It keeps you alert and avoids being complacent. Learn to make a little adrenaline and the butterflies that go with it an expected friend, not the enemy.
Lastly, and perhaps most important, there is no substitute for preparation. I lecture regularly too, and my best talks are all well practiced where I am an expert on the material. With music there is no substitute for practice.

Best of Luck

Dan aka Little Swerd

 

[psbfan9]

When is this happening? Has it occurred? Will there be video?

Vape a little weed before you perform.