Taperssection.com
Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: kgreener on March 19, 2004, 09:22:48 PM
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Newbie question (again), sorry y'all. I get these questions that keep popping into my head, I think it's a sign I got da' bug and can't wait to tape ;D
This may have been asked before, but I couldn't find anything on it. When you tape, do you always stay with your gear 100% of the time, or do you feel confident that it will be safe, and you can go boogie or socialize? The reason I asked concerns a gig in January, one of my first taping gigs. A bunch of dudes set up their gear, checked their levels for a song or two, and then disappeared until set break. Second set started, they ran the tapes, then took off again until the end of the show.
I was like wow, those dudes have a lot of faith that nobody's gonna lift their shit. Me being a rookie, I dunno, maybe they new I was conscious of all the gear, and that I'd keep watch over it? Was I used?! The horror ;) I personally would *love* to go drink and get a groove on, but I'm too worried about my stuff getting broken or taken.
Am I being overprotective?
I thank you kindly...
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I always stay with my stuff. Even if no one is going to steal it, you never know when some drunk person might trip over your stand or something. You've got a lot of money invested in that stuff, so it makes sense to act that way. ;)
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I stick with my gear.
I don't generally go to concerts to socialize, I go to hear/watch the music. I enjoy tossing a few back, but not getting nutty. I basically stay with my gear except to grab a beer or hit the head, usually when I have someone I know to keep an eye on my stuff.
'Course, I'm usually FOB so far less inclined to leave my gear exposed with a bunch of raving and drooling w00ks milling about all around me.
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You lost me here...
I keep my MD in my pocket and my mics clipped on my collar.
So I guess, I stay with my gear :)
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'Course, I'm usually FOB so far less inclined to leave my gear exposed with a bunch of raving and drooling w00ks milling about all around me.
lol. when you said that I pictured a bunch of zombie wooks (complete with arms sticking straight out in front of them) whose only mission is to blindly run into/trip on gear.
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If I'm taping alone, (and not in the section or pit) I try to stay most of the time - 'specially FOB - too crazy to chance leaving, and if it's bust scene FOB, you don't want security messing up your gear while they're hauling your buddy away. I do most shows with the wife, so we can cover each other.
I also shoot (still photos) most shows I do. If I'm on a photo pass too, (and without the wife) I'll ask whoever is patched or clamped to watch my stuff while I go up front to shoot (most shows, photo passes put you between the rail and the stage for the first 10 minutes or so). But I prefer shooting with the long telephoto from around the room, so I'll roam and check back.
I can understand the paranoia of wondering if someone is gonna snatch your stuff. 99% of tapers are decent, reasonably honest people - we're a breed unto our own. Once you get out there a few times, you'll start seeing people from other shows, other venue's and you'll get to know people and feel alot safer asking someone to watch your shit for awhile, so you can take a leak, grab a death-dog, or shake yer ass up front for awhile...
Welcome to the club - now GO TAPE SOMETHING...
Rick
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I stick with my stuff too. Just too many things that can go wrong. If it's in the section, or there's more than just a couple of us, I'll run off for a minute or 2 and get a beer or have a smoke...but I'm standing right next to my gear the other 99% of the time.
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It depends where I am taping and who I am with. If there is someone around to watch my stuff I set my levels and I am off. The way I figure it, if I am clamped to somone that is sticking with their gear the chances of someone coming and lifting my stuff, attached to a stand and all are slim. I use to never leave my stuff, but I missed hanging out, so I do so now. If I am 100% on my own I stick around my stuff. Overall, if I clip a few spots in a show while I am off smoking a phat one outside I could care less. I am doing this for myself.
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yea it does depend on where i'm at. a crowded bar, i generally stay with my stuff,. unless there are people i know, then its all good, i ask them to keep an eye out for it, and buy them a drink. otherwise i normally stay with my gear the whole time. it all depends on who your with, in a taper section, or not, normally in a TS i'm pretty cool with it, if i know them, but i might be a little uneasy. It gets easier as time goes by. the first few times out, i was real careful, now i'm not such a phreak about it, but still cautious, can't help but be with all the money we have invested in our rigs though right?
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usually stay. But I am also usually with someone else who is taping. so I can run off and grab a beer. It also depends on where I'm taping.
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I stay pretty much all the time.....unless i have someone there to scopre out my stuff while i got get a beverage or whatnot
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Always stick with my shit. But its always good to know guys (TEAM PITTSBURGH!!!) that will take care of you if you have to take a piss or somthing...
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yeah, team p-burgh is always a group effort(the way it should be), and i generally do half and half, if im at a small place and can see my stuff, i'll go drink/boogie/whatever, but if its a bigger arena show, im usually always in the vicinity!!!
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Another reason my gear is insured....some steals it...I get new gear
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for me it depends on the venue/setup location.
if I'm running onstage I generally dont worry about it and move about.
an official ts, I'm not concerned either unless my stand is at the corner that gets the most foot traffic(front corner of E Factory and 9:30 Club!).
local venues I usually clamp to a structure(Alley Katz, Canal Club) or setup at the foh booth(Cary St)
outside at ga/fob shows I'll stick with gear and help block
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creekfreak, is your gear on your homeowners or car policy?
we had a Powerbook stolen from a club a couple years ago and had to say someone broke into the car or it wouldnt have been covered under insurance(renters insurance only covered things physically in home)
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you mean there are people who pull tapes without drinking?!
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hahaha, luvean;-)
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you mean there are people who pull tapes without drinking?!
