Playing in the Rain

Steve S · #1 10-06-2008, 11:37 AM

Our group had an outside gig last Friday at the University of Washington. We were supposed to begin at 5:00 so we all got there at 4:00. When we showed up, nothing was set up and the students were busy trying to put up the tarps. It had rained heavily all day and the thick grass was soaked, all of the trees were wet and there was nothing dry anywhere. The student in charge said that we could set up underneath a tree to help protect us from the rain. All of the trees were saturated with water and continually dripping. We told them that we were not going to set up on wet grass. He then asked some students to find plyboard boards to lay on the grass. At that point we said no and promptly left. They didn't seem to understand how dangerous it is playing with electric amps in the rain. What made this even more disturbing? The students putting on this gig were graduate students in the College of Engineering.

The Golden Boy · #2 10-06-2008, 01:40 PM

You did the right thing.

Water falling on stage- no-go.

Dave R · #3 10-06-2008, 02:35 PM

Sad, but you did the right thing. Playing in the rain can ruin your gear, and if you get electrocuted, ruin the rest of your life.

Willy2911 · #4 10-06-2008, 02:47 PM

LOL that is funny..

Silaxian · #5 10-06-2008, 03:22 PM

They were from the college of Engineering? Man, that's just plain scary.

Steve S · #6 10-06-2008, 08:46 PM

It seems like common sense....electricity is dangerous around water. For future engineers to not know this was what puzzled us and these were students who have already completed their undergraduate degrees and have gone into the advanced courses.

Rattman · #7 10-06-2008, 11:57 PM

"Under a TREE...?" Great...great move to set up under a tree, which of course is a natural lightning rod as many people can attest to. Your band certainly did the right thing is refusing to set up...

Valerus · #8 10-07-2008, 12:02 AM

Fail.

Parabolic Box · #9 10-07-2008, 12:04 AM

Only goes to show you degrees don't necessarily mean a whole lot.

CatfishStudios · #10 10-07-2008, 12:08 AM

Bah they are only graduate students...a BS or BA aint sheeeit anymore.

Stumbo · #11 10-07-2008, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve S

. We were supposed to begin at 5:00 so we all got there at 4:00. When we showed up, nothing was set up and the students were busy trying to put up the tarps. It had rained heavily all day and the thick grass was soaked,

That's why it's good to have written contracts with various limitations on what you'll do when. If it was a paid gig and you didn't have an"acts of God" provision in it, you may be liable for damages if they were depending on your band to help them raise money or something.

kb9wyz · #12 10-07-2008, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve S

What made this even more disturbing? The students putting on this gig were graduate students in the College of Engineering.

I don't know what to say, so here's a rabbit with a pancake on its head.

ColdSteelRain · #13 10-07-2008, 03:08 PM

Obviously mechanical engineers and not electrical

.

BigOldHarry · #14 10-07-2008, 03:14 PM

I saw Project Object (the FZ member tribute band) play several years ago darn near a whole set in the driving rain - I thought it was crazy, but they kept playing, even with the lights flickering and the water coming DOWN... They finally stopped when Ike Willis said "sorry folks, I don't to kill my band! - we'll do an extra long set next year" - -

Oh, and they DID play a crazy long set the next year... But indoors!

professor_bills · #15 10-08-2008, 03:22 PM

We did something like that on Labor Day. The owner of the house ahd a tent set up but our gear barely fit in their let alone us trying to play. We set up another tent and a tarp to cover the gap and one one on the ground. Played one set and called it a day....We survived but wish we would have just called it off when we saw the weather coming in the AM