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[Mike Sokol]

This is what the tent people installed for their distro at a gig I did last week. There was about 200 ft of extension cord feeding this mess, and it powered all the tent's interior lights plus 3 propane space heaters. About an hour into my system test their extension cord overheated and the lights cut out, so they ran a second 200 ft of extension and split the power between the two sides of the tent. I was on my own distro and refused to let them plug any of their stuff into my power. Ugh... 

[Nathan Riddle]

While silly and quite funny.

Why not go above and beyond and help them out? Teach them to use multiple runs and split things up. Calculate current draw, etc.?

I realize events might be hectic and we can't always do that, but at the more laid back ones why not?

Also, why not from your distro? If you're not using all the power throwing a heater or the bulbs wouldn't be a bother and you might make a friend.

[Mike Sokol]

While silly and quite funny.

Why not go above and beyond and help them out? Teach them to use multiple runs and split things up. Calculate current draw, etc.?

I realize events might be hectic and we can't always do that, but at the more laid back ones why not?

Also, why not from your distro? If you're not using all the power throwing a heater or the bulbs wouldn't be a bother and you might make a friend.

Well, this is same tent supplier I've worked with numerous times, and no matter how often I suggest they upgrade their power distro system, they just won't spend the money on it. And I had suggested they do two separate power runs the day before during setup, and even brought cable ramps for them to run the power cords across the access road. But they thought it was too much trouble and insisted that one 20 amp circuit would be fine. By the time they found out they were in trouble it was 1 hour to showtime, and I didn't bring a full distro since the client was supposed to have supplied a power drop next to the tent, not 200 ft away. I'm just a sub-contractor doing sound, so there wasn't much I could do at that point except point out to them where to do the power split for the second extension cord at the last minute. You can lead a horse to water, etc...

[Nathan Riddle]

Well, this is same tent supplier I've worked with numerous times, and no matter how often I suggest they upgrade their power distro system, they just won't spend the money on it.

Which is funny because tents in our area are some of the best/fastest ROI/money making thing you can have/rent.

And I had suggested they do two separate power runs the day before during setup, and even brought cable ramps for them to run the power cords across the access road. But they thought it was too much trouble and insisted that one 20 amp circuit would be fine.

By the time they found out they were in trouble it was 1 hour to showtime, and I didn't bring a full distro since the client was supposed to have supplied a power drop next to the tent, not 200 ft away.

I'm just a sub-contractor doing sound, so there wasn't much I could do at that point except point out to them where to do the power split for the second extension cord at the last minute.

You can lead a horse to water, etc...

Ahh, clarity

Sorry to imply you didn't try and help out. Those who read from the shadows need to know you did go above and beyond 

I think most people here, including you would try to lead the horse to water and maybe even splash it some. Can't fix stubborn.

[Mark Cadwallader]

The bungie cord holding that mess together is a nice touch.

[Mike Sokol]

The bungie cord holding that mess together is a nice touch.

Hey, safety first!!!

[Tim McCulloch]

Yeah, Taps is what will be played when the tent catches fire from this electrical mess.  If Ted doesn't care about electricity what makes you think he cares about the fire retardant on the tent?

[Jonathan Johnson]

This is what the tent people installed for their distro at a gig I did last week.

Fractal power!

[Keith Broughton]

You don't have to be an electrician to know this is complete B/S!!
As Mike alluded to, this is someone trying to save money and had been warned them before. I  would not be keen to bail them out either.
Let them take ownership of their mistakes.
I certainly have to.

[Stephen Kirby]

The bungie cord holding that mess together is a nice touch.

That looks like one of those things for tying a tarp to a pipe structure I see all the time at flea markets.  I wonder now what kinds of tents were being used.

[ProSoundWeb Community]