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Tom Craca

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Posts posted by Tom Craca

  1. First of all, contact your state Department of Labor and file a claim.  Secondly, and they'll hate this, is fill out an IRS Form SS-8 (link attached).  Email this to every beverlyboy email address you have and cc everyone on the call sheets you had, especially producer/director.  They WILL NOT want the IRS now making worker determinations as the penalties from Dept. of Labor are huge for non-payment.  

     

    https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-ss-8

     

    File that form with the IRS.    And subsequently file a dispute regarding the 1099 and let bev boy know that too.  Be a complete pain in their ass and encourage all the other crew to do the same.

     

    Good Luck. 

     

     

    You should also send copies of your unpaid invoice and demand to Roku's legal department claiming copyright for unpaid product and state the you explicity do NOT release any rights to the use of your recordings as no work for hire has been effected due to non payment.   Give them everybody's contact info at bev boy.  That'll be fun.

  2. Just posted this for sale elsewhere but would suffice in powering both your units.

     

    3x NP1 Battery Cups with Hirose 4pin  $75

    Price is for all three.  2 straight, 1 right angle.

    Also have an IDX JL1Plus Charger and 2 NPs as well if interested.  $200

    Item(s) located in DC/Maryland.  Reach out with any questions.  US sale only and includes ground shipping.  Zelle or wire transfer / ACH via Melio Only.

    HRS NP Cups x3.jpeg

    JL2Plus NP1s 1.jpeg

    JL2Plus NP1s 2.jpeg

  3. The instructions are right on the forms you received.

     

    1099- Misc. Box 1 Rents

    "Form 1099-MISC incorrect? If this form is incorrect or has been issued in error, contact the payer. If you cannot get this form corrected, attach an explanation to your tax return and report your income correctly.
    Box 1. Report rents from real estate on Schedule E (Form 1040 or 1040-SR). However, report rents on Schedule C (Form 1040 or 1040-SR) if you provided significant services to the tenant, sold real estate as a business, or rented personal property as a business. See Pub. 527. "

     

    1099-NEC Box 1 NonEmployee Compensation

     

    "Box 1. Shows nonemployee compensation and/or nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC). If you are in the trade or business of catching fish, box 1 may show cash you received for the sale of fish. If the amount in this box is self-employment (SE) income, report it on Schedule C or F (Form 1040 or 1040-SR), and complete Schedule SE (Form 1040 or 1040-SR)."

     

    And from IRS Instructions for Schedule E Page 5 "Personal property.Do not use Sched-ule E to report income and expenses from the rental of personal property, such as equipment or vehicles. Instead, use Schedule C if you are in the business of renting personal property. You are in the business of renting personal property if the primary purpose for renting the property is income or profit and you are involved in the rental activity with con-tinuity and regularity."

     

    https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i1040se

     

    Our 1099s for labor and equipment rentals have ALWAYS been required to be reported on Sch. C as Gross Receipts and never on Sch. E which is for Real Estate even before the split 1099 NEC and 1099 Rents.

     

     

  4. I have to do this often on live remote anchoring sets for network news and sports.  Often the host/talent have IFB ear molds in their ears and can't hear their guests / other talent sitting or standing right next to them well, especially in high noise environments.  They each need each others iso's blended in lightly for a mix minus on set.  It was always a struggle with the 688 having no control of the send to aux levels of the ISOs; I'd have to provide the remote program feed hot to each aux talent in-ear monitor so the ISO pre-fade (of the others) to the aux was at a lower level.  It was a delicate and painful dance.  On the 8 Series with the aux send option it's a breeze.  One of the many reasons I added a 833 and Scorpio.  This is a great feature that you don't know you needed until you had the option.

     

  5. 1. Under the common law rules of the IRS Guidelines, the services provided to the Hiring Entity by the Business Service Provider are not that of an individual as a “Worker”. An IRS Form SS-8 can be filed with specific regards to the Hiring Entity if necessary but the relevant determination factors are as follows.

    1. The Worker has exclusive and complete control over what means, methods, equipment and processes are used to acquire, manipulate, record and deliver the product and provides the necessary equipment and tools.

