crazy improvised things that shouldn't work...

[Howie J]

So, I had a dance studio recital in our auditorium space this weekend. Lost sleep designing/hanging lights and programming 90 some cues with their lighting designer. Oh well, as a rental...I'm paid by the hour on top of my school contract so let it run...

Audio side was fairly simple. I used two Crown PCC 160's at the edge of the stage for the tap numbers. The also had different kids as narrators on stage L and R throughout the show. They would prefer wireless handhelds to running cables out front on stage. OK so I have two wireless mics in our space. One handheld and one body pack/lapel clip. Shure ULX series. I need two handheld so we don't have to keep switching the body pack. I can't cannibalize our conference room wireless since all the power cables were clipped and soldered into a VERY permanent install. Damn.

(quick flashback) Earlier this year when I bought a new AT mic for our podium, I picked up an XLR to Shure wireless pack cable in case the podium HAD to be wireless. Don't have a clue why...just thought "ya never know...." Well....

So, I remember this cable and get a wild hair up my a$$ to try something. This is what happens when you lose sleep. I'll be damned the thing worked. Not pretty, but it works. My tech students affectionately called it the bomb mic.

[AlexK]

I've gaffered a budget Maplin un-branded lapel mic to the inside of a guitar when the pickups failed right before a gig at a local club.

It worked, kind of.