Yep, get me inebriated, and I'll leave the deck on pause through the whole show, everytime!
that I understand, thats why I dont get my first drink till after the show starts, well usually, ok sometimes, actually, allmost never :)
that said, I dont get schwilly or anything(at least on beer)
though I have noticed that the more inebriated I am, the more errors are in the recording
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just like most, i always stay with my gear, unless i need to get some water or hit the head. typically, i know someone in the section and always inform them where i'm going, just in case. exception, telluride, it's a huge group effort, and the section is the same people evry year, that i have no problem cruising for an entire set. there's three of us who get the section set up every morning, so it's a long day, gotta get to cruise/boogie every now and then.
jr
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Stay with gear ? Hell yes!!! When you got 5K worth of stuff setup, not a great idea to leave it alone for others to trip over, spill beer on, step on, steal.
Only time I leave it, is if someone I know is watching it so I can use the restroom, or get another drink. OR if I get there early enough before doors open, then I'll mill around for a few minutes.
Never had a problem (yet... knock on wood).
Also, homeowners insurance should cover stolen gear, but still.... why risk it, and plus, its a headache to get replacement gear! Took my insurance company 2+ months to replace all mine.. missed a LOT of shows because of it to! DONT RISK IT IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO!
-Jim
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Alright y'all, thanks for the great response! I'm glad I'm not the only one who stays near his stuff, happy to resolve that. Now I'm off to Philly to tape Kimock...wahoo!
Have a great night everyone ;D
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Another reason my gear is insured....some steals it...I get new gear
Rider on your homeowner's or are their separate policies?
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I am a wonderer at shows. I like to check different places in the room- be it a bar or an arena. I like to hear and see different things. But I always go back to home base. So, now, as a new taper, I don't wander as far but I still roam... unless there are some foreboding wooks or other drunks in th area.
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I try not to leave my gear unless I know there's at least one other responsible person (taper or friend) who's going to stick around while I go grab a beer, hit the bathroom, etc.
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When I got a show by myself if I need a beer or take a piss I leave my gear along. If things are ugly around my stuff I wont leave it alone
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Another reason my gear is insured....some steals it...I get new gear
Rider on your homeowner's or are their separate policies?
part of my home owners policy. Short of gross neglegence I am pretty much covered, if I say got the t00bs, I would have to upgrade..only covers soo much.
On the topic of drucken or plain fucked up taping I am a pro. Pulled many a good tapes completely blasted...camp creek is my fav...fractels, beers, and special brownies...breaking down takes FOREVER ;D
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depends where and who i tape. if its my friends, they're usually playing at a bar/club that i've been at before, and most fans and people know to look out for me. so when they play, i usually wonder freely to get beer and whatnot, but for the most part, i just hang by the gear, not much else to do.
at shows at bigger venues i usually stay by my gear the entire time. my friends know they'll be getting a tape, so they bring me beer and other goodies. for some reason i have a huge bladder too, so i can hold it forever.
when you're standing next to $1000-$4000+ dollars worth of gear, you can't be too protective. even if your gear cost you $100, if you lose it, you'll have to replace it....for some thats easier than others i guess...but i don't want to risk it.
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Yeah... I tape in a lot of the places Ed does... and usually I will stand there just to make sure tools don't get caught in the footprint of my stand...
This is the main reason I am considering going completely stealth... it's too much to worry about.
BTW- Ed- my band, drag king, is playing at Mac's on Friday, with some other instrumental bands. if you want to roll out and tape, I will talk to steve about getting you in for free. If not, understand dude. Also, in case you didn't know... good tapes are like currency to Steve at the door...
8)
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This is a very informative thread. At large OTS shows, I tend to hang around the gear untill the FOB stops raising his master faders. With a couple of db headroom I flick on the "hold" button and frequently go for a stroll. Sometimes I hand out in another part of the venue with friends, etc. All this is clearly in the situation where there is a roped off section (read no wooks bumping into shit) and plenty of other tapers. I will then wander back to the section every ten minutes or so to check levels, make adjustments, etc.
However, at bars, theaters, or wherever there the TS crew is more fun to hang out with, I'm there.
-Noah
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However, at bars, theaters, or wherever there the TS crew is more fun to hang out with, I'm there.
I wish there was more of a taping scene at the smaller shows in Philly. :(
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Well one more reason to stick with your gear:
Someone spilled whiskey all over my MD this weekend. I lost the entire second disc because it dind't write the TOC cause it was too fucked up.
But it work fine for the next night. I thought I could leave it, and I have left it many times before. It can happen.
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pfife- at the moment i'm almost positive i can go, however its 2am and i need to make sure of some things first. i'll shoot you an email tho tomorrow when i find out for sure. i see that m sord is playing too, i've heard good things about him as well.
i didn't know that about steve, i'll have to give him some of my stuff. maybe i could even run a matrix from the board, however, i'm a little nervous about doing that since i've never tried before. i've been meaning to do it when my friends play there, but i always chicken out.
anyway, i'm rambling, i'll let you know tomorrow tho.
ed
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i see that m sord is playing too, i've heard good things about him as well.
Yeah, M. Sord is a total trip dude. Not sure what you have heard about him, but he is a sick drummer. He has 2 8-10" ampeg cabs that this other dude hides behind, and plays a synth through. Then, M. himself, has his kit raised up on a portable drum platform that he built, and wails while wearing a pair of those glasses that old people wear over their perscription glasses.
His music really flows... I think it's awesome!
http://www.downpeninsula.com/bands-m_sord.htm
peace.
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yeah, team p-burgh is always a group effort(the way it should be), and i generally do half and half, if im at a small place and can see my stuff, i'll go drink/boogie/whatever, but if its a bigger arena show, im usually always in the vicinity!!!
Shit dude, I didn't know you lived so close to me!