Sometimes

Thomas W. Bethe · 2nd February 2010

We were doing a recording last night of a honor's choir and band concert. We were setup way in advance and had our main microphone stand in the aisle just below the stage lip. The audience was mostly parents of the people on stage.

Normal gig for us and normal setup in a house we know very well.

Everything is fine until the audience comes in. One lady with a robe in a plastic bag over her shoulder comes by and trips on the microphone stand. No biggie but then she does the same thing 4 more times. She was either the world's slowest learner or she was just very clumsy. No problems. Then the high school kids on the stage come off to rest and one young gentlemen gives the microphone stand a Karate kick and the microphone stand is swaying widely in the breeze. It almost tips over but finally rights itself.

Then the house manager forgets to set up the microphone for the PA and of course right where we have set up is the only spot he needs to get to. So we move our stand but of course he needs to get back there again and again because something is not happening with the PA System. About one minute before the concert is scheduled to start everything gets sorted out and we do the recording which comes out great. During the show there is a photographer that is sitting next to us and about every 3 minutes takes a flash picture with some Mylar sheet over the flash head so instead of going out the front the flash goes out to the sides and blinds me.

Fun!!!!!

Just wanted to vent.

Don S · 2nd February 2010

I have a friend say he's been tempted to run a string of christmas lights up the stand. Flashing and non flashing!
As far as my stand goes: I witnessed an old lady use my stand to haul herself up on the stage. A yuppie parent leaning on it, as if it was wall, while talking to other (yuppie) parents. Occasionally, I use bright yellow gaf tape to highlight the triangle at the bottom of the stand if it's a community event.

Tommy-boy · 2nd February 2010

Wow. A karate kick to the mic stand, that's a new one!

Whenever I can, I use tape to sort of rope off an area around the mic stand. But, that's not always possible.

Thomas W. Bethe · 2nd February 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don S

I have a friend say he's been tempted to run a string of christmas lights up the stand. Flashing and non flashing!
As far as my stand goes: I witnessed an old lady use my stand to haul herself up on the stage. A yuppie parent leaning on it, as if it was wall, while talking to other (yuppie) parents. Occasionally, I use bright yellow gaf tape to highlight the triangle at the bottom of the stand if it's a community event.

We were seriously thinking blinking Hi Intensity LEDs or Xenon strobes last night. How can you trip over the SAME microphone stand 4 times????

joelpatterson · 3rd February 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

... How can you trip over the SAME microphone stand 4 times????

After the first few times, you've gotten pretty good at it and it gets easier????

boojum · 3rd February 2010

^^^^^^^ Snap drum roll - Baddda-boom!

2nd February 2010	#1
Thomas W. Bethe Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Oberlin, Ohio Posts: 3,273 Thread Starter 1 Review written	Sometimes We were doing a recording last night of a honor's choir and band concert. We were setup way in advance and had our main microphone stand in the aisle just below the stage lip. The audience was mostly parents of the people on stage. Normal gig for us and normal setup in a house we know very well. Everything is fine until the audience comes in. One lady with a robe in a plastic bag over her shoulder comes by and trips on the microphone stand. No biggie but then she does the same thing 4 more times. She was either the world's slowest learner or she was just very clumsy. No problems. Then the high school kids on the stage come off to rest and one young gentlemen gives the microphone stand a Karate kick and the microphone stand is swaying widely in the breeze. It almost tips over but finally rights itself. Then the house manager forgets to set up the microphone for the PA and of course right where we have set up is the only spot he needs to get to. So we move our stand but of course he needs to get back there again and again because something is not happening with the PA System. About one minute before the concert is scheduled to start everything gets sorted out and we do the recording which comes out great. During the show there is a photographer that is sitting next to us and about every 3 minutes takes a flash picture with some Mylar sheet over the flash head so instead of going out the front the flash goes out to the sides and blinds me. Fun!!!!! Just wanted to vent. __________________ -TOM- Thomas W. Bethel Managing Director Acoustik Musik, Ltd. Room with a View Productions Oberlin, OH 44074 www.acoustikmusik.com Doing what you love is freedom. Loving what you do is happiness.

2nd February 2010	#2
Don S Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,376	I have a friend say he's been tempted to run a string of christmas lights up the stand. Flashing and non flashing! As far as my stand goes: I witnessed an old lady use my stand to haul herself up on the stage. A yuppie parent leaning on it, as if it was wall, while talking to other (yuppie) parents. Occasionally, I use bright yellow gaf tape to highlight the triangle at the bottom of the stand if it's a community event. __________________ www.symphonicsound.com "The secret of life, though, is falling down seven times and get up eight times." Paulo Coelho

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2nd February 2010	#3
Tommy-boy Gear addict Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Suburbs of Philly, PA Posts: 432	Wow. A karate kick to the mic stand, that's a new one! Whenever I can, I use tape to sort of rope off an area around the mic stand. But, that's not always possible.

3rd February 2010	#6
boojum Lives for gear Joined: May 2007 Location: Astoria, OR, US&A Posts: 2,308 1 Review written	^^^^^^^ Snap drum roll - Baddda-boom!