I see players struggle from time-to-time, on-stage with sound conditions. Normally, it's at a festival - with 15 minute turns between acts. There are typically, less then ideal sound-stage conditions at these events. You might see several musicians in the band, all trying to sound check the UNplugged fiddle, guitar, octave mando or several of each. There will be squeels of feedback and, "more guitar in my monitor, please" requests ... sometimes accompanied by shaking of the heads in disgust at the "rock and roller" on the console who just doesn't understand the intricacies of trad music.

Sometimes the guy at the console is not capable of sorting out the sound - but in my experience that is very rare. I've come to realize that I cannot expect good sound conditions at these events and I have to do everything in my power to make the sound man's job easy. As lovely as my guitars sound unplugged, in ideal situations - I always plug them in, on-stage.

I am sure the sound guys reading this will object when I say this, but Microphones on-stage are the enemy! They need to be kept to a minimum. There are great pick-ups now-a-days for virtually all the instruments.

If you stand on-stage with a mic one foot from your fiddle and try blend with a guitar that's plugged in, a penny whistle and a singer who insists on his or her own special studio mic ... you're going to have problems, more often then not. Get a pick-up - and take the time to find a good one.

It's true we often have folks running sound who don't know folk/trad music as well as we'd like - but that only strengthens my arguement. It is also true, these guys often surprise you by doing a damn good job anyway - and I am certain most want to do a good job making us sound good.

Of course there are exceptions to the rule. Of course there are experienced pros who refuse to plug in - but they pay the price ... and they become adept at knowing how to manage the problems they experience because of it.

Getting a good sound out of our instruments is only part of our job. Delivering that sound to an audience through the sound system is just as important.

I argue, if you're going to perform live at a festival or otherwise less-then-ideal environment; Get a Pick-up!