Are Most Mobiles More Professional Than Live Groups

[Mayhem 1]

Gentlemen:

It is an inescapable fact that the majority of mobiles on this forum are very very tidy when it comes to cables and overall presentation of your rigs in fact bordering on fanatical and I admire this.

So can anyone please tell me why oh why when you either go or see a band/group or you are sharing the event with one their set up is awful!!!

Cables strewn everywhere most of which are not covered in any way, equipment set up more or less where it lands during set up and a general CBA attitude.

But, they will say to you they are better because they are live and you are just a disco!!!

[Excalibur]

Gentlemen:

It is an inescapable fact that the majority of mobiles on this forum are very very tidy when it comes to cables and overall presentation of your rigs in fact bordering on fanatical and I admire this.

So can anyone please tell me why oh why when you either go or see a band/group or you are sharing the event with one their set up is awful!!!

Cables strewn everywhere most of which are not covered in any way, equipment set up more or less where it lands during set up and a general CBA attitude.

But, they will say to you they are better because they are live and you are just a disco!!!

Oooooh, don't start me on this one. ;) Garry, you've struck the nail firmly on the head here, accurately and precisely.
I'll simply say that I agree totally. And how many times have we seen the band treated like royalty, fed, watered, and given a dressing room, when the poor old DJ can go hang? :confused: :bang: :bang:

[Mayhem 1]

And also the DJ has to change in a toilet

[Excalibur]

And also the DJ has to change in a toilet

A phrase involving t-shirts springs readily to mind. ;) :( :( :( :(

[funksoulbrother]

I would have to agree on this, on Saturday did a wedding at a very nice hotel, arrived 2 hours prior to start time, spoke to the hotels wedding coordinator, who advised me that I would be setting up in a different position than normal as there was going to be a wedding singer/band on as well (apparently a late addition to the event), no problem for me.

The timings had also changed, band/singer doing from 7.00pm to 9.00pm, then back ground music from me till first dance at 9.30pm, again, no problem. The room was beautifully decorated, bridal party outside having photo's taken in garden, all in morning suits having drinks on the patio, the tables were all set, ballon decorations in place, I had also supplied partial colour wash led's, by 6.40pm, as yet no band, so started to make emergency arrangements with the coordinator. At quarter to seven, in walks the wedding singer with his 8 year old daughter, no apologies, no explanation and starts setting up directly in front of my rig, was told be the coordinator that he should move it over, to a better position, for the audience, said no as it was nearer for him to get his equipment out through the door and carried on setting up.

In the end, we left him to finish, as to argue would have delayed the start further. 7.15pm he is ready to start his set, ok it was a very hot night, I was in a shirt, tie, trousers and shoes, he carried on in t-shirt, jeans and b:Censored: y FLIP-FLOPS, even Noel and Liam Gallagher would have looed better. Ok, he did do a very good set, but that was no excuse for lateness and looking untidy, without an explanation. The FOB even bought him a drink, looked a me then walked the bar, I got diddly squat, good job I had my coolbox under the table behind me:D . But what the hell, that's rock n' roll.:cool:

The rest of the evening, went well, considering how hot it was, with only a few dead dance floor times when the buffet came out, and when the bride threw her flowers at the other end of the room. :)

[rob1963]

So can anyone please tell me why oh why when you either go or see a band/group or you are sharing the event with one their set up is awful!!!

Cables strewn everywhere most of which are not covered in any way, equipment set up more or less where it lands during set up and a general CBA attitude.

On the subject of cables, I don't think there's much than bands can do, mainly because they don't have the luxury of a booth or frontage to hide everything, and partly because they usually have more cables spread over a much larger area than a mobile disco does.

This is certainly my experience of the bands I've worked with over the years.

[funksoulbrother]

Oh, they also obviously don't have access to gaffa tape, UNLESS the dj lends them his ! ! :whistle:

[A1DL]

On the subject of cables, I don't think there's much than bands can do.

For starters, they could;

- invest in and learn how to use gaffa tape
- visually inspect their cables before use and know that if the inner sheath is visible at the plugtop, not to plug it in
- have current PAT instead of labels showing "last tested 1998"
- use black HO7 as opposed to white Asda four-ways or orange lawn mower leads
- if they usually set up in the same formation, have optimum length cables for their set (leaving reels next to the monitors is lazy and looks awful)
- use the correct connectors when working outside
- learn how to coil cable properly to prolong its life

[rob1963]

For starters, they could;

- invest in and learn how to use gaffa tape


With all due respect, I really don't think it's practical for a band to gaffer tape all their cables down to the floor, and even if they did, it would still look a complete mess IMHO.

[Jonny Boy]

Ahhhhhh. Live act bashing. Great. :zip:
Cue another episode of Last of the Summer Whine.*



I think I'll duck(-tape) out now guys. :bang: :bang: :p






*although I'll admit the flip-flop :eek: story makes my blood boil too!

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Gentlemen:

It is an inescapable fact that the majority of mobiles on this forum are very very tidy when it comes to cables and overall presentation of your rigs in fact bordering on fanatical and I admire this.

So can anyone please tell me why oh why when you either go or see a band/group or you are sharing the event with one their set up is awful!!!

