Matt Geldof Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 I was hired last minute to do some work with a local crewing company today. As per usual, they wanted me to use their kit. It's in wretched condition with a Shure fp 32 paired with an intermittent PSC cable, blown MDR-7506's, busted ass boom with broken internal coil, Softie slipping off the shotgun on an over sized shock mount and a pain in the ass Porta Brace strap that has been so worn down it resembles dental floss more than it does a proper harness. I have used their kit before so I knew what to expect. Busted ass equipment aside, they are good people. I usually bring my own boom setup anyway. The one thing they have going for them, equipment wise, are Lectrosonics wireless systems. As luck would have it, one of them was busted too. Everything worked out in the end, but Woe is me ... I missed my meticulously maintained kit today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Life's a bitch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Toline Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Have you ever told them that their gear sucks and needs replacement? They're not doing their clients any favors or enhancing a mixers reputation by pushing their junk gear on a job. Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Norflus Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 This is why I bought my package in the first place. And why I don't work with out it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Jameson Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 This is why I bought my package in the first place. And why I don't work with out it. I'll accept a clients kit, but charge 2-3 labor days of setup, repair, and troubleshooting prior to the shoot day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Ragon Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 You charged extra for that right? -Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Tirrell Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 This is why I bought my package in the first place. And why I don't work with out it. Ditto I was working for another camera guy in town and got handed his sound kit which was pretty much the same. Now I very rarely work somebody else's kit unless I know the op and they take care of their stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Geldof Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Have you ever told them that their gear sucks and needs replacement? They're not doing their clients any favors or enhancing a mixers reputation by pushing their junk gear on a job. Eric Yes, I made a similar point and offered to come in as a paid consultant to update their audio kit, before working with it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Toline Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Yes, I made a similar point and offered to come in as a paid consultant to update their audio kit, before working with it again. ..........and? Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleueblancrouge Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 does anyone find that sometimes when this happens, they could be counting on the sound mixer to just say "F-it, i'll use this piece of my own gear" to replace theirs, and in the end they get a recording that doesn't have occasional dropouts or crackle or hiss, and it's improved. when i talk to my friend who gets stuck in those situations and he ends up throwing in a piece of his gear just to get a decent job done. i guess the decision factor is - are they good people that are just struggling?, or, do i feel like i'm being taken for a ride? P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbonhobbit Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 I have one company I work for that won't pay for my eng rig because they own a like kind rig themselves. I won't use it just because I never know what works and what doesn't or what's broken this time. It's a case of rode hard, put away wet. I would rather be known for not having bad sound than throwing in the towel and use the junk just to do the job. I mostly do the jobs with them because they are usually interesting fun jobs that are over in a couple of hours. Most of them are for a network and we know what kind of money they pay for sound kits. I use my kit because I know I can get it done. Better wireless, full size stable blimp & boom, newer mixer and no cables running all over. Now if the company doesn't have any equipment then that's a different story. Yes, I have a double standard but I have worked with the above for years. Scott...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McL Posted October 29, 2011 Report Share Posted October 29, 2011 The first time I got in a pinch using somebody else's pieces-of-carp gear, I gave it up. Felt it stuck to me like fish poop. What's the doctor say? "Then don't do that any more." Yup. Speaking of which, let us speak of filling in for a colleague on their gear... My colleagues have great stuff and its always in good order. I can and do do it from time to time. But boy, is it ever stressful and requires a lot of brain power and guts. No? I liken it to cooking a holiday dinner for the King in an unfamiliar kitchen. Everything's logically placed, stored, accessible, but it takes a little more time and lots and lots more attention. If the setup uses Zax wires, I show up with my lav box, rigging kit, and headphones. A head lamp if night EXT. -- Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traut Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 I NEVER use anything but my own gear. Every once in a while I get a call from WB and I relish telling them that they are greedy for robbing sound mixers of half of their income and no thank you I won't do your steenking show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taylormadeaudio Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 It's kinda like trying to play another drummer's kit -- sure, all the parts are there, but even on my own kit, it's hard enough sometimes -- like riding a bike built by Dr. Seuss, as Mr. Phishman says. ~tt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Reilly Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 I like the drumset analogy. An accumulation of things not quite where or how you are you used to lowers confidence and increases chance of fail. And it's true that DPs are less likely to jump in with someone else's camera...often ownership is clearly specified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicole Hankerson Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 Are you by chance in Georgia? That company sounds just like a company I know of that has pretty much the same gear/issues. I just did a promo commercial and they wanted me to use their gear. Luckily I was able to get a prep day to properly setup everything because there stuff was a mess with cables and batteries all over the place. Nicole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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