Hi James,

On Mon 2039-Jun-13 18:32, James Bradley (1:342/77) wrote to Richard Webb:

 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.

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

  YEah, so many folks don't know anything about how
to interact with an actual stage crew and the reinforcement
folks, etc.  I've said much the same things as I put in that little file to
bands when doing one of thesebenefits from
hell things, 6 bands, one afternoon, short help .

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

YEah I know, which rarely happens on my rig when I was doing that sort of
thing instead of the recording and audio truck
gig.  I was too paranoid, but if I had a trusted friend
around I'd leave him with the console, or an act whose sound tech I trusted,
which sometimes would actually happen.
That less is more is a tough concept to get across to a lot
of folks.

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

  YEah I can relate.  A buddy of mine who services
broadcast transmitters is always telling stories about
people wearing watches rings and the like and 

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

YEp, that's for sure, professionalism in all things, as I
keep saying to these folks, look and act like a pro even if
you aren't one.  WHen I'd get tagged with one of these
benefit all day festivals from hell I'd always ask bands to
come to a pre-event meet, bringing stage plot and input
list.  Last one I ever did for some organization back in the late eighties I
told the event sponsors that any band they
booked *would* send somebody to that pre event meeting with
this stuff, or they wouldn't be on the bill.  IT was one of
the conditions I placed on them getting 50k watts worth of
mains power and 8 separate monitor mixes for the stage for
almost free.

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

Indeed, that's why I never got into band management.  IT's
hard enough just managing the tech part of the shows.
COnvincing these guys of all this is a nightmare.  dId the
raod bands as a muso for years.  WAs funny, often I was the
only guy on the bandstand who had gaffer's tape, basic hand
tools, etc.

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

  DOn't know.  I got that "left handed sewer flute"
from PDQ bach.  ARdith would get the reference I'm sure .




Regards,
           Richard
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 * Origin:  (1:116/901)