Stage power went last night..

[Dave B]

So last night's gig was at a regular venue. We've played it a few times and I'm fairly sure we weren't using any more power than usual. Halfway through the first set, {silence} .... No PA, no mixer, no keys, no monitors and no (one of the) guitar(s). It seems a fuse had tripped. Bum.

Some nice (fellow musician) punter looked at me and made a lunge for the nearest top. He explained that he'd recently had the same thing with his band and the resulting spike as the house fiddled with fuses had blown one of his. Sure enough, we did have a couple of false starts but I'd turned the main socket off at the wall until we got a steady connection on the lesser one. Digital desk and Kemper were a bit sulky that they hadn't been shut down properly, but all came back ok in the end.

All ok in the end. But do others have any good tips for when power vanishes?

[The Red Bladder]

Circuit breakers wear out with age and use, esp. if they are used regularly as switches or are triggered often. Then they start to trigger at lower and lower values.

The answer is to get the venue to replace the defective breaker.

[Drew Stephenson]

But do others have any good tips for when power vanishes?

Intimate solo/acoustic set from the singer/guitarist* whilst everyone else rushes round to get things fixed.

* After all, they're not going to be any help fixing the problem... ;¬)

[awjoe]

I was at a live concert once when the power to the stage went down. Johnny Cash was one of the performers. He simply stepped to the front of the stage with his acoustic guitar and sang a song or two until things were working again. Sang without mic or PA to a huge theatre full of people. Awesome.

[AlecSp]

I was at a live concert once when the power to the stage went down. Johnny Cash was one of the performers. He simply stepped to the front of the stage with his acoustic guitar and sang a song or two until things were working again. Sang without mic or PA to a huge theatre full of people. Awesome.

I remember Adele doing this at IndigO2 back in 2018 - none too shabby...

[Sam Spoons]

If you can get the punters to STFU you're in with a chance (and, that's what the great performers are best at). I saw John Jorgenson and, my mate (and his), Andy Mackenzie manage it in Buxton Opera House with two Selmer Style guitars and legs dangling over the front of the stage. it is what those guitars were designed for mind you

The PA was fine but JJ just decided it would be fun to go unplugged for a couple of tunes.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I went to a Shakatak (remember them?) gig in Torquay in the early 80s. Part way through the gig there was a nasty crack and all the mid-range disappeared from the left hand PA stack.

After a brief conversation at the end of the song between the band members and a guy in the wings dressed all in black, the bass player -- who was on a wireless link (quite advanced for the day) -- started playing an extended funk bass solo. He then proceeded to climb down the steps from the stage and started walking up and around the aisles into the audience, playing all the way.

Meanwhile, with the stage lighting now dimmed, the follow-spots trying to keep up with the bass player amidst the audience, and the audience attention definitely moved away from the stage, a small army of roadies clambered all around the left PA stack, stripped it right down, brought out a couple of replacement mid-range cabs, and completely rebuilt it all in a matter of a couple of minutes. The sound promptly came back good, bass player returns to stage, still playing, other band members reappear, and the gig carried on seamlessly.

It was a very impressive recovery, and I dare say half the audience had no idea what was going on!

[Mike Stranks]

Ah! You're always on safe ground if a man dressed all in black appears...

... my apparel of choice when live-sound 'working'....

[Sam Spoons]

And a requirement for all theatre backstage ops (and don't wear those black trainers with reflective stripes either ).

[robare99]

A UPS always gives you time to shut down your mixer properly when the power goes out.