-=> Richard Webb wrote to Dallas Hinton <=-

 RW> On Sun 2039-May-22 13:03, Dallas Hinton (1:153/715) wrote to Richard
 RW> Webb:

 RW> WIth the warm weather season approaching opportunities for amateur
 DH> [...]
 RW> PRofessionalism pays off in getting you hired at other nearby venues
 RW> where live entertainment is featured as well.

 DH> Nice, Richard -- well put!  Certainly bears out my experiences!


 RW> I started that little file of gotchas years ago for posting
 RW> in alt.audio.pro.live-sound back when it was an active
 RW> newsgroup.

 RW> Thanks for the feedback.

I found it an "entertaining" read also.  As you know, I've never 
done much in the reinforcement industry, but much of the same attitudes 
apply to the musicians. Are they eager to get back to a drunken jam at the 
local watering hole in celebration, or are you prepared for a call-back to 
back the main act on a seven city tour?  

I cringed at the point where your regular tech "wanders" off for 
refreshments/sustenance/room-review. That moment must take a real leap of 
faith. "Less is more" might be hard to parlay to the young and eager 
sometimes?  

Did I tell you about the young aspiring motion picture projectionist 
that was sent to my work one day? Every projector runs on a three phase 
constant speed motor with a 30-A dedicated line on each phase. This fella 
shows up in a tie! "Lose the tie." "I'd rather not." "You're not allowed 
past here." (Seven feet from the first srocketted tooth.) "And only if I'm 
between you and the machine. Got it?" There's sheer pins and things in 
place to keep shafts from bending, but there's PLENTY of missing fingers 
and inpromptu skalpings in the field. "If that tie doesn't decapitate you, 
pray I can find a sharp knife real fast, UNDERSTAND?" What a day *that* 
was! I didn't want to send the kid home with his tail between his legs, but 
I guessed he was there to watch the latest movies and eat popcorn. The tie 
was his pasport being apointed to the possition. 

If I were to add anything, I would expand the professionalism to include 
the condition of the said set list and stage layout. "Folded up in a 
sweaty back pocket or out of a portfolio - which would *you* rather 
handle?" These are close to your words I read elsewhere, IIRC. If you 
have the ability and inclination, a computer printout of your documents is 
a nice indication of your groups' sincerity toward your future. Sure, 
pencil in that harmonium solo should it be seen as an asset, but be 
prepared to rub it out/print a fresh page without it if it doesn't seem to 
be a hit. Did a new drum machine appear that seems to be indispensable, 
with big plans to gate the snare to trigger an echo on all the tom fills 
that *must* be patched individually and heavily panned? Pencil it in with a 
"Experimental" note in brackets, and maybe a personal note to 'Remind Derik 
this was called "The Eighties".' Like your (What was it?) pan flut solo, 
don't intorduce it on day threee of that seven date callback tour.

Oh... MENTION BATTERIES in the spares department! How many cordless mikes 
go dead right after sound check and just before the first chorus in the 
first song? Stomp boxes full of juice? Test a brand new battery for proper 
voltage at least, and mA-hrs if you can. The guitarist that has a meter 
and a know-with-all to use it is more likely to get a call if the main act 
loses theirs to addiction.  That was a new tested battery in EACH 
device, and one spare JIC. A list of gear that consumes resources including 
but not limited to batteries, analog or digital tapes, heck even noting the 
replacement computer printers replacement ink-head number is not going too 
far - in your portfolio. What size of sticks does Derik prefer? How many 
are in his bag? String preferences? The young tech can be the go-to guy to 
run out for bass-strings or a repacement drum head that was just punctured 
too if needed. Do you know what size tires fit on your tour bus? Too bad 
most of us (previously) young musicians can afford much more than one of 
everything, but expecting the unexpected is where the rubber hits the road. 
Expect transmittion oil in your hair, and some NASTY tasteing dirt b'tween 
your teeth.

PS: I *just* reread your original post. *Is* there such a thing as a 
Right-handed sewer flute?  





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