    2. The Company provides no training, guidance or instruction.

    3. The Worker is hired per specific job, based on the professional, creative and technical abilities

      AND to provide the appropriate professional equipment. The Worker is not an operator or

      equipment rental company.

    4. There is no continuing relationship and the Worker has no expectations of future work nor

      does the Company have any obligations to engage the Worker’s services for future work.

    5. The Worker is free to accept or reject any job offered by the Company and is under no

      obligation or agreement to accept future jobs.

    6. The Worker is not required to hand in or create any reports.

    7. The Worker is paid by the job based on the Worker’s set or negotiated fee schedule which is

      based on the duration, location and specific equipment that the Worker provides as

      determined by the Worker for each specific job task to achieve the result .

    8. The Worker pays for his own overhead such as production equipment, insurance, advertising,

      office and administrative tools, communication equipment, crew vehicle, maintenance, repairs and replacement of equipment, inventory of expendables and media, online storage for deliverables, web domain and email server, etc.

    9. The Worker has exclusive control to choose what tools and equipment is owned and used to deliver the result the Company engaged the Worker’s services for each specific job.

    10. The Worker has invested in and owns and maintains the necessary production sound equipment, transport vehicle(s), administrative office equipment and utilities, storage, insurance, etc. which is required to provide the services for which the Worker is engaged by the Company. The Company does not provide any equipment for the Worker.

    11. The Company does not compensate or reimburse the Worker for expendables, supplies, maintenance, replacement, or purchase of any tools and equipment.

    12. All of the Worker’s investment is at risk and the Worker is capable of realizing a profit or suffering a loss.

    13. The Worker provides the same services to a diverse and significant client base. The Worker is not required to request permission from the Company nor is the Worker required to notify the Company. The Worker is free to provide services to any other client, at any time.

    14. The Worker is a State and Federal registered LLC with a Federal EIN. The Worker’s services are advertised and available to the general public both domestic and foreign, has name recognition and a presence in publications, online media and other public forums regarding the same services the Worker provides the Company.

    2. The following criteria, in addition to those mentioned above, exempt the Business Service Provider per the business to business exemption and affirm the independent contractor classification per the Borello Test, and furthermore, the ABC Test.

    1. The Business Service Provider is a bona fide business entity providing location sound recording services.

    2. The Business Service Provider is independently established, having it’s own corporate status, insurance, business location, various licenses, tax registrations and professional association memberships as required and / or customary.

    3. The Business Service Provider provides written contracts as is customary in this field (ie. Rate Sheet with Rates Terms and Conditions, email correspondence, etc.) prior to any agreement with the Hiring Entity and providing services.

    4. The Business Service Provider customarily engages in the same type of work performed, and is engaged in the same type of work under contract with other hiring entities.

    5. The Business Service Provider advertises and holds themselves out to the public and other potential customers as available to perform the same type of work.

    6. The Business Service Provider is free to, and does, maintain clientele without restrictions or requiring approval from the Hiring Entity.

    7. The Business Service Provider provides services directly to the Hiring Entity itself, and not to the Hiring Entity’s customers.

    8. The Business Service Provider negotiates and sets its own rates, maintains a business location separate from the location of the Hiring Agency,

    9. The Business Service Provider supplies it’s own tools and equipment to perform the services, independently and without control of the Hiring Entity decides what tools, techniques and customarily and regularly exercises discretion and independent judgment in the methods and means in the performance of the services to achieve the Hiring Entity’s desired result.

    10. The Business Service Provider is free to accept or reject any future contract or request for services from the Hiring Entity, there is no expectation for future services, nor is the Hiring Entity obligated to contract to Business Services Provider in the future. The Business Service Provider is free to seek and accept work elsewhere, including though competing entities.

    11. The Business Service Provider brings specialized skills and tools that are not in the usual, direct course of the Hiring Entity’s business, but often a necessity to the broader operation.

      Employee my ass.  FU Pay Me
       

  6. I have one client that requires a redundant, separate recorder while running sync on bag shoots.  2nd recorder runs continuous (no start stop).  For bag use the Lectrosonics SPDR is what I use. Takes a jam, external powered with internal batts as backup, AES or analog.  It's the size of a LT transmitter.  

