On festival sound reinforcement:
I had an interesting conversation recently with Doug Bailey, who now does the sound at Sidmouth in the Bedford, and this year also at the Manor Pavilion.

The Manor Pavilion is a theatre and in previous years had been used unamplified, but it's really hard work to be heard at the back. Two years ago a sound crew came in for some concerts but they were clueless. This year Doug set up invisible sound reinforcement for the afternoon concerts: four very high quality condenser mics hanging down behind the curtains at the top of the proscenium arch, pointing at the stage, and using the theatre's built in speakers high up on either side of the proscenium arch (very good speakers, it turned out). A slight lift of the sound made it perfectly clear at the back without sounding amplified. In the interval of one of those concerts Doug knew he'd cracked it when he was out in the foyer and overheard someone say words to the effect of "it's the first time I've been able to hear the music properly from the back of the hall, but I can't see any microphones!"

The evening concerts featuring bigger bands were more conventionally miked up but more for balance (because of the range of instruments) than power.

It's transformed the theatre into a very useful festival venue - the place was packed and its the largest space Sidmouth has after the Ham marquee.

Anahata