this is a real problem for me. I play outside, have to move equipment in 4 nights a week and a playing on a brick walkway. Customers are on three sides of me and I'm set up right in front of a gate to a swimming pool. The pool is closed before I start, but every year, kids sneak into the pool and then come out the gate. After dark, they don't see the cords (and sometimes I don't know they're back there. I have had a Parker Fly and a nice nylon string kicked across the bricks, with significant damage.

I now use junkers and keep my eye on customers as much as possible.

It's not a good situation, but I've been on the job a long time, and get lot's of jobs from patrons in the off season.


russ

In that situation, I would ask management to have that gate locked, explaining the risk to your equipment and potential liability to them.

Other than that, how 'bout a set of 3' posts and velvet rope around the fromt and sides. Could look nice and serve the purpose.

Glenn...the pool area is owned by the developers and the lifeguard is supposed to lock the gate. He often forgets, and sometimes the kids climb the fence.

There is minimal storage area in the restaurant, so I carry in a keyboard, two PA heads, six speakers, a guitar, mike stand, keyboard stand, two bags of cords, guitar stands, mikes , etc. I go from an early to a late job on week-ends, 1 hour apart, so there's not a lot of time to break down.

I like the idea of ropes and poles, and just locatd some at a supplier of bank display material. If I can find a place to store it, I may give that a try.


Thanks,


russ

I kind of like the chicken wire cage used by the Blues Brothers in their first movie!

No more beans for this guy!(Atkins ....... in remission)

We always found it useful for the horn section to let a few go a they did it anyway

I have a couple signs onthat I post saying NO FOOD OR DRINKS PLEASE! Never had a problem since I began using them. When folks come up on the stage while I'm playing, I hit the kill switch and tell them politely to get the hell off the stage and I'll be more than happy to talk with them during a break.

One of the reasons I no longer play weddings and nite-clubs is because of the drunks and cigarette smoke. Since I've vacated that environment, the problems seemed to just melt away.

Gary