The band I'm playing with has been looking at the options of making cables to save costs and/or to make sure we have the lengths we need. Is this really a cost-effective solution, or is it just more hassle than it's worth? Also, what kind of cable would be recommended for a group that's on the road about two gigs a week? Steren, Belden, etc. Any advice would be appreciated.

Dan

Reply Posted by Alex S. on January 12, 2002

: Kinda depends on access to the raw parts. If you can buy in serious bulk, why not build? I worked with an SR company that "built" everything we used from mic cables to 48ch trans/iso 3-way splitters. Anyone who used the gear shared the "pain" of soldering, stuffing and pinning. Made us all better system techs and kept our repair skills polished.
: After all, when you are 500 miles from the shop, what good is a tech who can find a problem but is unable to repair it? Kept us busy during the slow times, too.

FWIW

Alex S.

Reply "Slow Times" Posted by W. Mark Hellinger on January 12, 2002

Kept us busy during the slow times, too.

: FWIW

: Alex S.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
There's been a number of comments about cord building as a automatic default busy work project, which is ok, but beware of busy work. Now it's one thing if cord building is a displacement of day time tee vee, but you have to remember this: If you are doing busy work, that work is only worth what it can be replaced for. It's too easy to fall into these busy work ruts and slight what should really be done. Building cords is worth what? $10, $20 an hour. Landing work and filling the calander is worth what? $50, $100 an hour? I say, unless you live in Cape Yakataga AK, there are no slow times of the year. Now custom building cords so things are correct, and shows run smoothly is fine, you're probably doing something that you can't buy. However, beware of activities that fool yourself and the crew into believing you're busy. Many employees will merrily work away at a project, costing the employer $20 or $30 or more an hour, and only put $5.00 an hour worth of finished work in the pay pile. And if you're your own boss, you know it's a lot easier to hide in the shop rather than go make some cold calls.

If everyone is sitting around playing Gameboy in the middle of the morning, it is obvious to anyone that the wheels of progress are not churning. It's even worse, but maybe doesn't look that way, if the crew is dithering around at some sort of busy work, especially if that busy work is consuming parts and supplies that were not "bought right". I'm certain there is more than one sound company out there running some $100.00+ 20ft. mic cords, with some big blank spots in the calander. I'm one of them.

W. Mark Hellinger

Reply Posted by Alex S. on January 13, 2002

....remember this: If you are doing busy work, that work is only worth what it can be replaced for.
: It's hard to replace people that "know" (because they had a hand in the construction) how the systems scale and interface on a component level.

It's too easy to fall into these busy work ruts and slight what should really be done.
: Of course, if there's no PM schedule/regimen. Any company that operates without one is asking for trouble. Most of the people I work with are "with it" enough to set maintenance priorities. Any engineer worth his salt ought to have this basic skill.

Building cords is worth what?
: Well for starters, it's hourly shop pay for an engineer who might have made nothing. The company gets mic cords cheaper/of higher quality than pre-built ones and the tech gets some cash. (Bulk purchasing is a given)

Landing work and filling the calander is worth what?
: Every cent the "booking agent" is paid. That's HIS job.

However, beware of activities that fool yourself and the crew into believing you're busy. Many employees will merrily work away at a project, costing the employer $20 or $30 or more an hour, and only put $5.00 an hour worth of finished work in the pay pile.
: Any company that allows this sort of behavior has bigger fish to fry than the issue of "busy work" cable building. Poor management/hiring practices at the very least.

If everyone is sitting around playing Gameboy in the middle of the morning, it is obvious to anyone that the wheels of progress are not churning.
: Duh, And the "booking agent" isn't doing his job!!!

I'm certain there is more than one sound company out there running some $100.00+ 20ft. mic cords, with some big blank spots in the calander. I'm one of them.

: W. Mark Hellinger

: Sound's like you didn't manage time/costing very well, probably the number one reason for failure to realise maximum profit in a service related industry. Optimising time spent/output is the basis for any successful business plan. Sorry if your hiring decisions saddled you with people who have poor work ethics. It can be a frustrating, and long darwinian process building a good crew.

: Remember this....... people can only go as far or as fast as you lead them.

Best of Days,

Alex S.

Reply Posted by W. Mark Hellinger on January 13, 2002

Alex, Mark here;

I wasn't picking on you. Obviously you and your situation is beyond reproach. Back when I was about 28, I was pretty sure of myself as well, and had my ducks lined up. Now, it's starting to sink in how average I really am.

An average commoner like myself makes lots of mistakes, and since many sound companies/bands/etc... involved in SR are small companies/owner operators like myself, my guess is that many share some of the same pitfalls that I experience, and deal with the same dragons I deal with every day.

It sounds like you run a fine tuned company and don't really need advice from people like myself. I'm not in your league. See, I'm a sound guy that is running a business, not visa-versa; therefore, my business management dragons are seemingly difficult for me to get a handle on. My post was aimed towards my peers, who may find themselves making the same mistakes I've made. I have no advice on how to improve perfection. Please disregard my post since obviously it was not specifically meant for you.

W. Mark Hellinger

Reply Posted by Alex S. on January 13, 2002

: Mark, Alex here;

Mark,

I thought I was offering advice to someone venting about a current situation. I didn't realise the post was in retrospect. I offered my opinion as constructive criticism for any young company/engineer learn from, not as a personal volley. I sometimes tend to be a little too direct/to the point. My apologies.

Also, somehow you've gotten the mistaken impression that I own/operate a sound company. Again, my apologies if I unintentionally represented myself in that fashion. I am an independent foh/mon/sys engineer/tech. I've played in this business on and off for 25 years (last 15 or so, full-on) and gotten burned once or twice. One thing I've have found a constant....... skilled, ethical people are an intangible, but definable asset in regards to a sound company's "bottom line". It's in a company's best interest to "toss a little capital" to keep them around since, as you know firsthand, they are hard to find.

Best of Days,

Alex