Hi folks,   
      
      
   Some readers here may be getting involved in holiday   
   programs at churches and schools that use sound   
   reinforcement, maybe for the first time.  These performances are usually all   
   volunteer, amateur performers and stage   
   crew, even if that stage crew is the guy who provides the   
   system.   
      
   The concert and touring industry has gotten some rather loud wake up calls   
   this last year with the stage collapse in   
   Indiana and those in Belgium last summer.  But, I find that   
   it helps to remind the amateurs especially of some real   
   safety concerns whether it be for a permanently installed   
   system in a church or auditorium, or a temporary rig brought in for the   
   occasion.   
      
   First and foremost, avoid trip hazards!  Make sure that any   
   cables that cross traffic areas or the deck of the   
   performance space lie flat on the deck, and are secured with gaffer's tape so   
   as to not create a trip hazard.  YEs, duct   
   tape may appear to work, but that gunky residue it leaves   
   behind sure makes a mess out of cables.  TAlk to your local   
   theater supply folks about getting some gaffer's tape, which will hold the   
   cable firmly to the deck, but comes away   
   clean.   
      
   WIth the Christmas shows there is lots of lighting, be aware of fire danger   
   and keep lights away from flammable materials such as curtains, wood, etc.   
      
      
   Those speakers with a stand pocket supported by the stick and tripod are sure   
   handy to aim at the ears of the audience,   
   but remember that they have a rather high center of gravity. IF you're going   
   to have a lot of folks moving around close   
   to them provide some counterweight to lower that center of   
   gravity.  SEcuring sandbags or other such material to the   
   legs of the tripod helps keep the speaker in the air instead of falling on   
   performers or audience members.   
      
   Always think safety first.  THis means electrical safety   
   too.  SEparate sound and lighting on different circuits, and be sure that in   
   case you draw too much current for the   
   circuit you're using that you don't pop the breaker that   
   controls house lighting.  This may mean running some heavy   
   duty extensions to access circuits not available on the   
   stage, but that's what gaffer's tape is for.  USe it   
   liberally in any areas that see traffic.   
      
   Finally, before you ask, wireless microphones are a hassle.   
   If somebody in the planning stages starts talking about   
   hanging wireless lavalier microphones on all your performers remind them that   
   it's a big job, frequency coordination is a real hassle, and that rental cost   
   eats up your budget quick. Teach performers, especially children to project   
   their   
   voices, use wired microphones strategically placed to do   
   what pickup is needed.  YEs you see everybody using wireless lavs on the big   
   Broadway shows, but they've got the big   
   Broadway budgets and have already taken care of the   
   frequency coordination nightmares.  MOst churches schools   
   and amateur theater groups don't have that kind of dough to   
   work with.  So, forget the wireless, put the money into   
   other parts of the performance such as set development,   
   advertising or something else useful.  YEs the local vendor   
   who rents you all that wireless is glad to have your cold   
   hard cash, but you'll be tearing your hair out trying to get the frequencies   
   to coordinate and all that radio   
   transmitting and receiving equipment to play nicely   
   together.  Then there's the hassle of having an extra crew   
   person backstage to wire everybody up and make sure   
   microphones  have fresh batteries and are actually turned   
   on.  IT's another headache that you can do without if you   
   use a little common sense and plan ahead.   
      
      
   Regards,   
              Richard   
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