Author Topic: What to use to clamp 15FT mic stand to amphitheater seats, sugggestions needed (Read 7176 times)

bluntforcetrauma · « **on:** July 13, 2007, 04:21:15 PM »

Hello, since i will be recording from a seat I need some help in knowing how and what to use to get the mic stand to stay in place. What is the best way to get a stable set up to seats. I do have 2 seats so I figure on putting the stand between them. If any one has pics, that would be great. please advise

NOLAfishwater · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2007, 04:33:08 PM »

bungee cords? or dare I say gaffers tape.....

bluntforcetrauma · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2007, 05:40:37 PM »

gaffers tape is great, i just thought i might ned a lot of it to make sure teh mic stand stays put. I did not want to ruin the seat with a lot of tape. bungees too--great idea, i just think that the center of gravity of the mic stand might end oup falling behinds its own base of support. For example, us as humans need to maintain our center of gravity within our base of support or we will fall over

jeromejello · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2007, 06:40:11 PM »

i had to do something like that for the crowes show i taped at ford amp. i MIGHT have opened the stand to its minimum foot print, but think i just kept the legs closed. I placed the stand in between the two seats in front of me and duct taped the shit out of it. worked fine.

bluntforcetrauma · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2007, 06:44:36 PM »

pm sent

grawk · « **Reply #5 on:** July 19, 2007, 01:50:45 AM »

Real gaffer tape doesn't leave residue, so it's a good choice. And it holds well. It's definitely worth the cost for the real stuff from markertek, and solves many problems.

shaggy · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2007, 03:23:08 AM »

Ingredents: 2 X Superclamps

Recipe: http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,29789.0.html

ts · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2007, 02:55:51 PM »

I've tried bungee, clamps and big zip ties. Tape still works the best because not all theater seats are the same. Try not to use the seats in front of you. They could be occupied by w00ks, or worse, drunks. Make sure you use tape that is ts.com friendly

Kevin Straker · « **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2007, 04:17:44 PM »

I don't worry too much about the seats so I use duct tape and it works like a champion.

mattb · « **Reply #9 on:** July 20, 2007, 04:22:22 PM »

I've used a couple of nylon webbing straps for stuff like this before too. It depends on how the seats are. I bet if you bring a couple of straps and some gaffer's tape I bet you can come up with something.

Brian Skalinder · « **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2007, 05:27:49 PM »

Quote from: Kevin Straker on July 20, 2007, 04:17:44 PM

I don't worry too much about the seats so I use duct tape and it works like a champion.

Do you also not worry about the potential bad reputation with the venue, security, and band, in the event there's damage to the seats, support structures, and / or sticky, gooey residue left behind?

Most venues simply tolerate us. Damaging the seats, seat support structures, posts, walls, balconies, leaving sticky residue behind, etc., doesn't help others' general perception of tapers, and in some cases downright hurts. I've grimaced on more occasions than I'd care to remember as I watched tapers pulling duct tape off walls, posts, railings, etc., and taking layers of paint or drywall or plaster off with it, and/or leaving stripes of sticky residue behind. If I was a venue owner, manager, or security personnel, I wouldn't exactly appreciate that kind of end-result from tapers and would be inclined to give 'em the boot next time.

I think we should worry about the negative impact we leave behind - like potential damage to seats - and do everything we can to reduce it...like not using duct tape. $0.02

JD · « **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2007, 05:29:45 PM »

^^^ What he said. ^^^

Kindguy · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2007, 09:45:04 PM »

Quote from: shaggy on July 19, 2007, 03:23:08 AM

Ingredents: 2 X Superclamps

Recipe: http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,29789.0.html

Nice Job! Love stuff like this T+

rustoleum · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2007, 11:47:39 PM »

multiple bungee cords.

zip ties are also a great unobtrusive option as long as you have a way to break them when the night is over (not ideal for places that won't let you bring a jackknife in).

Kevin Straker · « **Reply #14 on:** July 21, 2007, 08:21:16 AM »

Quote from: Brian Skalinder on July 20, 2007, 05:27:49 PM

Quote from: Kevin Straker on July 20, 2007, 04:17:44 PM
I don't worry too much about the seats so I use duct tape and it works like a champion.

Do you also not worry about the potential bad reputation with the venue, security, and band, in the event there's damage to the seats, support structures, and / or sticky, gooey residue left behind?

Most venues simply tolerate us. Damaging the seats, seat support structures, posts, walls, balconies, leaving sticky residue behind, etc., doesn't help others' general perception of tapers, and in some cases downright hurts. I've grimaced on more occasions than I'd care to remember as I watched tapers pulling duct tape off walls, posts, railings, etc., and taking layers of paint or drywall or plaster off with it, and/or leaving stripes of sticky residue behind. If I was a venue owner, manager, or security personnel, I wouldn't exactly appreciate that kind of end-result from tapers and would be inclined to give 'em the boot next time.

I think we should worry about the negative impact we leave behind - like potential damage to seats - and do everything we can to reduce it...like not using duct tape. $0.02

Honestly I figure that with people throwing up on the floor, spilling drinks all over the place, stomping out cigarette butts, probably ashing on the seats, standing in the seats,etc...that a little tape residue on the metal back of a seat isn't really that big a deal. Maybe I'm not sensitive enough to the venues needs. I'm definitely not so fucking stupid as to put duct tape on dry wall. (slight edit)

Edit: Whatever you use, make sure you take it with you when you leave. I usually grab a fist full of tape from people who are in a hurry to get out the door. I must tape in a bunch of shit holes, mostly steel and concrete. If I was in a nice theater I would opt for the gaffers tape.

