Tall Stands at Concerts

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by chris319

Is it already threaded to 5/8"-27 or to you have a tap and die? If the latter, have fun threading that steel!

It comes already threaded! And black! It's just like the lamp
sections you described except my sections are threaded for
attaching right away to a 5/8-27 mic stand shaft.

I've got a lamp at work like you described and I measured the
outside diameter of the tubing and found it to be identical to my
sections, at 5/8" OD. I never tried the lamp threads but I would
imagine they are not 5/8 because the lamp tubing is not
flared out at the female end. Without having looked closely
at my lamp threading, I'm guessing the lamp threading is 1/2".

[chris319]

Originally Posted by Brackish

It comes already threaded! And black! It's just like the lamp
sections you described except my sections are threaded for
attaching right away to a 5/8-27 mic stand shaft.

I've got a lamp at work like you described and I measured the
outside diameter of the tubing and found it to be identical to my
sections, at 5/8" OD. I never tried the lamp threads but I would
imagine they are not 5/8 because the lamp tubing is not
flared out at the female end. Without having looked closely
at my lamp threading, I'm guessing the lamp threading is 1/2".

And you got this where again?

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by RobAnderson

Sand bags are also a great idea, but their weight makes them difficult to carry. Depending on how portable your setup needs to be, it may or may not be an option.

I'm starting to think more in the way of sand bags. I'm thinking of some
kind of hand truck or dolly to bring it/them into the venue. Don't they
make collapsible dollies for grocery shopping? Maybe something like
that.

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by chris319

Another idea besides the cordon ropes is to build a four-sided wooden enclosure open at the top and bottom, with the four sides measuring maybe 1/2 meter wide, just enough to surround the mic stand base, by 1 meter or 4 feet tall. Stain it so it looks lovely and blends in with the venue and place one open end on the floor to enclose your mic stand base. The upright then sticks up out of the open top. You can then place heavy sand bags on the mic stand base and the wooden enclosure will conceal them. This eliminates an object for the gray-haired ladies to trip over; instead they would simply bump into the box and not your mic stand.

I'm thinking of doing something along these lines but istead of building
my own, I'm looking for ideas to adapt something already built.
Just brainstorming, my first thought was using something like they
sell to keep babies away from stairs. Anyone have any ideas as to
what could be adapted instead of making my own?

The poster quoted above, chris, mentioned an enclosure having 4 sides
but I'm thinking 3 sides may be adequate for a tripod-based stand.

[RobAnderson]

I'm thinking of some
kind of hand truck or dolly to bring it/them into the venue. Don't they
make collapsible dollies for grocery shopping? Maybe something like
that.

Here you go:
Amazon.com: Rock N Roller MultiCart Equipment Cart (R2 Micro): Musical Instruments

There are several models of varying sizes - get the one without inflatable wheels - I believe it is the micro.

Best $90 I ever spent, though it looks like they have gone up a little.

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by studer58

I'm happy to argue to an accident investigation that 'reasonable preventive steps were taken'.

Regarding this issue of an accident investigation, I'm wondering if
there would there be any difference in my liability for an accident
depending upon ...

Say, for example, granny comes along and trips over the stand, toppling
the stand over onto someone's head. Would it make any difference in
court if the stand was a do-it-yourself project I had cobbled together
from the parts of three lamps bought in the home decore section of
Walmart vs. if the stand was a dedicated "microphone stand"
purchased at XYZ Audio Supply?


I mean, I can see their lawyer saying to me:

"So, you thought you'd save a few bucks by putting together this
experimental 'home project' instead of using the industry-standard
equipment that is designed specifically for this work? Do you have a
degree in mechanical engineering? Do you have any prior experience
building DIY microphone stands? But you thought it was a good idea
to try your hand at this project and crank it 12 feet up in the air right
in the area where it could have fallen on the heads of atleast 10 different
individuals if things didn't go as well as you had hoped? Is there even
one single other location recordist in your city using a homemade contraption
like what you had constructed here? So you're the only one NOT using an
official 'microphone stand' or 'light stand' that is designed for this type
of work? And you thought you could make this thing BETTER than the
degreed engineers who design audio equipment for the audio supply
companies? And you didn't consult with a single mechanical engineer
or safety engineer before you made the decision ON THAT NIGHT to hoist
up this one-of-a-kind experimantal contraption over my client's head, did you?"


Any thoughts?

[boojum]

Granny caused the accident. Sue the bitch! LMAO

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by boojum

Granny caused he accident.

"Now, you have testified previously that you had felt that it was
'unlikely' that any bodily injury might ever occur as a result
of using this device. Well, why don't you tell that to my client
sitting right over there. I think he would beg to differ with you
as to how 'unlikely' the chances were."

[joelpatterson]

Call the owner of The Corner Irish Pub to the stand.

"Now, Mr. Flannigan... have you ever seen the woman in the back row, Granny, before today?"

"Yes sir."

"And where was that, Mr. Flannigan?"

"In my establishment, sir."

"How many times have you seen Granny, then?"

"Several hundred times, at least, sir."

"And did you see her on the morning of the incident?"

"Oh yeah. She always comes in for a 'pick-me-up,' as she puts it."

"Objection!"

"Counsel?"

"Is it true that Granny will generally down at least six or seven Highballs before noon at The Corner Irish Pub, Mr. Flannigan, and this is a daily occurrence, rain or shine?"

"Sometimes she'll polish them off with a Margarita."

"No further questions."

[12ax7]

.
Murphy was an optimist!!!
.

.

[boojum]

My post about granny was meant as a joke. I do wonder in this case if she would not be at least partially to blame. Anything we do with an audience present is going to involve a chance of injury. The trick is to expose ourselves to as little risk as possible. If someone feels uncomfortable with the homemade stand there is always the option of buying one.

