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[Mike Babcock]

Hello fellow labrats

Had a show yesterday in Crown Point, IN at a county fair. I took a few pictures to show the world some things to look out for when walking up to a gig. Since the majority of it does not deal with audio, I will fully understand if Mac moves this to the basement. I work for an artist who was very insistant about going on with the show. Nothing less than something actually breaking would have stopped them from performing. I admire their attitude of "the show must go on" and "we can't dissapoint our fans", but seriously. My hands were tied on this one, no amount of my explaining safety issues to them persuaded them into cancelling. Granted, nothing failed (at least while we were there), but when I took these pictures it was definitely known that I was taking "before" pictures.

On with the fun...
#1 From the front


#2 from the monitor world side


#3 another front shot


#4 From the other side


#5 An action photo


#6 What the fuck???


#7 FOH


#8 Front Truss


#9 Rear Truss


#10 How the roof was attached to the scaffolding

[Mike Babcock]

#11 Another shot of the other side


#12 The steps


#13 The steps again


#14 The steps for a 3rd time


#15 A corner of the stage


#16 And under the stage


Please comment at will

And seriously, who has ACTUALLY cancelled shows with less wrong than this? and who has continued on?

I haven't even touched on the advance to reality differences... Stuff like VerTec 4889 and 4880 advanced, 4888 and 4882 in reality, there was so much wrong, I almost walked with or without the band.

[Jesse Mahoney]

Holy Crap. that's one of the worst stages I've ever seen, I can't believe anyone in their right mind would be assembling that mess thinking "yeah, this is DEFINITELY the right way..."

[Mike Babcock]

If anyone knows any of the above listed PMs or TMs, please private message me their contact info, ASAP. Thanks

[Mac Kerr]

Wow! Mike, that is like a demonstration of how not to do everything. I can't be amazed by any one thing because the totality is so overwhelming. Was there anything they did right  that didn't make it into your pictures? From nothing to keep the whole structure from sinking into the mud, to the triangle truss and the attachment to the un-guyed un-ballasted scaff. Yikes. Glad you lived through it.

Mac

[Mike Babcock]

Mac Kerr wrote on Sat, 02 August 2008 11:26

Wow! Mike, that is like a demonstration of how not to do everything. I can't be amazed by any one thing because the totality is so overwhelming. Was there anything they did right  that didn't make it into your pictures? From nothing to keep the whole structure from sinking into the mud, to the triangle truss and the attachment to the un-guyed un-ballasted scaff. Yikes. Glad you lived through it. Mac

They did find a scrim for our drum riser and it was black, hahahahaha

[Lee Douglas]

Unbelievable! Baffling! All of it...

I'm still not clear- exactly what is holding the truss to the scaffolding?  

I love the shot of the guy dumping the roof on the back truss of lights.  That needs to be photo shopped into a "priceless" shot!

[GregMorrison]

The top of the truss looks to be supported by a clamp for outrigger legs, the bottom is just bungied to the scaf legs.

Man, that is nasty.....

Glad that we have a good staging guy here that works with us

http://www.vabsstages.com/stages.html

[Iain_Macdonald]

WOW^∞

In the UK, an event like that would have attracted a visit from the local council(USA speak: town/city council) and a fire officer. I am sure that it would never have been allowed to start.

There seems to have been a number of these type of posts over the last year. I have a feeling that you might be heading for a whole set of federal and local legislation.

This link goes to a list of suggested reading and laws/guidance for UK event organisers. It is 4 years old and there are a number of significant additions since it was written.

This link is a sample of a UK tented structure manfacturers introductory guidance.

If you provided structures in the UK you would have a copy of the ISE Guide to Temporary Demountable Structures.

Iain.

[Milt Hathaway]

Iain Macdonald wrote on Sat, 02 August 2008 11:26

In the UK, an event like that would have attracted a visit from the local council(USA speak: town/city council) and a fire officer. I am sure that it would never have been allowed to start.

County fairs get away with all kinds of scary shit. Few inspectors have the balls to go against the county judges (etc.) who approve and support these events.

When someone is eventually hurt, everyone BUT the county is to blame.

[ProSoundWeb Community]