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How would you react?

#21
We would have a little "face to face" before leaving.
I would calmly explain, that in this business, "pulling the plug" is an act with very negative connotations, not to mention the potential for damage to very expensive equipment.
Then we would discuss the right "channels" to go through; simple communication - curfew? noise ordinance? or just want to clear out the crowd? We're happy to work with you... but never touch our equipment.
The message would be very clear.

In the future, you could go the "Kansas route" and plug in dummy extension cords... :laugh:
 
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#23
LiptonJigglers said:
The words REACT and LIVID had me intrigued. They indicate a metaphysical emotional response to stimuli.

Perhaps the real problem starts by expecting the younger generation to be as knowledgeable as you are about these things?

What would I have done?
Approached the young guy and had a quiet word about the dangers of pulling plugs out of sockets, and the potential damage to equipment by doing so, whilst expensive electrical equipment is still plugged in and switched on.
That way, he learns something new, the act of talking quietly and calmly reduces the amount of stress both parties could endure and being "livid" could be placed on the scrapheap of history.
Click to expand...
How is unplugging an extension cord different than turning the power switch off?
I can see an issue with improperly applying power to a bank of gear that needs a sequential power on routine, but pulling a plug seems like a power failure.
 
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#25
Slevage said:
How is unplugging an extension cord different than turning the power switch off?
Click to expand...

Any reasonably designed piece of gear will tolerate being turned off. Sometimes it is helpful (in terms of sonic assaults) to turn things off in a certain order, but when the power goes out or a breaker blows, if your gear is that fragile, you bought the wrong gear. I would gently tell him that you and your bandmates have many thousands of dollars invested in your gear, and you will unplug it from now on. Escalating this beyond a gentle educational statement will be counterproductive to him actually learning something, and risks you becoming the "a - aperture".
 
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#29
I've been a manager. I'd handle it calmly, with a simple heads-up. Let them know that the next band's gear might not be so robust.

If you act like an ******* the common human reaction is to assume that you're also stupid, in which case the message is lost.

It's also a good reminder to the band that this can happen.
 
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#30
This happened more than once with national acts at the Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia Maryland. Local community official would walk onstage and literally begin pulling plugs when a show ran past 11 PM. It would get contentious.
 
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#31
Damage my equipment in any way whatsoever, and you fix/replace it. I had a trumpet player knock over a music stand leaving a gouge across the top of my $**,*** acoustic bass. I very calmly and quietly told him I'd be taking it in to be touched up as much as reality allowed, considering the depth of the gouge, and that he'd be reimbursing me at the next rehearsal. Also, I let him know he was lucky to be taking his horn home in its case as opposed to his nether regions.
 
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#32
SAlcott said:
Damage my equipment in any way whatsoever, and you fix/replace it. I had a trumpet player knock over a music stand leaving a gouge across the top of my $**,*** acoustic bass. I very calmly and quietly told him I'd be taking it in to be touched up as much as reality allowed, considering the depth of the gouge, and that he'd be reimbursing me at the next rehearsal. Also, I let him know he was lucky to be taking his horn home in its case as opposed to his nether regions.
Click to expand...
And did he pay you, or did you never see him again?
Just curious.
 
#34
Don't f*ck with my sh*t. Period. I do not care what your rationale is. Don't do it. I have a pretty specific way of packing my gear to insure I have everything where it's supposed to be for the next gig. I play with different bands and don't even want my bandmates to help. The road to hell is paved with good intentions so, no. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been too gracious had it happened to me. That's based on past experience. I may become more spiritually evolved in the future but given my age it probably won't be in this life.

BBB
 
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#35
pglaser01 said:
When you say “young man”, approximately what is this describing?

young man as in, “ working there for years and should know better”? Or young man as in, “mom dropped me off at work so I can pay someone to buy me beer on weekends”?
Click to expand...
Funny no one answered your pertinent question. Being young..er may not equal ignorant or inexperienced. And in that case maybe he just had a brain fart.
 
#36
Without an answer to the definition of "young man", it is hard to know for certain what I would do in that situation.

Where I work, there are a large amount of people of the latest generation of workers. In general, they don't seem to care about anything other than their phones, airpods, and vapes. If it were someone like that, I would probably just walk away, because I know there is nothing to be gained by engaging them. This is, of course, provided there is no damage.

If it were someone a little older, I would just ask them, nicely, to please not touch our expensive equipment.
 
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#38
dont ever do that again....!


if he is "helping the band", he is basically a roadie, and shouldn't as much pick his nose onstage without asking..


chokesw2.gif
 
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