'Locking' desks

[adamcoppard]

A small problem we are coming up against for this years school production is the locking of the desks. Last year, we had a Yamaha LS9-32, which could be locked, and required password on boot-up etc. so only myself and the other sound guy could use the desks. This worked great, all the actors realised plugging in iPods and pushing a fader up would do nothing, twiddling any of the knobs would have no effect etc. They didn't bother trying to play with the old lighting desks. This year, we are going analogue, from the desk, to outboard. Now, this is going to present a challenge, as it can't be locked, and I'll have to check it over and over again. Is there a solution to this problem, other than having some form of digital camera movement software that plays something horrendously loud when someone goes near the desk when I'm away? I did think about putting the flight case lid over the desk the whole time I'm not around, but it just get's unpractical.

I can already see it turning into a challenge as to who can be the first to change a setting without me noticing....

Any solutions to problems like this, and any ways around it?

[dunk_1984]

Discipline is surely the issue here. If they can't keep their fingers to themselves then, well it's their show that suffers.

[GridGirl]

Educate your actors. Tell them that if they change things then they'll sound bad, because you don't necessarily have time to check every single setting on the desk, and so it could be their radio mic channel which will sound strange. Alternatively, work with them; find one or two of the cast that you trust and show them how to plug an iPod in and make it work properly, and tell the others that if they want their music playing, these cast members are the ones to ask. If you let them do it, then you'll find that all of a sudden, they don't want to any more. Alternatively, can you get the school to change the power switch to one of the padlockable ones? That way you can power down at the end of the night, padlock the switch in the OFF position and no problem. Honestly though, I'd go with the trusting a couple of cast members solution; gear that they're not forbidden to use suddenly becomes a lot less tempting.

[DaveBennett]

Not a very "technical" answer, however, having been a student at a school for the last few years doing tech and back at the same school teaching over's, I had that problem! A few things we did...

 

I think the flightcase idea is good if your going to leave it for a good 15 mins. If your not at the desk, then chances are its not in use or shouldnt be in use, so pop the lids/fronts on. Generally the lids are so heavy that people just wont bother).

 

Positioning of the desk is also important. Make it so its hard to get to, be on a raised up area with limited (but safe) amount of access.

 

I would always get the room/hall locked when no one should be in there. I would always lock myself in the hall when I wanted to get stuff done (lock from the inside).

 

But the educating the actors is key, there was always certain actors who I was happy to use the desks as they know what there doing and I trust them. That way, when I wasnt there, they can do whats needed without the chance of it getting cocked up!!

 

Dave

[Ynot]

Sorry, guys, but in the real world, be it am-dram or pro, the ONLY people who should be anywhere near control desks (lighting or sound) are those with a prescribed need to do so. That means the sound crew or lighting crew as appropriate. Anyone else caught anywhere near our desks whether they're in use or not will get a short sharp verbal shock to their system. (And they have in the past!). Our control room is normally locked when not staffed so it's maybe easier for us to police this, but even so.

 

At schools I can accept that it's maybe harder to keep prying fingers away, and also that you may not have a lockable room in which to site the kit. But that just means that it's down (as already stated above) to education of the rest of the talent, the crew or indeed the school. Those in authority - eg the teachers - need to stipulate quite clearly where the boundaries are and students who cross that line should be taken to task.

 

End of.

[Sound In Gloucestershire]

how about an A3 poster on top of it saying what you need to say?

[Biskit]

Those in authority - eg the teachers - need to stipulate quite clearly where the boundaries are and students who cross that line should be taken to task.

 

I second this having worked in a similar situation (schools) a few years ago.

 

Students in a school situation are the responsibility of the teachers and other staff. As such, if there is a location where equipment may be tampered with (eg a hall set up for a show) etc, that room should either be locked, or supervised by staff, at ALL times.

 

Does this not happen? If not, the staff are at fault. Unless the staff are as bad for tampering?

 

Ben.

[Guest lightnix]

One West End theatre I worked at just had a car burglar alarm installed at the FOH sound position, tripped by a pressure-sensitive mat.

 

You only stepped on it by accident once :)

[tolley1466]

Flightcase? Lockable?

[adamcoppard]

Discipline is the issue, but it's always difficult with myself, being a student, *yelling* at other students sitting behind the desks, fiddling with anything, especially when we have parents of some of the kids helping out and such. It shall be bought up in our production meeting tomorrow about the siting of the desks, how we can protect them to the best of our ability, and how discipline should be carried out around this equipment. Something a bit less louder than the car alarm could be an idea, and I did have a few in my head, will see how they come out on paper.

 

I think one way of doing it may be as for anyone who touches the kit, I will sit behind it all, imaginarilly reseting a few of the settings, and give them no sound and no light for the next 10 minutes or so, so that as a result of their actions, the whole production of them, their friends etc suffers. This can only be carried out in practice and not in dress run etc, and will see how it pans out. I just can't wait until they also get told of our other strict rules, imposed due to the hanging of kit and insurance value of said kit.

[djw1981]

Discipline is the issue,

 

<snip>

 

*yelling* at other students

These two are not the same. :D

[Ynot]

Discipline is the issue,

*yelling* at other students

These two are not the same. :D

Beat me to it.

And discipline - or the execution of such - is the purview of the teaching staff, NOT you as a student.

THEY have the responsibility, you do not.

[paulears]

Well, I have to say that anybody who honestly believes that students will not touch something because of:

Warnings from staff

warnings from other students

Notices

soft covers

alarms

video cameras

 

has never worked with them!

 

If the kit must remain untouched, put the flightcase lid over the top, not necessarily on properly, because you'd have to remove cables. Then wrap a bit of chain around it and put on a padlock.

 

There will always be somebody who thinks the warnings don't apply to them - both staff and students.

 

Education is not am-dram or professional. You cannot reason with students, they always know best and discipline of the kind anyone over 35 remembers simply does not exist!

[Ynot]

Well, I have to say that anybody who honestly believes that students will not touch something because of:

<snip>

has never worked with them!

<chuckles>

Yup - suppose you're right.

:D

BUT if the kit doesn't have a flight case you're out of options!

[pritch]

BUT if the kit doesn't have a flight case you're out of options!

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...29792a7fc26544f

 

/innocent whistle