Elf and Safety?

[CRAZY K]

Last night at my gig this reared its ugly head again and shows how extremely difficult it is for us mobile entertainers to comply--even if we really really want to:eek:

I was working with a Band (who were already set up taking up the complete width of the hall ) and had agreed for me to go through their sound system for music and Radio Mike.

The space allocated to me was as if I was playing bass guitar in the band.

(Thats another subject)

Luckily I was carrying my portable 3 foot wide emergency dj stand ( ironing board and covering cloth) so far so good --it gets worse.

I was successfully doing my bit entertaining about 40 people on the floor when a young kid started spraying me, my mini disc player, radio mike unit and some of the bands live electrics with a water pistol--Western theme night so everyone in Cowboy outfits toting guns and kids playing with water pistols.

What do you do Refuse to carry on? --I imagine Health and Safety would
accuse me of being negligent by ignoring it-- I told the youngster to clear off and spray one of his friends and carried on regardless.

Its always easy to criticise retrospectively, a cheap shot.

As I have said many times before--PAT testing is a great idea--the problem is the entertainer is the one likely to get electrocuted.:eek: :eek: :eek:

Not a perfect world really:(

CRAZY K

[sleah]

Treat it like any brainless punter. Tell him to stop. He doesn't.
Make an anouncement asking for some one to control the child as he is causing serious danger. No-one does.
Make another anouncement and stop the music and state that there will be a short break while we power down the entertainment equipment and dry it off.
Someone then may do something about the child.
If it happens again, you could stop and threaten to call the police as there is an unrully minor whos actions could lead to ABH or death.

In that situation, given the potential for danger I would suggest anything beyond accidental cross fire or fine spray would consititute assault, as athough not personally directed at anyone could result in serious injury or death. The fact it was a child means nothing, it is still a form of attack.

If a punter got a shock from the wet socket and you had ignored it, you could be liable. You can't be too careful these days.

[Shaun]

The first sign of water near my equipment and I'd probably stop the music, and make a quick announcement to to notify guests of the dangers of water and electrics. If it carried on after that I would switch off and unplug my gear till the situation was resolved. Safety comes first!. Sounds like you handled it pretty well though, did you get squirted again after you told him off?

[CRAZY K]

The first sign of water near my equipment and I'd probably stop the music, and make a quick announcement to to notify guests of the dangers of water and electrics. If it carried on after that I would switch off and unplug my gear till the situation was resolved. Safety comes first!. Sounds like you handled it pretty well though, did you get squirted again after you told him off?

Nope, the problem was I was doing a very tight one hour spot between the band sets and had travelled a long way to get there.

This all happened at a crucial moment where to stop would have lost the momentum of a very successful dance which was basically picking up the evening for the paying customer ( Birthday boy ) because the band had left me with a "Dead" audience who hadnt got off their butts--- despite a good opening set by the band who I know.

Certainly if things had got worse I would have had no choice but to stop--
but these things always seem to happen at the wrong crucial moment!

As it happens all went very well--but still reminds you of the hazards of the job.

CRAZY K

[cara]

i would of told the little squirt to stop ;0)

[theoloyla]

Agree with everything thats been said. Water and Electicity do not mix.

[Candybeatdiscos]

i would have put a 20 minute mix on, took the little 'git' round the back and pasted him lol

in all seriousness I would of stopped immediately and explained why, and give them a chance to keep the kid in check, even if the momentum had dulled at the end of the day would you like them all to be up dancing enjoying themselves when your dead?

[CRAZY K]

:D
i would have put a 20 minute mix on, took the little 'git' round the back and pasted him lol

in all seriousness I would of stopped immediately and explained why, and give them a chance to keep the kid in check, even if the momentum had dulled at the end of the day would you like them all to be up dancing enjoying themselves when your dead?

Some of them may have thought I was of course:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

CRAZY K

[jamesh]

I probably would have told him a couple of times and failing that 1 announcement to ask for someone to talk control.... then if nothing rather than stop the music I'd go and dis-arm the little angel!

You can only give so much fair warning and why ruin everyone else's night due to some little animal!

[DMX Will]

Agree with whats been said. However never had this problem with water pistols before, drunk teens leaning over the mixer/cd players to make a request and almost pouring their 3/4 full pint glass of fosters into the gear YES!

[CRAZY K]

Agree with whats been said. However never had this problem with water pistols before, drunk teens leaning over the mixer/cd players to make a request and almost pouring their 3/4 full pint glass of fosters into the gear YES!

Thats what you get working with children---preferable to drunk teens I would say.

CRAZY K