Human imagination is insufficient to comprehend the totality
of the experience, both in terms of the musical experience -
which, for the group, was quite a success - and the
environmental factors of the Chinese reality. If I were to
relate some of what I experienced, you would insist that I
was making it up. My own imagination is insufficient to
construct such things.

Although lunch at the rotating observation deck of the
Tianjin radio and television broadcasting tower (the 7th
tallest in the world at the time they made that boast) was
quite pleasant.

Although I saw Allen & Heath (GL series) and Behringer
(MX9000) mixing consoles, Toa and Cerwin-Vega speakers, it
is my impression that the technical people I encountered are
(understandably) unfamiliar with Western music and how it
should be mic'd and amplified. Even though I was not
responsible for setting up the stage and mixing the shows, I
did have to reposition a number of mics in all venues and
even tried to communicate proper levels, etc. which I was
told afterward were virtually ignored.

And don't get me started on the food and sanitary
facilities.

For the world's sake, I pray that things change by 2008 -
and more than just on the surface.



TM


playon wrote:

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 17:54:38 -0700, T Maki wrote:

Other than
the cell phones ringing in the audience(s), people taking
calls and talking during the performances, and sound system
howls, squeals, general overamplification to a near
unbearable level, and the nearly unbreathable air,
everything was great.

Gee it sounds like a wonderful experience all around!

Al