Brian Skalinder · « **Reply #15 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:48:12 AM »

Quote from: Kevin Straker on July 21, 2007, 08:21:16 AM

Honestly I figure that with people throwing up on the floor, spilling drinks all over the place, stomping out cigarette butts, probably ashing on the seats, standing in the seats,etc...that a little tape residue on the metal back of a seat isn't really that big a deal. Maybe I'm not sensitive enough to the venues needs. I'm definitely not so fucking stupid as to put duct tape on dry wall. (slight edit)

The difference with all those other negatives is that they're not expressly linked to a specific population (tapers), but rather the general population. Not many concerts I attend include people vomiting on the floor, spilling drinks everywhere (well...a bit of that), stomping out butts, etc., (you must tape in a bunch of shitholes!), so I try to tread lightly since the backdrop for my actions isn't as severe as the ones you mention. While in the grand scheme of things a little sticky residue isn't a huge deal to most, I prefer to leave no footprint at all, if possible. Spending a few extra bucks on quality gaffers tape is a small price for me to pay to reduce my risk of pissing off the venue. And you beat me to it with your follow-up comment:

Quote from: Kevin Straker on July 21, 2007, 08:21:16 AM

Edit: Whatever you use, make sure you take it with you when you leave.

Anyway...apologies if I came across harsh...I just thought of a newbie finding the comment "I don't worry too much about..." and extending that sentiment farther than it should go, and wanted to plug my $0.02.

Corbin · « **Reply #16 on:** July 22, 2007, 10:05:15 AM »

Anyone know where you can buy gaffer's tape online? I went to the largest hardware store in my city and asked them if they had gaffer's tape and they said that they had never heard of it. What the hell is a gaffer anyway?

mattb · « **Reply #17 on:** July 22, 2007, 10:12:41 AM »

Quote from: Corbin on July 22, 2007, 10:05:15 AM

Anyone know where you can buy gaffer's tape online? I went to the largest hardware store in my city and asked them if they had gaffer's tape and they said that they had never heard of it. What the hell is a gaffer anyway?

I ordered some from Markertek recently.

Corbin · « **Reply #18 on:** July 22, 2007, 12:33:53 PM »

Quote from: Moke on July 22, 2007, 10:46:55 AM

I pretty much use gaff tape for cable runs only.

If I'm securing a stand up, I'll use compression straps (ballistic nylon straps and velcro) and sandbags.
I use these type of straps all the time:
http://bearep.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=663

Moke, I'm taping my first outdoor festival in two weeks...Do you think sandbags are better to use than tent spikes and rope? I think sandbags would be easier than screwing around with pegs each time I switch stages...Where did you get a sandbag that would rest properly on the legs of a mic stand?

Corbin · « **Reply #19 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:21:35 PM »

Thanks for the info Moke. I think I'm gonna track a couple down or make a couple before that weekend. Would you use 3 (one one each 'horizontal' leg) or just one bigger one? What kinds of places sell them? I don't think there is a 'stage supply' company where I live.

Also, if things got a bit hairy, do you really think it's more stable than pegs (i was gonna use 4 of them)? I don't want to screw up my mics and regret not using pegs because I was just too lazy to deal with it all weekend.

MattD · « **Reply #20 on:** July 22, 2007, 03:11:44 PM »

Quote from: rustoleum on July 20, 2007, 11:47:39 PM

zip ties are also a great unobtrusive option as long as you have a way to break them when the night is over (not ideal for places that won't let you bring a jackknife in).

Solution: Nail clippers. I keep a pair at the bottom of the bag for exactly this reason.

it-goes-to-eleven · « **Reply #21 on:** July 22, 2007, 03:21:52 PM »

Quote from: Corbin on July 22, 2007, 10:05:15 AM

Anyone know where you can buy gaffer's tape online? I went to the largest hardware store in my city and asked them if they had gaffer's tape and they said that they had never heard of it. What the hell is a gaffer anyway?

I found markertek's tape selection to be limited and pricey. Recently ordered from these guys and they were cheap and fast. I ended up going with 1" tape since I usually divide the 2" anyway..

http://www.thetapeworks.com

rustoleum · « **Reply #22 on:** July 23, 2007, 08:55:29 AM »

Quote from: MattD on July 22, 2007, 03:11:44 PM

Quote from: rustoleum on July 20, 2007, 11:47:39 PM
zip ties are also a great unobtrusive option as long as you have a way to break them when the night is over (not ideal for places that won't let you bring a jackknife in).

Solution: Nail clippers. I keep a pair at the bottom of the bag for exactly this reason.

good call! I'll be keeping nail clippers in my gear bag now, too. +T

NOLAfishwater · « **Reply #23 on:** July 23, 2007, 11:05:41 AM »

Def. going to buy some long zip ties along and will start carrying some nail clippers. In addition, I do have to say that I never leave home without gaffers tape. Sure it is expensive, but I am a No Trace taper and would prefer not ruining any chairs, walls, rails with duct tape. Will try and zip tie whenever possible. As far as tent staking, the problem I have had trying to drive the stakes into the ground. So, I thought buying one of these below and cutting half of it might work. All you would need would be a screw driver to drive it and a couple of small bungee cords or a nylon straps.