Last year was Herbfest. This year we want to have Herbstock!
I have reached out to several folks in private mail, but as the time approaches it's probably a good idea to post it out here in public. The conversation thus far has all been done in the Songwriter's Showcase under the "Life Is Hard" thread, but not everybody goes there. So here we go.
The principles from last year have discussed doing another reunion, and we are hoping to see MANY more faces and hear much more music than last year. Herb is a most gracious host and has offered overnight camping for anybody who wants to. Initial plans included burgers and dogs on the beautiful firepit he has built. As talks go on we'll discuss some backline equipment, at the very least a small PA system. If need be I'll hit up my friend who owns a music store and borrow some stuff. I'll be bringing keyboards, a small guitar amp, 2 laptops, and a mixer so if people want to run song files in BIAB or RB there will be a computer running each, or rendered WAV files can be played as well, all through the PA. (Also a bunch of the hot dogs!)
This could, and hopefully will, be a really great time. Last year we were focused on getting "Life Is Hard" done and not much beyond that. This year we'd like to have a looser, relaxed day of people playing and singing, and just enjoying the day. I realize it may be a bit of a drive for some people, but I look at it this way. None of us is getting younger, and if all it costs is a (for me, 9 hour) drive each way, that's a bargain price to pay for a day full of fun and PG music community bonding.
The date for this event is Saturday, April 29th. Google Middlesex NC for distance from your location. We have a couple of folks committed at 90% that are as much as 12-14 hours away. I am 9. I can only speak for me, of course, but the thought of missing out on this opportunity carries with it a consideration that as an older man I may not be here for 2024, so I am 100% in on this.
Hope to see a lot of faces this year! And hear a lot of good music!
I've confirmed with Herb. Looks like a 13 hour drive for me. I'll stay at one of the nearby hotels and bring a dog with me, probably the Aussie. I've offered to donate $$$ to Herb for "food/dealing with me" costs.
If it's of need, I do have a mic/mic stand/cables/drum mic bag that I've used for remote recordings. I've also got the 18i20 Focusrite interface in case a lot of inputs are needed for recording. I don't recall if Herb already has a similar input setup.
Here's the original Off Topic conversation started by Herb for any other details previously mentioned:
I unfortunately can not make it now. The guys I go up north with have moved that vacation up a couple of weeks, thus interfering with the April date. If things go extremely well we may be coming south in March. I will let everyone know so maybe we can hook up them.
Well.... So far it looks like 2 folks are confirmed, plus me. I'm pretty sure David is going to be here and we'll probably have the two local folks we're collaborating with here as well. Haven't heard from Pat yet.
If you want to come we'd love to have you. Plenty of motels nearby. Plenty of room.... 28 wooded acres with a couple of creeks and it's before the skeeters come out. 1000 ft off the road back in the woods. You're also welcome to camp out if you want.
Let me know so I can plan on the total number of people.
Pat confirmed a long time ago, with the smiley face comment that this year he won't have his daughter nagging him to leave. I am in. I am really hoping that some of the Georgia folks come up. I sent a PM to John Ford but haven't heard back. Also contacted a couple of others. I REALLY hope I can get Danny Campo to come up. He is on that list of people I really want to meet. Has anybody heard if Charlie Fogle is coming? As we said in the video, nobody writes a chorus like Charlie.
Whoever we have coming, I think it will be a blast. I was hoping for Mario but life took him in another direction.
As long as RHarv comes, at least we know who's fault it is if anything goes wrong!
I've confirmed with Herb. Looks like a 13 hour drive for me. I'll stay at one of the nearby hotels and bring a dog with me, probably the Aussie. I've offered to donate $$$ to Herb for "food/dealing with me" costs.
Mornin' Steve....
Ha....a good chuckle on that comment.
Hope you gents have a safe trip and a good turnout.
You should come! It'd be a heck of a drive for you, but what else do you have to do? The more Veterans, the better!
Mornin' Eddie....
Thanks for the kind invite. It would be one hell of a drive. Unfortunately, my spinal ailment couldn't hack it. I'll be there in spirit. I need a private jet just for these sorts of functions.
Hook him to your drone!! The one you have can lift him!
Mine, btw, took a dive as I was playing with it a my friend's house. One of those things where when the trees are bare you can't see the bare branches. It was 300 feet from me and I had no way to tell in that little cell phone display how close I was to a tree, and down it went. Broke 2 propellers and knocked off the battery door, which somehow landed 10 feet away. Props changed, new battery door on order. I need to buy that adapter that lets me mount a tablet rather than a phone. 8 inch display.
Mine, btw, took a dive as I was playing with it a my friend's house. Props changed, new battery door on order.
You got very lucky. That could have completely totaled it. I'll probably bring mine to Herbstock. I may program some overhead patrols of the ranch before I get there.
<< Has anybody heard if Charlie Fogle is coming? As we said in the video, nobody writes a chorus like Charlie. >>
I plan to attend again this year.
WooHOO! That's what I wanted to hear! I didn't get to talk with you much last year... hopefully that will change this year!
And yeah, hoping Danny Campo comes.. I've mentioned it to him. He seemed interested but I think he stays pretty busy.
Eddie already mentioned me, but I'll confirm that I am definitely planning to be there. I'm bringing a Bose stick PA and a two-pole PA consisting of powered speakers. Also kicking in some cash for food. And planning to pitch a tent and stay overnight on Herb's land. We can tell ghost stories if anybody else camps. LOL
Herb had previously in another thread mentioned acoustic music, so I won't bring any electric guitars unless that plan changes
And planning to pitch a tent and stay overnight on Herb's land. We can tell ghost stories if anybody else camps. LOL
I may try to do that. I've got a tent that's been in mothballs for 15 years. If it still seems OK when I set it up at home, I'll bring it. Also depends on the weather for that weekend.
