-=> Richard Webb wrote to James Bradley <=-
RW> On Mon 2039-Jun-13 18:32, James Bradley (1:342/77) wrote to Richard
RW> 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 [...]
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?
RW> YEah, so many folks don't know anything about how
RW> to interact with an actual stage crew and the reinforcement
RW> folks, etc. I've said much the same things as I put in
RW> that little file to bands when doing one of thesebenefits
RW> from
RW> hell things, 6 bands, one afternoon, short help .
Admittedly, much of my inclusions were paraphrasing words I saw from you
elsewhere. Sympathy for a person's workload could go a long way toward a
better world, but when a snot-nose throws a hisey fit because you won't
ride the threshold on a gate along with 14 other effects cues for each
song... "SECURITY!"
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?
RW> YEah I know, which rarely happens on my rig when I was
RW> doing that sort of thing instead of the recording and audio
RW> truck
RW> gig. I was too paranoid, but if I had a trusted friend
RW> around I'd leave him with the console, or an act whose
RW> sound tech I trusted, which sometimes would actually happen.
RW> That less is more is a tough concept to get across to a lot
RW> of folks.
"Bottom right = good. Top left = bad. Got it?" In my fantasies, an
automated board might eleviate any mess Junior could do, but to spot the
special idiot that could erase your snapshot of unity gain would be the new
challenge.
JB> Did I tell you about the young aspiring motion picture projectionist
...
RW> YEah I can relate. A buddy of mine who services
RW> broadcast transmitters is always telling stories about
RW> people wearing watches rings and the like and
Welding classes are down the hall? Cripes... Imagine how many ways "talent"
finds to ruin a modulator's gain structure? I took over a drive-in theatre
for a fellow that would drive around his charge to see if he could boost
his FM transmitter to give the WHOLE neighborhood a "free show". What a
"clipping mess" that product sounded like!
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
...
RW> YEp, that's for sure, professionalism in all things, as I
RW> keep saying to these folks, look and act like a pro even if
RW> you aren't one. WHen I'd get tagged with one of these
RW> benefit all day festivals from hell I'd always ask bands to
RW> come to a pre-event meet, bringing stage plot and input
RW> list. Last one I ever did for some organization back in the late
RW> eighties I told the event sponsors that any band they
RW> booked *would* send somebody to that pre event meeting with
RW> this stuff, or they wouldn't be on the bill. IT was one of
RW> the conditions I placed on them getting 50k watts worth of
RW> mains power and 8 separate monitor mixes for the stage for
RW> almost free.
"Show up in uniform, and be on time." is a saying I've heard elsewhere. I
wanted to include, if you show up in a second hand leisure suit and penny
loafers borrowed from dad's closet or steel toed boots, cargo pants with a
water bottle in 'em and a t-shirt with only a couple of well deserved
holes; who would *you* trust more?
Consider it work, kids! Consider the pro's workload. Respect their advice.
Showing up to learn and assist if and WHEN asked to, and you might have a
future in the biz.
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.
...
RW> Indeed, that's why I never got into band management. IT's
RW> hard enough just managing the tech part of the shows.
When we picked up a *real* soundman, it was interesting watch him
consistently improve our product. What a wealth of knowledge that guy was!
Appreciate it if you got it kiddies!!!!
RW> COnvincing these guys of all this is a nightmare. dId the
RW> raod bands as a muso for years. WAs funny, often I was the
RW> only guy on the bandstand who had gaffer's tape, basic hand
RW> tools, etc.
Oh, PHART!!! Like I wrote to you elsewhere: fluids, expendables, zip ties,
and yes; gaffers tape... Us drummers need to know at least a *little* about
lubricants, but I've heard about guitarist utilizing WD-40 (Silicone by
the end of the day, with a petrolium water dispersant carrier.) on their
fretboards and such. Drummers... If you don't know the difference between
Teflon and Graphite, LEARN IT!
...
JB> Right-handed sewer flute?
RW> DOn't know. I got that "left handed sewer flute"
RW> from PDQ bach. ARdith would get the reference I'm sure .
You punishing me behind my back for my absence, or trying to write The
Blue Man Group into a classical score?
Take good care, Richard!
... Are part-time bandleaders called semiconductors?
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