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Halloween gig horror story

#21
"You missed the part where I said that when I unplugged from the snake it wasn't broken, I unplugged from the snake at least 20 minutes after my fall and saw no damage when I unplugged. I really feel bad about this and like I said I have no problem paying for it to be fixed since I am the only one to have fallen. But I'll also add that had the cables been taped down like they should have been I would have never tripped in the first place. Someone forgot to bring enough duct tape and many cables were not taped down very well if at all."

First, never use duct tape to tape down cables. Use gaffers tape. It doesn't leave sticky residue and make everything nasty like duct tape.

There's a reason I won't get in a band where the band collectively owns the equipment. Who cares how it got broken if it wasn't intentionally broken? As long as it was an accident, the band should just take the meager gig money and use that to get it fixed.
 
#22
gaffers tape is what I meant to say, but once again, its not my job to tape the cables down, someone is paid to do this. When I pointed out that there wasn't enough tape on the cables I was told we just have to make due with what we have because no one thought to get more. The person that runs the sound and lights is responsible to make sure this stuff is on hand and if we need more its up to him to either get more or let someone know that we are running low. For the low cost of a roll of tape that wasn't there it cost us a snake. Everyone in the band has set jobs to do for set up and tear down. Myself I run the dolly carting all the heavy stuff out the door along with handling all of my own gear. I bust my a$$ during set up and tear down running large cabs in and out with the dolly as fast as I can so no one has to do any heavy lifting/carrying other than loading it into the vans. I personally move well over half of the gear with the dolly and help load it into the vans. Others stand around drinking while I'm carting things out like a madman.
 
#23
Someone probably stepped on the cable after you unplugged it and crushed it. That happens quite often with XLR's and their thin plastic shells that cover the ends on stage, especially when people are moving gear around, not looking at the floor, etc.

Whatever, so, even if you did it, it was an accident. It was the club's cable right? So what?

I doubt your band could be mad over that, that's just dumb - the club was a crappy show anyways. If they're bent out of shape because of a crappy club getting upset over broken property, you're better off without those idiots.
 
#24
Spinal Tapper said:
Someone probably stepped on the cable after you unplugged it and crushed it. That happens quite often with XLR's and their thin plastic shells that cover the ends on stage, especially when people are moving gear around, not looking at the floor, etc.

Whatever, so, even if you did it, it was an accident. It was the club's cable right? So what?

I doubt your band could be mad over that, that's just dumb - the club was a crappy show anyways. If they're bent out of shape because of a crappy club getting upset over broken property, you're better off without those idiots.
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It wasn't just a cable, it was the snake end that all the cables plug into, the whole top was crushed down. And no, it wasn't the clubs, it was our snake.
 
#27
Friggin DJ's :spit::spit::spit::spit:

Just hearing how he acted makes me sick. At a place we used to play on the outdoor patio from 6:30 to 10:30, there would be a DJ in the bar starting up after 10:30. This guy would start playing music around 10:15, while we are still playing, so we would just crank it up and draw anyone in the bar outside. :D Finally, the owner moved him to the other side of the restaurant.

Did you maybe crash into the snake head first? ;)
 
#28
Vanceman said:
Friggin DJ's :spit::spit::spit::spit:

Just hearing how he acted makes me sick. At a place we used to play on the outdoor patio from 6:30 to 10:30, there would be a DJ in the bar starting up after 10:30. This guy would start playing music around 10:15, while we are still playing, so we would just crank it up and draw anyone in the bar outside. :D Finally, the owner moved him to the other side of the restaurant.

Did you maybe crash into the snake head first? ;)
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No, it was right in front of the kick drum, I would have had to fall on the kick drums mic stand to even get to it. Plus I clearly tripped in the middle of the stage area on a cable that wasn't taped down. It was seen by multiple people where I was and where I landed, I was very embarrassed over this. Nothing worse than doing a face plant on stage in front of people. The only good thing about it is multiple people saw where I fell. I only hope that some of them speak up and tell what they saw. Whats making this even worse is no one is saying anything about if I am being blamed or not, all I got out of the one guitarist is that we are going to have a band meeting Friday to talk about what happened. When I asked if I was being blamed he wouldn't give me an answer other than we'll talk about it Friday. I see this as not very grown up, if I am being blamed it shouldn't be kept a secret until I drive all the way out to the practice place on Friday. I deserve better than to be kept in limbo wondering and I don't want to spend $10 in gas for a round trip to a band meeting only to be told I'm being blamed or let go.
 
#32
Honestly, if you're positive that you didn't cause the damage to the snake, and you tell this to the other guys, then that should be good enough for them, unless they're total p--ks.

And if you didn't cause the damage, then that probably means one of the other guys did, right?

If you're sure that you didn't do it, no, you shouldn't have to pay for it.

What kind of bandmates would assume that you are lying to them? And why would you want to continue playing with people who treated you that way?

