Taperssection.com
Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: MATTZS on July 25, 2006, 06:44:44 PM
-
Alright, so I’m a stealth taper and have never open taped in a large venue. I’m going to DMB on Saturday and want to tape. Do I just carry my stand and bag of trick right in or is there a special ticket or gate I’m supposed to go to? Can I set up any ware since I could only get lawn seats? Any tips. Thanks in advance.
-
DMB is a free for all, tape from your seat and bring whatever you want...but if you are planning on bringing a backpack full of gear, check the venue policy first. A lot of venues won't allow backpacks for some strange reason. Also note that they'll probably go through your stuff and it seems like most DMB shows are VERY picky about cameras, so don't think you can sneak one in by throwing it in your gear bag as they'll probably see it. Crotch a camera if you bring it.
-
bring some blockers... dmb shows have a track record of being an all out assault on mic stands
-
This is my ritual for all open taping gigs:
In the parking lot, I'll make sure I have everything I need, and make sure it all makes it into the bag that I'm using for the night. Then I'll put my ticket in an easy to access pocket, and head for the main gate, or gate 1. More often than not, the main gate is the area where a head of security or other person in the know will be located if the kids at the gate take issue with your gear. When approaching the gate, I'll take my bags off of my shoulders, and start to open all of the compartments of my bag so that security can look inside and inspect the goods. I'll walk up to the person in charge and just say "It's all audio only, no video, no cameras", which is what they want to hear. This is sort of a weak version of the Jedi Mind Trick ("These aren't the droids you're looking for), as it gets security on your side right away. If you have pockets zipped up or stuff looking hidden in the bag, the Jedi Mind Trick will not be as effective. Now, 9 times out of 10, this will be sufficient, security will not often wand or pat down a taper, figuring any contraband you have on you will be in the bag, so if you're looking to sneak something in, it's almost as safe in your pockets as anywhere else on your person. Unofficially, of course, but I'm just telling you what I've seen. So you're past the inspection, security will then pass you along to the person that scans or tears your ticket, and you're in.
For DMB and other "tape from your seat" artists, your best bet is to keep the legs of the tripod folded up and stand up your stand between your seats (assuming you have two seats next to each other), and lash the hell out of the legs with duct tape until that thing isn't going anywhere. You'll still have to guard it during the set, because every drunk motherfucker in the place will think your shiny aluminum stand makes the perfect drunk crutch while heading to the bathroom - I'm just warning you ahead of time because this will happen, and at a DMB show, often. Offer your hand and forearm to keep them from grabbing the stand, and keep your cool because security is already watching you. Trust me, nobody working security in the venue has a clue, but they'll let you keep running as long as you don't cause any trouble to the people around you, and you're not in the way of the crew working the gig. I usually stand for the whole gig and leave my bag in my seat so it's mostly safe from spilled beer and getting stepped on, etc. I did have one drunk bitch lean over, falling onto my bag and turning off the power on my UA5, but at least nothing was broken. Just be prepared for anything.
Any other questions about taping at big shows, or taping DMB in particular, shoot me an IM. I haven't been to a DMB gig in a while, but I've taped other 30 DMB shows or so.
-
I agree....DMB shows are guard your gear event.......I saw them at The Garden in NYC last year and had one of those end row section seats where I had to move 20,000 times to let every little drunk girl go pee pee.......after moving about 6000 times I told my son I'm going to toss the next one that comes near me......I think they heard me because they started scaling over the section wall to come in and out.......I had my stand out for 10 seconds before I gave up and threw my AT 943's in my hat.....It was a good show ......but I'm a "park my butt, play some music" kind of guy...Good Luck.......Oh by the way...in regards to gear.....I could have walked in with a sound crew and they wouln't have cared.....Open the bag..close the bag...have a nice day...They didn't even want to look in the bag...I went to pull stuff out and they just said OK go right in....it was great...
Peace,
jk
-
Thanks so much for the info! I'ts funny I was feeling more nervous about open taping than I do when I stealth. +T to all.
-
get tent stakes for your mic stand, those will save your recordings when the stand might go down
-
I would not attempt taping DMB from the lawn unless you are either very far back on the lawn where it is not as crowded or you have several blockers to keep people away from the stand. Trying to do it from the front of the lawn solo will most likely not end well, I'm afraid.
-
i know that at alpine valley's lawn they have this concrete mote that security stands in, maybe if you said please or bummed them a smoke your could land the mic stand there, try taping it to the railing. i've seen some guys at alpine do it for phish and dave a few weeks ago come to think of it
god speed
-
of course your welcome to do whatever you want.. consider this a trial run since there will be plenty of guys way up front taping off the stacks...
as for security at dmb shows.. its funny.. ive gotten in venues with knives and such for breaking strip ties..
because often security has no idea what is in the bag and they just wave you through
but i have heard in the midwest that some places will make you loose the bag.. or make you take everything out and plug it all in or something but in the end you will always get in with gear... and sometime you will also get told to lower you stand because some ass bitches they can see dave even when they are over 1000 feet from the stage..
most of all.. have fun and dont let the crowd bug ya too much
-
Thanks so much for the info! I'ts funny I was feeling more nervous about open taping than I do when I stealth. +T to all.
It will be so nice you will be able to grab a beer and go to the bathroom during the show. Be sure you bring a tall stand for dmb as the chatters and screamers are always present. Great band however, I could pass on the maturity of the fan base.
Have fun!
-
I feel like a dirty old man at DMB shows..........not that thats a bad thing ;)
-
get tent stakes for your mic stand, those will save your recordings when the stand might go down
This is a fabulous piece of advice that I was able to put to use a couple of weeks ago. A *very* small investment (two tent spikes and a couple of bungee cords) saved my stand from crashing down at the hands of a wandering 4 year-old that night.
-
I feel like a dirty old man at DMB shows..........not that thats a bad thing ;)
hot, immature girls, appealing for sure. Your only durty if you act on your thoughts ;) And even then if it is consentual well then whats to say she is not a durty young girl?
-
The first show I ever taped was a DMB show at the Gorge. I taped from a box seat and I still had endless amounts of trouble with everything you guys mentioned. I even had a drunk girl scale my box to the top of the fence while shouting at the top of her lungs right to my mics. Plus the chattering, whistling and screaming was pretty frustrating. It was trial by fire, let me tell you...but at least I got some "good" taping stories to share from the whole ordeal. Great show though and no problem getting the gear in.
-
get tent stakes for your mic stand, those will save your recordings when the stand might go down
This is a fabulous piece of advice that I was able to put to use a couple of weeks ago. A *very* small investment (two tent spikes and a couple of bungee cords) saved my stand from crashing down at the hands of a wandering 4 year-old that night.
live and learn, my whole taping experiences have taught me alot of trial and error ;D