question for musicians( drummer probably ) or people who go to gigs

Plexiglass does not absorb sound--it just REFLECTS sound. It is used in as a drum shield in a number of ways. Sometimes it is used to contain the sound of the drums so that it reaches the audience as reflected sound instead of direct sound. This application is mostly to make the drums less loud in small venue.

In a concert situation, the shield around the drums is used to reflect the sound back to the drummer without allowing it to travel straight into the microphones used by the vocalists as well as any other microphones that may be in the path of the drums. The high volumes of the vocal and other mics combined with the drum mics can cause serious problems with feedback.

When you saw the entire set covered it is most likely an application which allows the cymbal mics to be isolated in much the same way.

Is it uncomfortable for the drummer? No, I think that it is much MORE comfortable because it allows the drummer to hear his(her) own sound to be naturally as the drummer would hear it without the sound being dispersed into such a large venue.

Jethro Tull were the first band i saw who used these (20 odd years ago)..i remember thinking,not going to be loud enough,(if my ears don't bleed i feel i've been robbed)...sure enough we could talk to each other ABOVE the music,i was thinking,just crank the guitars up,drown the drums out a bit!!,

........as a sidenote,i now suffer tinnitus...

cheers tons of sobs, and also sorry to hear re tinnitus.

any idea about the 'carpet' in middle of stage ?

Not sure why ''others '' use them but here's what Greg Lake had to say...

When asked about the rug, Greg has said "I don't know whether you've ever noticed that I wear plimsolls on stage, which cuts down the chances of an electric shock. The carpet's there for the same reason. Altogether it means I'd still feel it, but I wouldn't die. Also it means it's like you're playing at home every night, almost in the same surroundings - which is nice. When I decided to buy a carpet I thought I might as well get one that was worth something. To be honest I never thought anybody would notice it." Interesting to hear why he was on a Persian Rug, and it seems this could explain why other artists, such as the Grateful Dead choose to play on Perisan Rugs as well. He not only uses the rug to prevent being electrocuted, but also as decoration to make him feel at home, as he still has it in his London home.


I'm not sure a rug on the head (Gary Glitter) has the same protection.

Just to add,the singer in my son's band always stands on a couple of rubber shower mats!!

believe the carpet is to stop the bass drum from moving around on the stage

aha, thanks for replies, clears up a query ive had for a while.

Drums are extremely loud and unlike a (eg) guitar amplifier - you can't turn 'em down.
They're (Drums) OK in a big hall where the Guitar Amps (and Vocals) are turned right up ..but in a recording studio, or small venue they're a problem...they're just so phucking loud.
With regard to a carpet...if a stage has a shiny slippery floor when the drummer starts whacking hell out of his drums they'd just spread everywhere especially the Bass Drum where the drummer is kicking hell out of his pedal ... our drummer used to carry a carpet a big hammer and a couple of 6 inch nails which he'd hammer into the stage floor in front of his bass drum to stop it moving.
You can imagine the drummer whacking 6 inch nails into a stage floor didn't go down to well with the "Management" at some of out gigs...
OH ..those were the days...

Atomic Rooster=two drummers

They reckon Keith Moon ...used to wear 100 watt headphones strapped to his ears so he could hear the band cos he hit those drums so phucking hard !

A lot of ageing rock stars have problems with their hearing...which would explain the crap songs they write later in their careers.

did bump into ric parnell ( ex atomic rooster /spinal tap) in a bar in missoula few years ago( oxford st inn), his hearing seemed fine, but he did support spurs.

I played in a "Rock and" in the 60's ...
Lead Guitar ..Gibson Les Paul through.... a 100 watt Marshal and Stereo'd thru' Fender Tremolux
Rythm Guitar Fender Strat ...thru 100 watt Ampeg
Bass Guitar (me)  Hofner Bas thru.... 100 watt Vox
Vocals  - PA ..100 watt Dynachord Combi Unit
Plus the phucking Drummer hitting hell out of his skins
At the end of the  2 x 1hour slots your ears were just phucking ringing ....
Still a bit mutton jeff today ...was good fun though !

"Rock Band"

Rockinron - were you the backing band for the Carpenters then?:)

so you're a bit lee van cleef ron ?