Stage Monitor... that is actually a beer fridge in disguise.

kamakiriad7 · #1 10-12-2011, 08:56 PM

Hello talkbass friends.

This fall I'm excited to be gearing up for a new project. Being a "weekend warrior" in the local cover scene has its perks, but very often I find myself in a situation with my band where the bar either doesn't have a door guest list, doesn't give drink specials to the band, or otherwise isn't competitive with other bars in this manner. After many years of sneaking beer onstage in duffel bags and other foolish antics, I've come up with a solid idea for getting through the gig at establishments such as these.

Oh, it's also a very fun idea.

Firstly, my thought was to simply disguise a stage monitor as a beer storage compartment. Y'know, hollow it out, lay beer in it, very rudimentary. But after talking with my brother (an electronic engineer) and my best friend (an electrical engineer), we came up with the thought of doing it the other way: that is, taking a standard bar fridge and constructing a fake monitor around it. Cut the front off of an old broken speaker cone, house it in a thin piece of plywood and a front grille, get some plywood and attach it to the sides, top and back, carpet it, and take a back panel off an old powered monitor to house the power cable. It'll be back on to the audience, and the front will swing open for the very important purpose of beer. Best of all, it'll be kept cold, as it'll be still a "powered" monitor.

I wanted to post this here to get ideas from you guys/gals. I also wanted to see if anyone has tried it before and has any experience with it - I googled it but found little. Of course, I'll keep y'all posted on what transpires over the fall & Christmas with pictures and maybe some video.

Cheers!

Chris

SelenaBassGirl · #2 10-12-2011, 10:18 PM

My friend and singing partner came up with a monitor that is disguising (did i spell wrong?) a computer screen to have lyrics on it instead of having a music stand on the stage with papers everywhere.

AnchorHoy · #3 10-13-2011, 03:30 PM

Don't know about your locale, but in my neck of the woods bringing 'outside' beer or liquor into a venue that serves same is a great way to lose the gig permanently. Maybe even get shut down early and sent home......

They Really Really don't like that

I do like the moniter/cooler idea though

bassbrad · #4 10-13-2011, 03:35 PM

It is a neat idea but not neat enough to offset the serious violation for most liquor laws.

MatticusMania · #5 10-13-2011, 03:40 PM

Clearly the OP understands the violation of liquor laws, I hope, and plans on carrying out this project regardless. I used to have a keys player who'd sneak beers into venues. I always gave him the look of disapproval but aside from giving him the boot I wasnt going to stop him. And he was a really good player. Im sure he'd have loved a disguisable beer fridge!