Originally Posted By: Pat Marr
Or maybe we could set up a vidcam on a tripod and post it on youtube or facebook
My cell records 4K video and we could do YouTube or Facebook. I have both. We'll have to see if Herb has a strong wifi connection or it would be a record then upload.
We'll have to see if Herb has a strong wifi connection or it would be a record then upload.
It isn't exactly fiber but I was able to stream TV to my laptop when I was there. He can tell you the horror story if he cares to about when he inquired into higher speed internet. I was in shock when I heard it.
I have a blazingly fast DSL connection that smokes 20mb/s Or in other words.... No. However, the cell towers are close enough you can live-stream across your phone.
Hoping the weather is warm and dry. Yes, there are motels close by...about 10 minutes away, and you are more than welcome to pitch a tent on the land. If you need a motel, book it early so you have a place to stay. You can always call them to change your plans if necessary.
SO: I'm seeing the following folks confirmed at this juncture. Feel free to copy this list and add your name to it if you are planning on coming and I don't have your name on this list.
Herb... of course, because I live here. Steve Eddie Pat Charlie
I think you can put David and Rharv in heavy pencil if not ink. I have emailed a bunch more in addition to this public thread so I am hoping at least a few more attend. Also remember spouses are quite welcome. In fact, encouraged.
For some strange reason the Australian and English folks have declined... LOL!
Hey, that is fantastic Steve. You can also be in charge of writing all the drum lines with BIAB and Superior Drummer. You did say you had all that stuff, right...lol
No stinking musicians needed...what a concept...lol lol
In that case, I'll just stop by Texas and bring my two-inch tape machine. You guys do provide roadies to unload heavy stuff right?...lol
I don't think there's a number limit. I'm on a free account and it's restricted by time, 40 minutes at a time per meeting. You get to 40 and start a new meeting. We could do a test-drive meeting from our homes at any time.
Paid Zoom accounts come in a few tiers. Al of them have unlimited time, as opposed to the 40 minute limit on the free account. My paid Zoom account is the least expensive and can host, I think, dozens, but I will check. EDIT: confirmed, it's 100 on the free account and 100 on the first paid (unlimited time) $150/year account. When you move to the $200/year paid account, it goes up to 300.
Only the one host needs the paid account, and then everyone else who connects can stay on past the 40 minutes.
You'll probably want to Turn on Original Sound, and change the setting so anyone can Share Screen (to show chord charts etc.).
Sure, Steve. I don't see any real issue except the internet connection. I have a pretty high-quality webcam (usb) I could bring and a Lap Top if needed. I use zoom all the time with a free account but never had more than three or four people connected at any one time.
We could publish the times here on the forum. Perhaps we could get Herb to get on a zoom call with you and me to see how well all that would work. It would give us some idea of the bandwidth issues if any at Herb's place.
There is some other audio software to enhance the audio that you and I could talk about offline.
AND if someone has a projection unit to connect to the laptop we could project the Zoom meeting onto a screen. You know, so the hundreds of people can all see it...
Thanks, Matt...good info. I was not aware of the Original Sound function. I have not used zoom for some time to play music and I understand higher definition audio is now built into the software. I have used audiomovers software in the past.
The concept of having other people from the forum participate in the development of a song would be very cool. That opens up a world of possibilities. Think international Herbstock...lol
Guys, we should make an effort to make this Herbstock thing work. Some of us are getting old and will not be able to do all this sort of thing indefinitely.
If anyone from Florida would like to go you can ride with me. Or anywhere more or less on the way. It is a 10 or 11-hour drive from south Florida so some company would be nice. No cost to you involved.
My thoughts exactly, Billy. The drive may sound daunting but when you balance it against how much fun this will be it's worth it. This is just one weekend out of our whole lives. I'll probably head to Pat's house Friday and then drive over to the thing from there on Saturday morning. I don't know if I will bring Chunk this year, though he is so well behaved he wouldn't be a problem. He wasn't last year. But I'll have keyboards, stands, mixers, guitars, amps... so I have to work out the logistics. Have to test pack the car and see if I can do it in the cargo area or not. Maybe I'd rent one U-Haul's little box trailers.
Hey Matt, Billy and I did a test Zoom last night. If you don't have original sound turned on, Zoom will cut out instruments completely. It's normally filtered for voice only. I also upgraded my Zoom membership so I won't have that 40 minute restriction.
The Zoom setting of Turn On Original sound is a mixed blessing. I'll explain.
The main purpose is to play WAVE or MP3 files on your computer and have them sound good going out over Zoom. Try it. It also has the effect of improving the sensitivity of the computer's microphone if you are NOT playing a song that is in your song library. "Improving" can be good because it picks up musicians playing live. I know this from the church that hires me for tech. It can be bad when the minister shuffles papers, sings, coughs, jostles the podium with the laptop etc.
A better solution to using the laptop microphone is to use an audio interface, like a Focusrite or Presonus on bus power, and use that with your external microphone. Then Turn On Original Sound should work OK for live music.
Yup, Billy and I had that same conversation. When I turned it on from my side, Billy just heard the laptop fan noise from internal mic. I'll just use an SM57 other mic pointed away from laptop next time.
Keep in mind that the end game here is to stream the event, so the sound will be coming from whatever kind of stage we have, though a mixer which can be routed to an interface. This is stuff we can talk about when the principles have a Zoom chat to discuss logistics. And hot dogs. We have to have enough hot dogs!!
We relish the opportunity to have your input. Just talk slow so we don't have to ketchup. Once we have the technical side down we can all be mustered out. That's about all the buns I have...