  7. Hey Jon,

     

    I noodled this through the beginning of this year with the impending spectrum crunch and my re-blocking of some of my units as well as investing in 4 new Lectro SRC systems in the last 18 months.  My concerns were having flexibility to have my dedicated hops away from my inbounds depending on what bag/cart and how many I was using as well as other factors.  In the past I was using two SRC's w/ batt sleds, or AES bottoms (which I absolutely love).  I'm still primarily using Comtek 216 for IFB's with Lectros in the mix every so often so that isn't my big concern.  I was hopeful/waiting for something Lectro that I had in mind would fit the bill but have since run into a critical time crunch to address the issue so here's what I arrived at and I am very happy so far.

     

    Priorities were size (smaller cameras and grumpier ops), Analog and AES (for Amira's & F55s), battery eliminators and internal options (DSLR's and C300s), spectrum flexibility and output power (both high and low).  I ended up hands down, no questions unanswered, with the Wisycom ENG52 units and the MTP40s Band 7 TX's and here's why I think they are the best option right now (for me) for camera hops:

     

    Size:  Bigger than G3's but smaller than my SRC's especially with bat sleds.

    Outputs: Analog, AES and a headphone 3.5mm that I have attenuated successfully for mic in to Red cams

    Power:  The battery eliminators for the RX's and TX's are expensive, but essential for me.  And the RX's can immediately take 2 AA's for those cams that have no DC out.

    Spectrum: 470-663, and higher up to 1160?? in the RX (requiring different TXs).  So I have full spectrum to move around whatever inbounds on my bag/cart I'm using that day as well as access to the guard band and duplex gap (Power limitations addressed in TX's)

    Power: MTP40s Band 7 Linear TX's cover 470-663, have 10mw, 20mw, Linear 20 (ie narrow band), 50mw, 100mw).  I don't need 50 or 100 mw in a bag going to a cam 10' away and don't want any excess spray. Plus, to use the guard band TX's will be limited to 20mw or less and these address that issue.

     

    There is a learning curve with all the settings and customization available (squelch, wide or narrow band, multiple companders, etc.) coming from Lectro (turn it on and it works without input).  The scan functions and spectrum data is phenomenal on the RX and attached to a .......  well, you'll see someday soon.  That all being said, I recently bought two full sets (2 RX, 4 TX) and a full complement of cables and battery eliminators (not cheap) and have been using them in the field.  Recently with hops on two different Reds (with internal batteries), and a pair of F55's (with battery eliminators) just yesterday and today.  I couldn't be happier so far.

     

    It all depends on your client base and workflows but for mine, with many clients I have still wanting broadcast quality audio on cam, these fit the bill to a tee.  And, a big plus, is Wisycom USA is now based here in Alexandria, VA with tech support, etc... Geoff Baynard is whom you should reach out to directly and there are Wisycom groups now on Facebook.  My $.02 cents.  Your use may vary.  

    Cheers.

    Wisy F55.JPG

    Wisy Red.JPG

    Wisy Scan.JPG

  8. Sadly, you really need a few of these. 

     

    The older Petrol "rain bib" and now one produced by Sactler and KTek.  PROS:  I found was good in very light mist or rather useful in dusty or sandy conditions. It's rather small to throwin a fanny pack or pocket to quickly deploy to just protect the mixer bag.  CONS: You, however, are on your own.  I had / have the older Petrol ones and the older clear vinyl plastic became brittle over time from being rolled up for months without use.

     

    The poncho, several makers now, is great if you are working in a situation where its a quick transition from outside (wet) to inside (dry).  I do football coverage and usually at the end of games I have to suit up to go out on the field for about 15-20 minutes at the end of the game in cold / wet weather.  Then quickly go inside to a hot, humid locker room for a duration.  PROS:  The poncho is great because you can don the whole thing, also slide your boom underneath until deployment, and when you transition to inside, take the whole thing off.  CONS:  Because your body is also underneath the same "bag"  the humidity is fairly quick to fog up the vinyl window.  It also gets toasty in hot weather, but it's open design (and the newer ones have venting) helps a little.  Also, if you wish to drop your mixer bag and walk away, it will remain unprotected.