Cables strewn everywhere most of which are not covered in any way, equipment set up more or less where it lands during set up and a general CBA attitude.

But, they will say to you they are better because they are live and you are just a disco!!!


Simple answer, clients generally don't care.

Doesn'T mean we shouldn't keep the same attitude that we do have however

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Simple answer, clients generally don't care.

Doesn'T mean we shouldn't keep the same attitude that we do have however

I think you're partly right. Not all clients care about it, but some do and notice. :)

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I think you're partly right. Not all clients care about it, but some do and notice. :)

Hence why I said generally rather than its a black and white issue.

When you think about it if you got a five piece band setting up they wouldnt take half the time it takes a solo dj to set up his kit.

[spin mobile disco]

I play with a lot of bands and in my experience the ones who hire a proper sound engineer to provide audio are much neater. Always gaffered etc and cables much neater.
Yep can sympathise especially with bands , singers etc setting up in front of us. Then they want us to provide lights etc. Simple answer back if they are inconsiderate with me.
Then you get the other type who ask you where you would like them, and discuss the evening plans etc much nicer to work with.

[CRAZY K]

For starters, they could;

- invest in and learn how to use gaffa tape
- visually inspect their cables before use and know that if the inner sheath is visible at the plugtop, not to plug it in
- have current PAT instead of labels showing "last tested 1998"
- use black HO7 as opposed to white Asda four-ways or orange lawn mower leads
- if they usually set up in the same formation, have optimum length cables for their set (leaving reels next to the monitors is lazy and looks awful)
- use the correct connectors when working outside
- learn how to coil cable properly to prolong its life

Well the reality is Mobile Professional Entertainers whether DJs Bands or in my case Caller have to work in a huge variety of differing locations throughout the year which are often not fit for purpose as regards shape, size, convenience, power sources, available room, ceiling height and many other variables.

So whilst of course the safety aspects are all the same i.e.PAT, safe lead inspection etc the PROBLEM is you cant always set up the same way each gig unless you have a residency --so inevitably there have to be compromises where the Lights go, where the speakers go etc ALL OF WHICH MEANS as per my gig Friday I had to site my Speakers down the side of the room together with the main Lighting T BAR, there was no choice due to a low ceiling and a table placed in a position which might have been fine for the guests but blocking me from erecting a speaker stand, in any case guests at an upmarket Restaurant in upmarket Burnham Beeches dont want their heads blown off whilst quaffing Champers.:eek:

So yes an effort can be made to eliminate untidiness and dangerous loose cables in general but sometimes its not that easy.

My experience of Live Bands I have played with in the last few years is--I have wiped the floor with them Entertainment wise but generally not noticed any problems mentioned by Gary, although the live music thing does seem to inflate their egos even if its not always justified.

[TONYTIGER]

Bands,just like mobiles top professional bands no problems,top professional mobiles no problems.

[Ajaysdisco]

I think one of the biggest problems is the shear number of cables required.
The average disco will need to tidy the speaker cables and the mains lead, all the rest are hidden behind a booth, curtain (or table cloth ;) ).
Whereas a band would have several mic leads, speaker leads, power leads, pedal box leads, etc and these will all be on show. I think most bands would be put off taping all that lot up and making it neat due to time and effort required.

[TonyB]

Hmmmm, it can look a mess :D . Wooden equipment stands (aka tables) were supplied by the band:

http://www.ambron.co.uk/pics/marie002.jpg

I had to gaffa down their mains cables that run from the side of the stage across the steps.

[A1DL]

Hmmmm, it can look a mess :D . Wooden equipment stands (aka tables) were supplied by the band:

http://www.ambron.co.uk/pics/marie002.jpg

I had to gaffa down their mains cables that run from the side of the stage across the steps.

All easily and very cheaply curable by;
1. getting rid of those horrible white d0mest1c extension leads;
2. putting the DI to the front or side of the stage;
3. placing a couple of black cloths over the tables;
4. gaffa-ing the monitor cable to the stand and the mains cables to the floor, side stage

[The_Blue_Dragon]

Late last year I DJed for a party and was supporting a Band. I was the first to turn up and asked where I was to set up only to find I had been pushed into a corner.

There were no room for my speakers as the band had speakers spread out and they had no way of me to hook upto theirs. Luckily the band had some extra long speaker cables and I were able to run them to the other side of the stage. The band were actually great and I've worked with them before.

The worse one I had is when the singer turned up with a mic and thats it. So I charged him for the use of my equipment as he was actually getting more than me

[A1DL]

There were no room for my speakers as the band had speakers spread out and they had no way of me to hook upto theirs. Luckily the band had some extra long speaker cables and I were able to run them to the other side of the stage. The band were actually great and I've worked with them before.

There's various ways of doing that, all extremely simple, why on earth couldn't they oblige? :confused:

[The_Blue_Dragon]

No idea I did ask they just said there was no room, even though Id only need 1 iput to plug my stuff into, but they helped out anyway. Just cant understand why the Dj is always pushed into a corner, I was even placed behind a wall once and was told I couldnt pull out of the corner abit so I could be seen