Punters knocking PA speakers over

FarleyUK

We had this happen on Friday AND Saturday night at different gigs - and I've also had it happen to me at various other gigs. One speaker dented one of the drummer's toms, and the next night, I managed to catch the speaker on my leg while doing a solo (which was quite impressive, I admit).

Has anyone else encountered this? How can you stop it happening?

We tend to play small-ish venues where space is at a premium; we have the speakers in front of myself and the bassist (so no mic feedback), and the legs spread as wide as possible, but we still get idiots knocking them over.

springhead

You have to do what you can with positioning the legs to keep them from being a trip hazard.  Maybe also some ratchet straps to tie the top of the tripods to something solid nearby if you can. 

EricTheWeary

Get some public liability insurance? 

I remember someone very drunk crashing into one of ours and a burly chap in the audience catching it. But generally just trying to put them out the way and using wedge monitors as a barrier ( unplugged or just empty boxes if you don’t use them as monitors). 

FarleyUK

Cheers - I've got PLI, not sure about the rest of the band though. Will raise it with them.

fastonebaz

Get some hazard tape on the floor?  Put floor lights in front of it? Anything to act as a physical blockage.

FarleyUK

fastonebaz said:

Get some hazard tape on the floor?  Put floor lights in front of it? Anything to act as a physical blockage.

Yep, tried all that! Works most of the time, but not these last two instances.

Guess it doesn't help when the venue asks you to setup right by the front door so a speaker is pretty much in the main thoroughfare....

Jonathangus

Use a sub and a pole, instead of a tripod?  Big  and heavy, though.

Supportact

FarleyUK said:

We had this happen on Friday AND Saturday night at different gigs - and I've also had it happen to me at various other gigs. One speaker dented one of the drummer's toms, and the next night, I managed to catch the speaker on my leg while doing a solo (which was quite impressive, I admit).

Has anyone else encountered this? How can you stop it happening?

We tend to play small-ish venues where space is at a premium; we have the speakers in front of myself and the bassist (so no mic feedback), and the legs spread as wide as possible, but we still get idiots knocking them over.

Always good for the bassist and the guitarist to have the legs spread as wide as possible at all times, well done.

FarleyUK

Supportact said:

FarleyUK said:

We had this happen on Friday AND Saturday night at different gigs - and I've also had it happen to me at various other gigs. One speaker dented one of the drummer's toms, and the next night, I managed to catch the speaker on my leg while doing a solo (which was quite impressive, I admit).

Has anyone else encountered this? How can you stop it happening?

We tend to play small-ish venues where space is at a premium; we have the speakers in front of myself and the bassist (so no mic feedback), and the legs spread as wide as possible, but we still get idiots knocking them over.

Always good for the bassist and the guitarist to have the legs spread as wide as possible at all times, well done.

Funnily enough, I had to do that at Saturday's gig; I'm 6ft 5, and the venue's ceiling was 5ft 8.....

I adopted the 'Quo Pose' all night.

mrkb

Supportact said:

FarleyUK said:

We had this happen on Friday AND Saturday night at different gigs - and I've also had it happen to me at various other gigs. One speaker dented one of the drummer's toms, and the next night, I managed to catch the speaker on my leg while doing a solo (which was quite impressive, I admit).

Has anyone else encountered this? How can you stop it happening?

We tend to play small-ish venues where space is at a premium; we have the speakers in front of myself and the bassist (so no mic feedback), and the legs spread as wide as possible, but we still get idiots knocking them over.

Always good for the bassist and the guitarist to have the legs spread as wide as possible at all times, well done.

springhead

Supportact said:

FarleyUK said:

We had this happen on Friday AND Saturday night at different gigs - and I've also had it happen to me at various other gigs. One speaker dented one of the drummer's toms, and the next night, I managed to catch the speaker on my leg while doing a solo (which was quite impressive, I admit).

Has anyone else encountered this? How can you stop it happening?

We tend to play small-ish venues where space is at a premium; we have the speakers in front of myself and the bassist (so no mic feedback), and the legs spread as wide as possible, but we still get idiots knocking them over.

Always good for the bassist and the guitarist to have the legs spread as wide as possible at all times, well done.

Rossi and Parfitt used to call that "the attack position"!

maltingsaudio

Jonathangus said:

Use a sub and a pole, instead of a tripod?  Big  and heavy, though.

Best option^ Also put some hi vis tape or white gaffa tape on the legs so they are more obvious than black. If it comes to a claim, you need to prove you’ve taken all reasonable precautions. It’s also worth doing a quick general  risk assessment sheet highlighting tripping hazards and the procedures you’ve put in place to minimise the risk and send it to the venue as belt and braces. You can do this yourself doesn’t have to be fancy and at least it shows your insurers and the venue  you are aware and have tried.

Supportact

Seriously though I've had this and it's a nightmare. I've found just putting up something to designate the 'stage' area as separate helps. It's tricky because ideally you put something there as a barrier but also don't want to create more trip hazards. 

ICBM

Jonathangus said:

Use a sub and a pole, instead of a tripod?  Big  and heavy, though.

This. Subs always improve the sound anyway. If you're only using one, obviously put it on the side where it's most likely to be helpful. If you're using subs you can often use smaller and lighter tops which are less top-heavy as well.

Even then, I don't think it's impossible that someone heavy crashing into one could tip it over.

Musicwolf

I find that playing to half empty venues where nobody gets up to dance greatly reduces the risk.

fretmeister

Have you thought about playing jazz?

mrkb

Musicwolf said:

I find that playing to half empty venues where nobody gets up to dance greatly reduces the risk.

Or try playing original music..

Ossyrocks

Drunken punters, too many incidents to count. We’ve had a woman “trapped” between a bass bin and a wall, a guy fall over the monitors onto the stage area and was so drunk he couldn’t get up, multiple microphones into the teeth, beer into the mixing desk, lead microphone taken mid song as the punter thought he could sing it better, stage invasions involving multiple drunken women, the list is endless. Beyond a barbed wire fence, it’s hard to anticipate every incident.

tweedphan

stage invasions involving multiple drunken women

You were lucky !!

JMP220478

and that's just audience participation ...

lead singer/animated frontman in band Ive recently joined, broke both arms at their last gig before first lockdown - stage antic that went wrong n fell off a 1m high stage onto his face breaking forearms in process - carried on like a trooper - adrenalin n a little too much gin apparently .. finished set n then off to A&E ...

CaseOfAce

Musicwolf said:

I find that playing to half empty venues where nobody gets up to dance greatly reduces the risk.

So you've been to see us then?!