Yamaha PM5D Card Reader and Bubble Wrap

Do not. I repeat, DO NOT, ever let someone insert a mangled card reader into the PM5D...

You will have bent pins...

Irate road managers...

Overworked service staff, with no time to fix it...

Other techs wondering why you let them put it in, in the first place....

And the number one reason why you DO NOT ever let someone insert a mangled card reader into the PM5D...

It f%!*$#% breaks It !!!!!!

Luckily, you can transfer files from the card, to a laptop, to the console.... just don't hit your head on the scaffolding !

From Ichthus 2009

Lesson learned : lobster is expensive in Alabama

Update to a previous post : I recently was informed that my fantastic lobster dinner cost $101.00. 

That is ; one hundred, and one dollars. 

Seriously ?! $101? 

At previously mentioned Weilands the price for a 1 pound lobster is $7.99. 

And I was told, "get what ever you want". 

Just sayin'....

Volume Wars and Contra Band (featuring Oliver North)

I have a rare day off, and I am having volume wars with Kenny Chesney. In my backyard, I can hear : my stereo, occasional trains, traffic on 71, and a concert at Crew Stadium. The latter has become the most annoying, as this is my day off and I do not wish to hear: a) country music, b) concerts (that I am not mixing), c) Kenny Chesney...

Speaking of Crew Stadium, from their FAQ page :

"Q: What items are prohibited at Crew Stadium?"
"Please review Crew Stadium's Contra Band Control Policy under Stadium Policies to identify items prohibited at the stadium. Security parameters are subject to change at any time."

Contra Band : featuring Oliver North on lead guitar..

Wikipedia : "The English word contraband, reported in English since 1529, from Medieval French contrebande "a smuggling," derived via Italian contrabbando from Latin contra"against" + Middle Latin bannum (from Frankish root ban "a command", as in Italian bando 'law'; also the root of 'banishment'), denotes any item which, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed, sold et cetera.

please, please, please...

please, keep it going....

The Story Of The Podium, The Microphone and The Light

Once upon a time I was doing a corporate show, where we had about 10,000 watts of PA, moving lights, 2000 people in the audience, and a podium.

Now, first understand that our podiums have two microphones, typically something like the EV PC18-XLR (pictured on the right), and our podiums all have a gooseneck light made by Littlite (pictured on the left)..

So the event begins with a speaker who has a wireless lavalier microphone. The theory being he will be walking around the stage, and with the wireless mic he won't be tethered to the podium. Great theory, right ? Not quite, because the first thing he does is walk up the podium and push the microphones down, and then proceeds to give his speech standing at the podium. This is not a problem, he has a wireless lav, I turn it up...everything's great...
This is the problem : first speaker now intros the next speaker (who does not have a wireless mic)...next speaker walks up to the podium..looks at the mics that are pushed down...pauses... pulls up the light...and begins his speech speaking into the light...needless to say there are now 2000 people, plus myself who can not hear a thing this guy is saying...the next speaker (who must have realized that the light was not a mic) walks up to podium...pauses...pulls the light closer, and begins speaking...meanwhile I am too far away from the stage to do anything except bang my head on the console...

Now, these are all CEO types, who I KNOW have given speeches, and you know.. talked into MICROPHONES!!!!!!!..

Anyway, I guess the moral of the story is : if it emits light IT IS NOT a freakin' MICROPHONE.

The End.

Yellow Pages, why ?

This was delivered today... I think it is called Yellow Pages, it seems to be 50 pounds of paper with phone numbers listed... not really sure what to do with it... neither is the cat...

what is it with turning left ?

What is it with turning left ? This is NOT a political question..


The Last of the Mohicans:

Duncan : "There is a war on. How is it you are headed west?"
Hawkeye : "Well, we kinda face to the north and real sudden-like, turn left."

Hard Days Night :

Reporter : "how did you (the Beatles) find America on your first U.S. visit"
John : "Just turn left at Greenland..."

Looney Tunes :

Bugs Bunny arriving accidentally at the South Pole : ''I knew I shoulda toyned left at Albuquerque."

power of the internets...

...was watching the Olympics, and I thought I saw cheerleaders....at the Volleyball Tournament...cheerleaders...seriously ?...quick search on Google, and I found someone who was thinking the same....

"Really? As if the intermittent blast of 80’s rock wasn’t bad enough on the beach volleyball court, cheerleaders at the Olympics? Sure we can appreciate the Chinese trying to honor the origins of beach volleyball played on boardwalks with music and food and drinking. But this is the Olympics."

continue reading at GlamFit

not so deep thoughts

I would like to see a random 'normal' person (IE. not an athlete) participate in each event during the Olympics. Imagine, if in lane 8 of the 100 meter butterfly was John Doe from Anywhere, USA - then you could get some perspective on how fast those people were really going...

boring weather

We have had absolutely beautiful weather : sunny, 80F, low humidity... perfect...but, not if you are a local TV weatherman, then it is 'boring', and 'we need rain' - apparently if there is not a catastrophic weather event then it's not worth talking about....

hotel rant

Some Hyatt hotels drive me crazy :

--Why do I need all these stupid #@$%$$ pillows !?
Where do I put them ?!

--How do you charge 250 dollars a night, and then 12 dollars a day for internet access ?

--Do you people realize that I can go to a Super 8,
pay $80.00,
get free internet,
and I dont have to wade through a million pillows ??!!

What is this ?

What is this ?

Is it the clarinet solo channel ?
NO. (this was a ROCK show)

Is it the lead vocal on the monitor console ?
NO. (there was no monitor console)

Is it the 1st chair violin ?
NO. (this was a freakin' ROCK N' ROLL show)

Is it the Kick Drum channel, after a 2 hour soundcheck ???
YES !!!!!!

Some people have no business mixing Rock bands....

that's all I'm sayin.....

ah...OK ??

While standing in front of the PA at house right :

"Is to be louder... in left... speaker"

-"Ivan" the FOH engineer for the St Petersburg Ballet
(thick Russian accent)


i'm just sayin'.....

Digital Console 101-the power of Recall

If, in the middle of soundcheck, one were to accidentally recall a scene that had nothing to do with the current scene (that one had not even saved) one would abruptly end said soundcheck.
I'm just sayin'....

Cant we just get along ?

A brief note for venues, promoters, producers - actually for the entire world - for any event that happens before noon : there must be coffee available - I do not care if it is free, I don't even care if it is hot - I just want COFFEE - do not offer me bottled water, soda, or tea....do not ask if I want a cappacino venti latte - I just want COFFEE -
Thank you and have a nice day....


P.S. The one place that actually gets this is the Recording Workshop - thanks Jim