Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (
More info?)
This past September/October
TM
playon wrote:
>
> Just curious, when were you last in China?
>
> Al
>
> On Sat, 02 Apr 2005 20:47:36 GMT, T Maki <tmaki@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> >(continuing..)
> >
> >If you plan on setting up in normal concert recording style,
> >be prepared to deal with the amplified sound. You will
> >likely not be able to convince them to not amplify. I repeat
> >- YOU will not have any say over it. A Chinese with the tour
> >may be able to convince them, if you can communicate to
> >them.
> >
> >Be prepared for audiences at least as rude as any you've
> >ever experienced here. You will endure cell phone
> >conversations, cigarette smoke that will put you on the
> >floor, crying, laughing, burping, farting, and whatever
> >other environmental noises. Did I mention the lighting
> >systems? Those millions of watts of power are controlled
> >through dimmers. They hum, they have fans.
> >
> >You will most likely not have any trouble with stage crews,
> >especially if you have a helpful attitude. The guys and gals
> >on stage want to learn, and if you make an effort to deal
> >with them as fellow professionals, and show them something
> >they might not know (make something up if you have to - show
> >them the proper way to coil a cable or something), you will
> >make friends. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to help.
> >If possible, do a walk-thru ahead of time wherever you can.
> >More than likely, your buses will arrive 1 hour before
> >curtain, and you will have no time to set up, let alone
> >argue with the house personnel. Just get in there, set up
> >your stuff, and roll tape. You're not going to have an
> >opportunity to do rehearsal tests. You'd better be able to
> >scope out a room, stage, and setup in the time it takes to
> >carry your equipment across the stage. They will not allow
> >the show to start late. You will be awestricken by some of
> >their theatres.
> >
> >If you can, try not to rely on house power. If you can't run
> >all your gear on batteries that you take with you, you will
> >be in my prayers. Determine the number of batteries that you
> >think you can get by with. Triple that number.
> >
> >Do not under any circumstances allow your equipment to get
> >out of your hands or out of your sight. DO NOT.
> >
> >Assume nothing. Do not assume that you will have any kind of
> >load in or load out help. Do not assume that anything is
> >going to work the way you expect. Do not demand anything.
> >You have to have the attitude that what happens, happens;
> >that what you get is what you get.
> >
> >Take four times the amount of money you think you will need.
> >Do not take Amex travelers checks. Take US cash. Do not get
> >fleeced at the money exchange counters. Look for the best
> >exchange rates. Be careful of taking old Yuan as against new
> >Yuan. Old Yuan is worthless, but you will have it pushed at
> >you. It may not appear obvious to you or the people on your
> >tour, but the Chinese will have no trouble recognizing you
> >as a tourist. Learn the details of the Chinese monetary
> >system - as much of the currency denominations as will fit
> >in your brain. Be prepared to do the math for lots of people
> >on the tour. (Just how hard is it to figure out that eight
> >Yuan is a dollar? Two Yuan is a quarter - figure it out...)
> >You will have those experiences, especially with the
> >sourvenir booths at The Great Wall or The Temple of Heaven.
> >
> >Remember that you will be going to a Communist country. You
> >will have no rights there. Do not push your luck with any
> >police or other official. You must have a "Please, Sir;
> >Excuse me, Sir; Thank you, Sir; Whatever you say, Sir"
> >attitude.
> >
> >Make excellent color copies of your passport and put a copy
> >in every piece of luggage and every equipment case. (I
> >scanned mine and printed it - almost looked real). If at all
> >possible, DO NOT allow your passport out of your sight. If
> >you have to surrender your passport, know exactly who has it
> >and when you will get it back.
> >
> >If you fly domestically, be prepared to be fleeced for
> >extraordinary overweight baggage charges. I nearly had to
> >pay $300.00 for a case not much bigger than an Anvil
> >briefcase and two collapsed mic stands in plastic tubes.
> >
> >Do not fail to fill out Customs Form 4457 for all pieces of
> >your equipment. If you are not able to prove that you owned
> >it before you came into the country, you will either have to
> >pay duty (and possibly fines) on it, but may also face
> >confiscation. Get the form at the Customs desk at your US
> >departure airport.
> >
> >Remind the women on your tour that the Chinese are very
> >conservative in dress. Any show of skin on stage (short
> >skirts, sleeveless or low necklines, bare mid-riffs, even
> >shoes without toes) are disrespectful. Anyone wearing
> >questionable clothing may be asked to leave the stage, and
> >may jeopardize the gig.
> >
> >Last, but certainly not least - and there are gobs of other
> >things - try not to pick an airplane that's going to crash.
> >An incident like that can ruin your travel experience. If
> >you like aggressive flying, you're gonna love the way those
> >Chinese military pilots handle an airplane - "Yeah, Baby!"
> >
> >Of course, your tour might be perfect, and none of this will
> >apply. I hope that's the case.
> >
> >
> >
> >TM
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Carey Carlan wrote:
> >>
> >> One of the groups I record may let me accompany them to China next year. I
> >> have the usual list of travel gotchas (shots, papers, etc.) What audio
> >> concerns do I have aside from power?
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