When I first read “Put Your PA Behind You” in a recent advertisement from Bose I thought of the expression “Paving the Cowpaths”
quote:
“Pave the cowpaths,” which means, essentially, look where the paths are already being formed by behavior and then formalize them, rather than creating some sort of idealized path structure that ignores history and tradition and human nature and geometry and ergonomics and common sense.
My thoughts on this: “Put Your PA Behind You” acknowledges all the people who are already using the L1®s as their PA, whether or not they are using them according to the original L1® Approach. If something is working for you, who am I to say that you are wrong?
“Put Your PA Behind You” is a good message for someone who might otherwise have dismissed the L1® as a solution because s/he thought that its only application was for an individual performer (or several individual performers with their own L1®s, playing together).
“Put Your PA Behind You” helps someone who is looking for a PA to see the L1® as a solution for his/her perceived need for a PA. It does NOT say, the L1® is for an individual, and hence, it is not for you because you are looking for a system that can be shared.
I have drawn countless sketches with two L1®s behind a band with four or more performers because that can be a good approach for bands. I didn’t say “Put Your PA Behind You”, but I have described how to do it many, many times.
Having one L1® for each performer is still valid (and for me, preferred). But “Put Your PA Behind You” acknowledges that people are using the L1®s in ways that differ from the original vision. One of those ways is to use a couple of L1®s as a PA system behind the performers. This still conveys value (no need for monitors, lower stage volume, lower drop off of sound over distance, localization…).
This also means that it’s possible to experience the benefits above and find the incentive to add L1®s to get to one L1® per player.
Yesterday I went motorcycle riding with friends. We ride dual sport type bikes and tend to ride the twisty, narrow, country roads at a moderate pace and include unimproved roads when possible.
There was a stretch of about 6 miles that winded it’s way across a ridge top, one turn after another with nary a straight stretch longer than a city block. As I rode along this narrow ribbon of blacktop I wondered how many feet had trod the same path before it was paved. When we came to the end, we stopped and commented on how much we enjoyed the road. Our fearless leader who always chooses the route we ride, just held up his detailed maps as if to say its not me it’s on the map.
If we are to follow the new pavement we at least need some road signs to provide direction, they should be accurate lest we get lost along the way.
For those who were already following the path, then I hope the new pavement makes it an easier ride.
For those who are exploring the now more accessible path for the first time they get to look to those who have gone before.
I could wish that there were more road signs but we are on a path where the travellers (not the pavers) are the experts. In this case the pavers followed the path created by others.
Some of those who travel the road put up the signs that we think will help others. And that’s a good thing.
We could wish that Bose would take a bigger role in this, but we have this forum where we can offer up ideas and get them hammered out on the anvil of conversation. It takes a community to do that.
I appreciate the analogy of paving the cowpath to using the L1 for a band, but I believe the original design intent of the L1 was more like building a multi lane Interstate where once a buffalo trail had been.
So in a sense, some might interpret the paved cowpath as a backward move along a more difficult route.
I know my motorcycle ride was 190 some odd miles round trip, and from my house to the turn around point and back was not more than 100 miles, had I traveled the better highway.
I am all for making the best use of our dollars and the L1 systems in any way that works for the user. I would hope that somehow we can gather the good information about using the L1’s in a band format, and weed out the misleading information so that those who come here for advice will get responses that are known to work.
I will admit to being taken aback when Bose marketing decided to start calling two L1s “a PA”. It seemed that they were selling out all the hard one-per-player (or close to it) work we’ve been doing in the field.
The Bose ad dept did not do a good job with their first L1 ads, in my opinion. I saw the first ad back in 2004, and it appeared the L1 was build for the solo acoustic guitarist. As a rock player, I thought the L1 had no place in my world. Fortunately, I learned different, thanks to a friend who took a wild chance.
After hearing an L1, buying one, and using it in a 4pc group, I found that it worked great. And imagine my surprise when I learned, some time later, from the inventor himself, that the L1 was actually designed from the ground up and intended for individual players in a band! That fact is clearly documented in photos and details on the history of the L1, and all of Ken and Cliff’s hard work.
It boggled my mind that all of that was overlooked in the original ads, showing a solo player. It seemed, in retrospect, that marketing had “chickened out”, not really believing the L1 could work for a band.
Once we users experienced the L1, we got the picture, and used the L1(s) with our bands with great success. And by 2006 I had four L1s and was demoing them for anyone who was interested. Around that time, Bose released promo showing L1s in a band scenario.
