Securing cables.

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You know I'd almost be willing to bet that they don't even enforce said agreement... I would bet you could setup do your show tape and all and nothing would be said or addressed by them....

I've been lucky so far and have not run into more than a "Please don't lean your table up against the chair rail." Opps so sorry... beyond that most in my area are familiar with gaffers tape and those that aren't are not only impressed by it's sticking ability but also by it not leaving a residual on their floors.
 
the industrial grade wire thingies work the best and I do have a couple for unusual situations and they are made of proper material to roll out flat even when you roll them up in a ball.
 
Jon Tuck said:
the industrial grade wire thingies work the best and I do have a couple for unusual situations and they are made of proper material to roll out flat even when you roll them up in a ball.
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Got a manufacturer or part number?
 
I'd almost suggest you follow joker's advice. Just show up, gaffer's tape, and forget it. As long as you carry yourself like a pro and don't wimp out, I can't see them messing with you. Besides, I'm just mean enough (when pushed like this) to dare some jerk to confront me over such a non-issue.
 
jokerswild said:
Question: Is it the added expense to obtain the items that will satisfy the venue that bothers you or just the fact that they are pushing this agreement on you?
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There are several things that are bothering me:

- The structure of the agreement. It is impossible to satisfy on its face. (e.g. There is a provision that I must complete "training" on the chapel sound system at least one hour before the event, but the "beginning access time" is exactly one hour prior to the event...?)

- The fact that I must commit to things in writing with a signature, but the venue will not put anything in writing with their signature. (e.g. There is a provision that I must have everything removed from the building by the "end access time", which happens to also be the "end of reception time". I asked them to clarify in writing that I would be allowed at least 60 minutes to load out. They were willing to verbally commit to 30 minutes, but they are not willing to put it in writing. After going to 4 levels of "managers" I managed to get the written "end access time" moved to 30 minutes after the reception. But it was like pulling teeth.)

- The forced use of cord covers without tape, even though every manufacturer includes installation instructions that say "tape this down." I have seen LOTS of cord covers in my days. The one thing you can always count on is that unless both edges are taped down, someone will find a way to trip on that cover...and it doesn't matter if it is up against a wall or not. But, not to worry, the venue has their hind end covered.

- The lack of attention to detail on their part. (There are repeated provisions in the agreement...leading me to believe that I am the only one who has actually read the agreement closely.)

- The lack of scheduling or organization on their part. (The wedding is in 10 days. I asked about a basic outline of when catering would be done, when staff would be available for cake cutting. I was told that I should make a schedule, and they would review and modify it.)

- The general attitude that I am getting from the venue for asking questions and not just signing the document. (I was told that I am the only one of "hundreds" of DJs who has ever had a problem with the vendor agreement. Yet the venue has only been open for weddings since August of this year.)

- And the expense of the cord cover. The 15ft version is not going to be long enough. The 50ft version will be long enough. That will cost $100 locally. I don't really have time to shop around.

Every instinct I have is to dump this gig and run screaming. BUT...that is the one thing that I can not do.

I have ZERO faith in the venue staff to treat me with ant degree of professional courtesy (since I've already taken an issue up four levels of bosses). So, how much can I rely on them to help me coordinate and control the flow of the reception? ROCK....HARD PLACE
 
Tape or no tape, covers or no covers, the trip hazard will still be there. If there's something protruding on the floor a shoe will eventually find it, glasses will fly, boobies will expose themselves, toupees will achieve launch velocity, and you can continue the list. ;)
 
DJ SVO said:
Tape or no tape, covers or no covers, the trip hazard will still be there.
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I have seen people trip while walking on a smooth wood floor. :tritongue:

The issue is one of "reasonable mitigation." With gaffers tape to secure the cords to the floor, immediately next to the wall, the trip hazard has been reasonably mitigated. That is the industry standard best practice for securing cords.

A cord in a cord cover placed next to a wall, but not held securely in place, the mitigation is less than the best practice method. If the cord were running across a traffic area and lose...there is no mitigation of the trip hazard.
 
Fred Wright said:
What we've done in the past is use carpet mats to cover cables. They work very well.
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I have found that while it satisfies most places where the cords be covered, it's more of a trip hazard than the cord itself usually.

Most people can see a cable laying on the ground much easier than a bump in the carpet.


Also, I seem to be the only one that thinks taping the cables down is MORE of a trip hazard than leaving them loose! If somebody didn't lift their foot high enough to get over the cable and their foot bumped into it, which would be the better thing to happen, the cable move a little, or the cable stay in place and cause the person to trip?! Of course I see that if they stepped right on it and it rolled, that could be a problem, so I guess your screwed no matter what happens. That's why there is liability insurance ;-)
 
So far, I have gotten two suggestions to better "secure" the cord cover to the floor (without tape).

