I had an outdoor show we did last summer that this reminds me of.
I told the promoter and had it in the contract I needed 200 amps three phase and the side of the stage.
No problem...he has an electrician providing the power...
The day before the show I get a call from the electrician asking what I needed.
When I told him he said the promoter told him three 20 amp circuits...
At least the electrician called. He told me the venue had no three phase power to the whole place. And he would see what he could do. I told him it sounded like genni time...
Fortunately for me we have an LED lighting rig now so we can get along with a lot less power than with the old PAR64 rig.
But you know there are times when you really want to make a promoter squirm...
We show up the night before the really big show. The stage was built. About 1/4 of the size they promised. No power to the stage at all. I talked to the promoter. He assured me the electricians were taking care of it. I then collected the remainder of the money in cash like we agreed in the contract and promptly went to the motel to sleep.
The next morning we get to the gig and the electricians are burying cable to the stage...
We ended up with 50 Amps @ 220VAC.
Not what we asked for. We left 3/4 of the PA in the truck. Brought out one amp rack, a few LED strips and proceeded to do the show. The bands were very happy and it came off OK.
The promoter was bummed because his big festival only had about 150-200 people show up for. Oh, did I mention he did very little advertising...a web page.
Needless to say he changed the weekend of his festival for this year, and oh so sorry, we have another booking.
There must be a 100 stories like this I can tell.
They can wait for the book my wife tells me I should write.
God I love this business! Been in it since 1971...
Bob Cap
Advanced Audio Inc.
Gilbert, MN