I tried pushing the one-per-player thing, but the money held everyone back. I quickly found that three systems worked very well, and occasionally two would suffice, for the more dynamic players. That seemed more agreeable, costs-wise, to those I demoed for. But still I fought against the idea that the L1 was just a “speaker on each side of the band, PA system”.
But after reading your posts ST, I think that Bose is actually on the right track, showing the two L1s behind the band. For those who are totally stuck on the old 2-speaker look, this might actually soak in. Although I figure they will still probably want to put them out front, and start adding floor monitors.
Bottom line is that the L1 was just so different an approach, that it is hard to limit it to only one way of using it. Seeing that pic of Foreigner with the L1 on each side, aimed inward at the band, cemented that fact (right or wrong…wrong in my opinion).
So how can you best promote it? This new “PA” ad campaign might do the trick.
I sure hope so, 'cause I’m getting worn thin trying to open the eyes of musicians to something new. All of those frustrations aside though, I am delighted at what I’ve experienced in these last, almost 10, years. The L1 gave me those years, that I never would have had otherwise.
“Put your PA behind you” could you say to a Elements user, because it’s smaller sound projection angle. I use to put my PA (a Bose L1 compact) right from me and one time I had 2 Bose L1 compact and they stood left and right from me.
Perhaps only a motorcycle person can truly appreciate the comparison of the PC800 to the L1.
It was ahead of it’s time, it looked a little different but was a very practical and efficient design, trouble free, loooong lasting, next to nothing maintenance, yes funky, adored by their owners, and coveted by those who know, but don’t own.
And, like the recent ads from Bose, maybe more fun when used in pairs.
Okay, this thread has my interest (please forgive long winded post!)
Some of you may have seen my post over in the guitar forum regarding selecting a pickup compatible with the L1 Compact that I plan to purchase primarily for my son and myself to perform with acoustically.
But I have an interest in this topic of L1 as a PA as well, as I am also a bassplayer in a Blues band, one that I have fairly recently joined.
We are a 5 piece, guitarist, drummer, harmonica [harp!] player, keyboardist/rythym guitarist, and myself on bass. Lead vocals shared by guitarist, keyboardist, and harp player, and drummer and myself sing backup.
I spent the last few months learning the material of course, now we are planning on our first string of (hopefully) many gigs to come, the first gigs with me in the band.
The PA system we have now belongs to our lead singer/guitarist, and is pretty much based on a mid level “all in one” deal by a major manufacturer, scalable by a few different sized mixers, supplemental outboard power amps that can drive a couple of larger 115 cabs, and a few wedges/monitors we use as needed.
So now that our discussions our focused more on the business of live performances, I am hearing things like this regarding this band’s live music history:
“I don’t like playing at (small local venue) b/c it’s so much trouble to set up and tear down”
“Last time we played at (popular local bar) we we’re told we were too loud”
“The best paying gigs are at winerys and weddings, wish we could get more of those”
"I enjoyed playing that acoustic show at (local golf course restaurant), we sounded great and it was a blast"
And the most recent development, our drummer (excellent, a true musician mind you) has recently switched to electric drums so we can lower our overall volume and hear ourselves better.
So with all this, I keep thinking we really need to simplify, streamline, and get disciplined with our live sound.
FYI and full disclosure, even though I am not an L1 owner currently, years ago I was in a Roots/Country band in the mid 2000s, and the guitarist and singer each bought an original “PAS” (still called that?) when they first came out, and we used them for our PA many, many times with great success. For practices I actually didn’t even use a bass amp, and went through one of them, as each of them had a single bass module.
That experience was actually my introduction to the system and I know how great it can sound in a band context, and how versatile they really are.
Versatility that I agree doesn’t always come out in what I see and read online.
Anyway, my intention is to suggest to my band we consider going the L1 route, even if it’s just to initially be used as a small venue PA. I believe it would particularly helpful to alleviate some (most?) frustrations I am hearing about playing live.
Meanwhile, I will be watching and studying this thread and the rest of this forum to see how other band “scale” the L1s, particularly for smaller venues.
For now I’m planning to purchase a compact for my son (and me!), and if nothing else, over time I may just build my own scalable L1 “system” (BTW, anyone having success w/ 2 Compacts and a full blown L1 doing the heavy lifting?)
Anyway, thanks for reading, and appreciate any suggestions and advice. Very good topic!