I think this is another gray area. There are quite a few in recording which must be settled on the basis of personal taste.

[NorseHorse]

This fall, I've had two falls...

On the same night, actually. And it didn't have anything to do with using tall stands. But both did involve old ladies.

1) Regular stand about 7 ft high. Out in the house. I'm setting up to record the pre-show chamber group which is playing on the floor. The house is supposed to be closed but performers for the main group are milling about. There is plenty of room to walk around the stand, is it is placed to the far side of the aisle. Someone decides to cut it close. Stand stays. Performer tips.

2) Later that night at the end of the show, performers are exiting backstand and entering the hallway where I am set up. I have an extension cord taped down across the hall as flat as could be with gaff tape. No knots or lumps. I was pretty proud. But when someone doesn't lift their feet when they walk and they aren't looking down, even the change of friction from tile (white) to tape (black) can cause a fall.

Lessons learned:

- It doesn't matter how tall or short your equipment is, accidents can happen.
- You can make it as visible as possible, but if people aren't looking, it doesn't help.

I have never had any accidents like this except on that one night. Anyone else?

[JonesH]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

I have never had any accidents like this except on that one night. Anyone else?

Well, one time, at band camp... No but seriously, once this member of the audience ran straight into a mic stand on the stage after the concert and managed to knock it down, original KM84 landing straight on the capsule. Kapoof. That was sad. He left very fast.

[joelpatterson]

I had a mic fall "out of the sky" once and almost bean the conductor on the head... fortunately it didn't and he was pretty quick-witted about the whole thing... in fact I turned it into an mp3 and called it their "mission statement."

Cheekiness has its rewards...

[12ax7]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

I had a mic fall "out of the sky" once and almost bean the conductor on the head... fortunately it didn't and he was pretty quick-witted about the whole thing... in fact I turned it into an mp3 and called it their "mission statement."

Cheekiness has its rewards...

That's absolutely precious!

You realize of course, that there is an unwritten rule stating that whomever manages to clock a conductor on the head is automatically entitled to sexual favors from the 1st Chair Viola, right? -- And with "extra points" (if ya know what I mean) if you render the conductor unconscious!

I think I'll start a new thread: "What's the best mic to use to smack a conductor on the head?"

[joelpatterson]

I would have tried a little harder if I'd known that... does that go for mezzo-sopranos also?

[12ax7]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

... does that go for mezzo-sopranos also?

ANYTHING goes with mezzos!!!

(At least that's what I've heard...)
.

.

[boojum]

Originally Posted by 12ax7

ANYTHING goes with mezzos!!!

(At least that's what I've heard...)
.

.

ROTFLMAO only on GS

[chris319]

Say, for example, granny comes along and trips over the stand, toppling the stand over onto someone's head. Would it make any difference in court if the stand was a do-it-yourself project I had cobbled together from the parts of three lamps bought in the home decor section of Walmart vs. if the stand was a dedicated "microphone stand" purchased at XYZ Audio Supply?

I'm no lawyer but my guess is if Granny tripped over it, it wouldn't make a difference as anyone can trip over a mic stand. If your stand spontaneously fell and hurt someone without the external stimulus of Granny tripping over it, the exchange you posted seems plausible.

[joelpatterson]

Eventually it will be revealed that Granny was in on the whole thing, and was promised half the settlement money(!)

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by boojum

Granny caused the accident.

Enclose with "expandable dog gate" to keep granny's feet away????

METAL:








This free-standing indoor pet gate quickly sets up to block your pet from restricted areas of your house. Durable metal frame will stand up to years of use and is a decorative alternative to child and baby gates. This gate is recommended for pets only. Do not use for children.

• Expandable to cover openings up to 40" wide
• Does not require drilling or attaching hardware to your door frames or walls
• Water resistant, powder coat finish
• Indoor use only
• Gate stands 24" tall
• Each panel has a width of 21" (2 hinged panels for $100)
• Distance between bars: 2 3/8"
• Weight: 9 lbs. each panel

WOOD:

Available in 27" and 32" Heights.
Free Standing.
Handcrafted without the use of nails, pins, or screws.
The 2 panel option is perfect for doorways up to 36".
The 4 panel option can span areas up to 72" wide.
All models fold flat for easy storage.
$120 for 2 panels
Folds flat for convenient storage or transportation




PLASTIC:




Maybe something like this using 3 panels in a triangle shape and painted?:




$27 for the two panels weighing 4 lbs each. Each panel is 35" long, 26" tall, and 4" wide:

[Kees de Visser]

What if the dog barks during the concert ?

[Matti]

LOL, during this concert YouTube - CATcerto. ENTIRE PERFORMANCE. Mindaugas Piecaitis, Nora The Piano Cat

Matti

[joelpatterson]

I can see Granny getting that flinty look in her eye... "Yeah... we'll see about that!"

[12ax7]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

i can see granny getting that flinty look in her eye... "yeah... We'll see about that!"

.

[Johns]

Off topic and funny

[Petrus]

I made an extension tube for my tall stand out of 16mm carbon fiber tube. Right size nut epoxied about an inch inside the bottom end, same size bolt for mic bar/Jecklin disk at the other end (3/8" I think we have here). Bottom end slips around the top end of the stand proper, and I have extra fiberglass/epoxy/gorilla tape wrapped around the ends as the tube might split from too much torque. It is a bit flimsy but if I manage to hold it mostly upright and use only fairy light mic fixtures (like carbon fiber AB bar) it works alright.

K&M choir stand+boom+CF tube = 4.8+1.8+1.5 = 8.1m total.

[chris319]

That baby fence looks like two tykes could have a Mega-Slam-Deth-Cage Match in it