     

    The Audio Bag rain bags (VersaFlex, MTO ShooterSlicker) completely seals in your audio bag separate from yourself.  I do some hurricane / snow storm / live broadcast outdoor coverage and prefer this for those situations.  PROS:  These completely enclose the mixer bag (top, sides / bottom) with sleeves to insert your arms and ports for cable exits.  The audio bag clips inside, and you then harness up to the rain bag.  This makes is easy to set down and walk away with everything remaining protected, keeps it dry if you set it on the ground, or makes for quick transitioning from say a cart or table platform to straping on, or for changing your own layers without exposing the mixer bag to the elements.   The newer materials for the vinyl windows are much improved for fogging and durability.  Some of the bags have venting and pockets you can also use for hot packets in the cold.  CONS:  Access isn't as easy as the other two options.  You have to snake your hands in through the sleeves on some, and under large flaps on others.  They take some configuring to get placement correct for viewing of meters, etc.  and does take longer to insert or remover components.  But once you're all set it's good.  

     

    I personally use an older rain bib from Petrol, a Petrol Poncho,  and a MTO Audio Slicker with some custom mods from Susan Ottalini from MTO Shooter Slicker (pic attached).  Get one of each from any maker and you're set for whatever situation you encounter.  Oh, and some FilmTools Bag-It's to just go over the whole cart / rig / trolley in a downpour.  Cheers.

     

     

    MTO Audio Slicker 1.jpg

    MTO Audio Slicker 2.jpg

    MTO Audio Slicker 3.jpg

    Nick Huston from Gotham Sound NY did a great video on some options.  Check that out here:  

     

  9. I had an issue come up today with a Weapon with the latest firmware update which allows internal recording simultaneously of Raw and some other hi-res codec (can't remember).  two tracks sent to cam (yes... as reference/scratch), were recoded to the Raw files, but no audio recorded to the other codec.  Audio was displaying on cam entire time, no menu settings to enable / disable audio record individually for each format, time code input accurate on both files.  Firmware issue likely but be aware.

  10. I'm not a court, judge or jury. I am a member of this sound community for almost three decades. I have supported both Zaxcom and Lectrosonics. I have had Lectro wireless on my cart for almost three decades. Tried Zaxcom wireless early on and had issues. Was to invested with Lectro to make a changes when Zaxcom stepped up the game.. but Zaxcom did they raised the bar with many of their wireless products and offered the sound community many different options and products with wireless digital and recording transmitters that sounded great.
     Zaxcom recorders have been my main recorders for since the Deva II came out. I still believe the Deva 16 was the best recorders Zaxcom every manufactured and I recorded many major motion pictures on that recorder. Some in our community are on one side or the other concerning this law suit/patten violation because of who they favor, Lectro, Zaxcom, or Sound Devices. We all have our favorites/preferred manufactures.  I truly believe that Lectrosonics, Zaxcom and Sound Devices have carried our community into the future with friendly completion.
    With what is going now saying someone violated my patent... (which I read and don't think so) again I'm not a judge, lawyer or jury. I am disappointed because we sound mixers and audio engineers are the real losers here, not the big guys with their patents that they can not work out.. yes Zaxcom I'm calling you out because Glenn has been after and putting down Lectrosonics for 10 years or more I still don't know why they did not sue you for libel and slander, you threatened others in our community on their opinions on Zaxcom and your products.  This has been on the web and websites as well as presentations and so on... now there is a lawsuit/patent violation against Lectro. WE ARE THE REAL LOSERS HERE. Zaxcom and Lectro are going to have to hire lawyers and pay court cost and so on... also the loser pays, this will go on for around 2 years and 2 million dollars or more.  But my patent was violated is what we will here ... was it really? I don't think so. Lectro and their lawyers I think they knew what they were doing. 
    So all of this money is being spent on both sides to defend their patents, ideas and so on, why could not some work around work? Thought Lectro did. We the sound community loose out, they are spending all this money defending products, lawsuits and ideas and concepts and we are the ones that suffer. They are now having to spend their money on lawsuits and lawyers instead of R and D for new and better products for our community. 
    This is my opinion, that JW allows me to post. I am not debating it with anyone here. It is here and I'm sure there will be many other opinions, concerns, ideas, and opposite views. Thanks for still having free speech! 
    Whit Norris
     
     
     

    Harumph

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