First, attach some "grippy" shelf liner on the back of the cord cover. I'm not sure how to attach that (3M Super 88 spray adhesive?). That should give the cord cover some additional "grip" on either wood or carpet.

Second, use some 5 pound quart sized sand bags every 5-ish ft along the length of the cord cover.

I'm looking into supplies for both ideas now. I keep trying to minimize the cost...but at this point I'm willing to throw a couple hundred $ at this to make it go away.
 
Covers your cords lays flat and no tape needed!

Safcord2B.jpg


http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/SafcordCordCover.php

(*)Note: The "hook" on SAFCORD works well on loop carpet (commercial grade rugs) or Berber carpet. SAFCORD does not work on cut pile carpet.
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The cords will be on both carpet and wood. And I asked about velcro and that is nixed as well...it will cause the carpet to "pill" over time.
 
all this discussion about tape and/or cord covers is useless.
we are doing no good trying to convince each other
and it appears IMPOSSIBLE to convince anyone at the venue of anything!

I would have a talk with the bride, bring the venue "agreement"
and tell her abour your side of the issues.

as vendors, we can kick and scream all we want at a place like this...
they're not gonna budge.
they know we NEED them because we are booked to play there.
and if we "quit"...the reception will go on anyway and they will get paid

I wonder how the venue would react if the paying client got in someone's face
and read them the riot act for giving her vendors a hard time.

All I know is...once you're in there and set up...you're golden.
regardless of WHAT you do...
I truly don't think ANY venue would kick you out moments before the bride arrives.
and as far as the "end access time"....
SCREW 'EM!
take your time...what are they gonna do?
help you load out?
 
Ausumm said:
I truly don't think ANY venue would kick you out moments before the bride arrives.
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No argument. Once you're in and set up, they aren't gonna kick you out.

But will they even let you in the building if you didn't sign the agreement?



Ausumm said:
and as far as the "end access time"....
SCREW 'EM!
take your time...what are they gonna do?
help you load out?
Click to expand...
They can kick you out and lock the door before you're finished loading out. Then it's up to you to return the next day to get your remaining gear.
 
Dave Miller said:
They can kick you out and lock the door before you're finished loading out. Then it's up to you to return the next day to get your remaining gear.
Click to expand...

Unless they are total assholes and are secure in the knowledge that their actions will piss off other venders and are not woried about word of mouth then certainly they could do that.... not wise but they could.

Irregardless of the out come this would be the last time I took an event at said location.... I would even warned brides about the hostile work environment that the venue puts on outside venders. Yes, that agreement promotes hostility... otherwise he wouldn't have even givin it a second thought.
 
soundinmotiondj said:
There are several things that are bothering me:

- The structure of the agreement. It is impossible to satisfy on its face. (e.g. There is a provision that I must complete "training" on the chapel sound system at least one hour before the event, but the "beginning access time" is exactly one hour prior to the event...?)

- The fact that I must commit to things in writing with a signature, but the venue will not put anything in writing with their signature. (e.g. There is a provision that I must have everything removed from the building by the "end access time", which happens to also be the "end of reception time". I asked them to clarify in writing that I would be allowed at least 60 minutes to load out. They were willing to verbally commit to 30 minutes, but they are not willing to put it in writing. After going to 4 levels of "managers" I managed to get the written "end access time" moved to 30 minutes after the reception. But it was like pulling teeth.)

- The forced use of cord covers without tape, even though every manufacturer includes installation instructions that say "tape this down." I have seen LOTS of cord covers in my days. The one thing you can always count on is that unless both edges are taped down, someone will find a way to trip on that cover...and it doesn't matter if it is up against a wall or not. But, not to worry, the venue has their hind end covered.

- The lack of attention to detail on their part. (There are repeated provisions in the agreement...leading me to believe that I am the only one who has actually read the agreement closely.)

- The lack of scheduling or organization on their part. (The wedding is in 10 days. I asked about a basic outline of when catering would be done, when staff would be available for cake cutting. I was told that I should make a schedule, and they would review and modify it.)

- The general attitude that I am getting from the venue for asking questions and not just signing the document. (I was told that I am the only one of "hundreds" of DJs who has ever had a problem with the vendor agreement. Yet the venue has only been open for weddings since August of this year.)

- And the expense of the cord cover. The 15ft version is not going to be long enough. The 50ft version will be long enough. That will cost $100 locally. I don't really have time to shop around.

Every instinct I have is to dump this gig and run screaming. BUT...that is the one thing that I can not do.

I have ZERO faith in the venue staff to treat me with ant degree of professional courtesy (since I've already taken an issue up four levels of bosses). So, how much can I rely on them to help me coordinate and control the flow of the reception? ROCK....HARD PLACE
Click to expand...

These kinds of ambiguities, redundancies, etc. ALSO suggest to me that this agreement was not drafted by legal professionals, and as such would probably not stand up in a court of law anyway.
 
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