Gordon Webster

Swinging around the world for your Lindy Hopping pleasure

TECH RIDER 

Following are the instrument specs, and attached is a detailed stage plot for reference.  This stage plot is from another gig, with only 7 piece band.  It can be used for a ROUGH IDEA of the layout which can be adjusted depending on the stage shape.  Please consult INPUT LIST (below).  We really only need 4 monitors in most situations. They should be on separate mixes:

Monitor mixes (4).

  • M1 for pianist/leader
  • M2 for lead vocalist
  • M3 for horn section
  • M4 for drummer

If additional monitor mix or wedge is possible:

  • M5 for bassist

(Bassist stands in front of the open grand piano OR near keyboard amplifier and next to drummer, so can usually hear, but own separate wedge is helpful)

INPUT LIST:   

If we are 8 musicians total, the horn section is 4 horns, 3-pc rhythm section, and a featured vocalist.  

Gordon Webster - leader, piano

  • Vocal mic on boom stand
  • If acoustic piano - prefer 3 instrument mics, OR
  • If digital keyboard - 1 mono channel with direct box input

Vocalist

  • 1 vocal mic

Trumpet, vocals

  • 1 instrument mic
  • 1 vocal mic.

Tenor sax, clarinet

  • 1 instrument mic

Alto sax, clarinet

  • 1 instrument mic 

Trombone

  • 1 instrument mic 

Bass

  • 1 instrument mic
  • 1 direct box input.

Drums

  • Overheads left (instrument mic)
  • Overheads right (instrument mic)
  • Snare (instrument mic)
  • Kick (instrument mic)

Please also provide

  • Eight good quality music stands
  • Piano/keyboard to our specs
    • Proper piano bench
    • Adjustable keyboard stand and amp (if keyboard)
  • Jazz double bass with
    • Adjustable bridge
    • Pickup
    • Steel strings
    • Bow
    • Bass amp to our specs
  • Drums to our specs (drummer will provide cymbals & sticks)

soundcheck

1 hour allotted after completion of sound setup/line checks.

stageplot

Please see stage diagram.  I am providing a detailed stage plot from a previous septet gig, to give the general shape of our setup.  It's way too detailed!  We can use it as a rough guide.  The shape of your stage might be more long and narrow etc...  We should move the bass in between the drums and piano.   There are only  3 horns on the diagram, we will add one to that line. Same general layout.

DRUM SPECS 

All Drums

  • Yamaha or any other professional quality brand! (Preferably one of the followingYamaha Maple Custom, Hybrid Maple, Birch/Maple Custom Absolute or Recording Custom
  • 20x14 or 22x14 bass drum (no hole in front head!)
  • 12x8 rack tom
  • 14x14 floor tom (NO hanging floor tom. Should be on legs)
  • 14x5 or 14x6,5 snare (preferably wood but metal is also okay)

All drums must be equipped with Remo Coated Ambassadors or similar coated single-ply heads. No clear heads or calf skins.

Bass Drum

  • Batter side: Remo Coated Powerstroke 3 or Remo Coated Ambassador. 
  • Resonant side/front: Coated Ambassador or Fiberskyn with NO HOLE!!
  • All necessary hardware including:
    • Bass Drum Pedal w. felt beater
    • Hi Hat Stand
    • 3 or 4 Cymbal Stands (with felts and washers!!!)
    • Snare Drum Stand
    • Tom Mount or extra snare stand for rack tom
    • Floor Tom Legs
    • Drum Throne
  • Drum rug/carpet should be provided as well.

All equipment must be top-of-line, professional quality and in perfect working condition!

Drummer will bring cymbals & sticks

BASS SPECS

 *****  ADJUSTABLE BRIDGE MOST IMPORTANT  *****

Bass

  • 3/4 German carved bass with adjustable bridge
  • Gut G/D strings, Steel A/E strings (D'addario Pizzicato preferred, Thomastik Spirocore also okay)
  • Fishman Full Circle or David Gage Realist pickup
  • German Bow 

Bass Amp

  • Ampeg B15N (tube model), OR
  • Acoustic Image Clarus Head with 4x10 speaker cabinet (speakon cable)
  • A bass head with an xlr input (and phantom power) and 1/4 input preferred.
    • If they don't have that, as a last resort, David Eden World Traveler Head (500 watts at the minimum) with a 4x10 cabinet
    • GK800RB bass head with a 4X10 cabinet

PIANO SPECS

Preferred Acoustic Pianos

  • Steinway D
  • Yamaha 9-foot concert grand
  • Yamaha C7
  • Etc. 

In general, if it's a performance quality instrument, properly tuned and maintained, this is great.

Gordon is always concerned about the quality, size, tone of the instrument and would be happy to talk to you about any information or questions you may have or if there are multiple options available.  

An acoustic piano is of course desirable but not always better than an electric keyboard.  Cases where a real piano is less desirable than a keyboard may include instances where the piano sound/tone is too weak for the room and stage volume, cannot be mic'd to an adequate volume without feedback problems etc. A very small apartment size or less than performance quality instrument can go out of tune due to having to play too hard in performance situations.  

If there is doubt about the piano being performance quality instrument, or any sound engineering issues with mic-ing the piano adequately, Gordon is happy to play a keyboard.


Preferred Electric Keyboards

  • Roland RD-700-SX or RD-700-SX, or Roland FP-7.
  • RD-800 is also good; although it is the sequel to the 700 series, I prefer the RD-700-SX.
  • Alternatively, an equivalent 88-note weighted keyboard by Yamaha etc.

Please also include

  • A professional quality piano bench
  • Double-braced, very sturdy, adjustable keyboard stand
  • Keyboard amplifier such as Roland KC-550 or equivalent (for use with "thru" send from direct box)
  • Direct box for direct input to sound board