Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Everyday Carry (EDC): The Right Tools For The Job
ProSoundWeb: How many freelance stagehands does it take to plug in a cable? It sounds like the setup line of a joke, but it’s actually the subject of a memorable discussion with a colleague.
At a gig a while back, he’d asked a freelance stagehand to plug in a cable at the back of a rack. It was dark, particularly in the recesses of the rack, and the stagehand couldn’t see the channel numbers (let alone the jacks).
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2 comments:
I’ve always been fascinated by different people’s everyday carry kits and what they find necessary for different jobs. Many of the tools listed here are generally deemed essential no matter the job, however some that I carry aren’t even mentioned. For example, gaffer tape is nowhere to be seen even though I’d consider it one of the most important ones to have on hand. Additionally things that are mentioned I don’t necessarily find all that required, such as a separate pocket knife is rarely needed especially if you have an easy open multitool or one that is more knife focused so you avoid the difficult to open knife on most multitools if that is a concern. This also helps to bring to light how important what multitool you have affects what you need to bring with you. For example many multitools have a precision screwdriver attached to them which would negate the need for a separate one. Additionally some even have a pen (Though usually these are practically worthless and shouldn’t be considered).
I really liked reading this article because I personally take pride in my everyday carry, but I do have a couple things to push back on. First, my everyday carry no matter what I am doing:
- Phone
- Watch (Fitbit Inspire 3)
- Keychain (Includes Debit Card and ID) (On a retractable Lanyard)
- ~6' Piece of rope
- Belt with attached:
- Multitool (Knifeless Leatherman Rebar)
- Flashlight (Thrunite TN12 Pro)
- 2 Carabiners
The first thing to note is that I do not normally carry a knife. I generally feel more comfortable walking around in public without being scared that I am going to walk into a store with a no-weapons policy on the door. The second thing to note is that a lot of the other things on the article’s list are only going to be necessary when actually going to work on a show. When I am going to work on a show I may have a knife in my pocket or a tool bag connected to my belt with more technical tools such as pliers, flush cutters, a ratcheting screwdriver, and a 6” wrench. I also think that even if you are on a call some items such as flash drives or a notebook might be better off in a bag because they are less likely to need to be immediately used and will be safer in the bag. Also, the venue probably should be providing consumables such as Board Tape or Gaff tape.
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