Security Checks at Venues

[shyamwestwind]

Hi Everyone
With the growing concerns about security or the lack of it, it would be of interest to get your views on the subject of security checks on the equipment we need to sign in for our use at venues.
I personally don't think its possible to have a fool proof security check of most of our musical/ sound equipment.
If a thorough check is required, it would mean opening up our speakers amps . keyboards guitars and what have we . This is not practical and I am sure none of would permit the opening up of our precious sensitive equipment.
Well then what is a fool proof security check in ? With highly sophisticated and miniaturized triggers available to the terrorists, what effective preventive measures can be taken ?
Till some years ago, checking in of equipment was done only to ensure that what went in came out as signed in. It was only to prevent stuff belonging to the venue from being robbed.
Today security means something totally different and ominous. What does this mean to us musicians' earning our daily bread ? To a resident band this could be easier, but to the gigging muso, it could be intolerable.
Your views on this would be valuable in today's dangerous world.

[geraint]

Shyam, I feel so pleased that in Wales, such things do not currently affect us., and long may that be the case.
I do also travel over the rest of the uk to entertain, and again, such issues never cross my mind.

Should I have to surrender myself and my much loved equipment to such scrutiny, I will entertain myself at home, and forget the gigging, as it would undoubtedly diminish the pleasure of going out entertaining.

[allegro]

Thankfully the U.K. does not have the terrorist activity that other countries around the world have, but if ever it became mandatory for such checks here then the venue in question could go !!..>>?%%%% itself, NOBODY BUT NOBODY WOULD TOUCH OUR GEAR.
ALLEGRO

[Jacqui]

Does that mean I might get frisked ;D
Jacqui

[shanless]

get in the queue guys

[shyamwestwind]

I'm so glad to now you guys are saved from all this ........... it really is very REAL in our parts of the world. We get by because of our reputations and trust that the hosts place in us and because we own our equipment which is with us all the time. We did have to pass all our equipment through the X Ray machine, a few times, though.

[weegeo]

First of all i want to point out i`m Jacqui`s new agent all appointments thru me please lol lol
This is a fairly good post and one that we over here in N.Ireland can sympathise with in some small way as we ourselves have only recently come out of serious troubles [`nough on that ] my experience [as i`m sure the rest of us over here share] during the mad times was quite simple there seemed to be a belief and a trust in musicians in that we travelled no matter what the situation and the only `hassle`we would have got was from the security forces which were only doing their job and quite rightly so as far as the clubs where concerned they were just so glad to see their entertainment turn up on the nite.

I do feel for any musician that is subjected to this type of search as for me if i was asked to open any of my present equipment i would have to use that old university saying and ask them to re-arrange this short sentence the last word of which is `OFF` lol

weegeo

[shyamwestwind]

Good one George .In India, I'd need to say that in a dozen languages !!