If they insist that you should pay, then rather than going back & forth with them or paying for the snake just to keep the peace, I'd handle it this way: 1)Agree to pay the replacement/repair cost divided by the number of guys in the band; 2)Quit the band and look for a more decent group of guys to play with.

I know, easier said than done. But better than knowing you didn't cause the damage, being forced into paying, resenting that situation, and being subject to getting the blame next time something else breaks.

Of course, if you're really good friends with these guys, or have been with the band for a long time, or it's a really lucrative regular gig, then my input might not be relevant.
 
#36
Well, the band isn't going on nothing, they did see you up between sets when you didn't need to be there tripping over the cable. It is not like you were picked out of thin air to be the fall guy.

Some things to learn/take from this:

-If your the guy making noise about a lack of tape on the stage, it's a good idea not to make a big showing of tripping over it after the fact.

-The water doesn't need to be there before you. Wait until after your break and bring it up with you. In other words, try to reduce the number of needless trips you make across the stage full of cables you noted were not taped down.

-Don't be surprised if after seeing you flailing in the cables on the stage during break, they suspect you for any damage on the stage that night.

-Take responsibility of where YOU place YOUR feet. it doesn't look good on you to point fingers at the sound guy after you already told everyone you knew about the problem.

Don't mean to sound harsh but some of the above should be fairly obvious and getting your back up over it is just going to ruin your band situatition.

-eSmith.
 
#37
eSmith said:
Well, the band isn't going on nothing, they did see you up between sets when you didn't need to be there tripping over the cable. It is not like you were picked out of thin air to be the fall guy.

Some things to learn/take from this:

-If your the guy making noise about a lack of tape on the stage, it's a good idea not to make a big showing of tripping over it after the fact.

-The water doesn't need to be there before you. Wait until after your break and bring it up with you. In other words, try to reduce the number of needless trips you make across the stage full of cables you noted were not taped down.

-Don't be surprised if after seeing you flailing in the cables on the stage during break, they suspect you for any damage on the stage that night.

-Take responsibility of where YOU place YOUR feet. it doesn't look good on you to point fingers at the sound guy after you already told everyone you knew about the problem.

Don't mean to sound harsh but some of the above should be fairly obvious and getting your back up over it is just going to ruin your band situatition.

-eSmith.
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I don't take what you say as harsh, I take it as your honest opinion. I wasn't the only person that mentioned the lack of tape, we all knew it and everyone of us were bummed about it, but the show must go on. I have not pointed fingers at anyone when talking with the band members, I only asked if the damage could have been done by me tripping over the cable and if it could have been I offered to do what ever it takes to make it right. only here have I mentioned that had we had enough tape it wouldn't have happened. I have been very willing to take the blame if it was me that did it but no one is talking about who they think did it. Just like if someone tripped and broke something of mine, I would talk to them about it like an adult and resolve the issue, not sweep it under the rug until Friday.
 
#38
ROCKS,

This is just what I see. From the mood of your posts you seem to be a little high strung and paranoid. I'm a little paranoid myself but try not to act on it.:) It could be personality differences that the band wants to discuss. It could pay off to just be patient and wait for the meeting. Look at yourself in the situation, from the outside, and take an honest self appraisal. Let your band speak and own your actions. See what happens and don't let speculation drive you nuts. Good luck, Man.
 
#39
stepswork4me said:
ROCKS,

This is just what I see. From the mood of your posts you seem to be a little high strung and paranoid. I'm a little paranoid myself but try not to act on it.:) It could be personality differences that the band wants to discuss. It could pay off to just be patient and wait for the meeting. Look at yourself in the situation, from the outside, and take an honest self appraisal. Let your band speak and own your actions. See what happens and don't let speculation drive you nuts. Good luck, Man.
Click to expand...

You are correct, I am high strung. I'm like a caged animal between sets chopping at the bit to play again. Paranoid? I don't know, I'd call it more of a lack willingness to communicate on their part that upsets me. After all, Like I said I'm 49, if someone has a problem with me I prefer them to be up front and talk to me like an adult, not put me in a time out like a child. The very first I heard of it happening I immediately asked if it could have been caused by my tripping over the cable, it was the first words out of my mouth. I never tried to hide the fact that I fell, I was the first one to bring it up as a possibility of what caused the damage. So in my eyes its as easy as them just saying yes it was me, no it wasn't, or we don't know how it happened for sure. I'm too old for playing games like this, if I did it just tell me and lets move on and resolve the issue like adults.
 
#40
Very Good Advice!!
stepswork4me said:
ROCKS,

This is just what I see. From the mood of your posts you seem to be a little high strung and paranoid. I'm a little paranoid myself but try not to act on it.:) It could be personality differences that the band wants to discuss. It could pay off to just be patient and wait for the meeting. Look at yourself in the situation, from the outside, and take an honest self appraisal. Let your band speak and own your actions. See what happens and don't let speculation drive you nuts. Good luck, Man.
Click to expand...
 

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