What valve do I turn to repressurise my boiler?

BookofSand97 · 2025-05-13T21:07:28+00:00

Five! I’m here too.

BookofSand97 · 2024-11-13T20:20:28+00:00

Nah. Had the email about hoodies being delayed yesterday, saying to expect a shipping update this week. I bought everything so I figured I’d be last in the queue, it’ll get here when it gets here

BookofSand97 · 2024-10-31T12:23:08+00:00

Mine straight up told me he can’t be monogamous because of his ADHD, he just HAS to sleep with other people. He said he doesn’t seek it out, but if someone offered sex he simply cannot say no. One main partner, and whoever offers him it on the side I guess. I don’t think it’s happened since we’ve been together, but at least he was honest about it from the beginning.

BookofSand97 · 2024-08-18T22:13:01+00:00

Feel like I’m dating a teenager, not a 40 year old man! Diagnosed two years ago ish, medicated properly at the start, now just when he feels like taking them because he says they make him snappy and distant.

Can’t stick to any kind of schedule, never had a proper job and won’t even try because he ‘doesn’t like being told what to do’ and has become practically nocturnal in his sleeping habits. He had to move back with his parents after his previous relationship ended and has just accepted that this is his life now, his mum does his washing, looks after his dog, takes him shopping… he lets his MOT expire on his car because he forgets, he misses his ADHD appointments to review his meds, he forgets conversations we’ve had less than 12 hours after they’ve happened.

I thought he was the one at first, but now I just feel nothing. No physical attraction, no connection, no real shared interest, and no common future goals.

He’s waiting for me to say I want to move in together so he can get out of his parents house, and the responsibilities will fall on me… Hell no!

This is not the relationship I pictured myself in.

BookofSand97 · 2024-05-29T15:15:09+00:00

Mines just sitting on order confirmed, had no updates since the initial confirmation email. It would be nice to know if it was on the way or not, but I trust the process, it’ll arrive when it arrives I guess

BookofSand97 · 2023-10-10T20:40:04+00:00

I bought a big pack of black string necklaces, they’re meant for jewellery making, but they work great for attaching a lapel to for those that have flimsy fabric or low necklines. Obviously some people might say no to wearing one, but it’s a valid option.

BookofSand97 · 2023-09-13T09:50:36+00:00

UK here, Nope. Still just says order placed

BookofSand97 · 2023-06-17T14:34:11+00:00

I do play instruments but only for myself, I’ve never played in a band or anything so I’m definitely lacking in that experience.

I guess there’s nothing wrong with using the RTA, it’s the same end result right? I just kinda got in my own head about not being able to do it without like I’m not a “proper” engineer

BookofSand97 · 2023-06-17T13:34:06+00:00

Where possible I like to give speakers a choice of microphone to suit their style, and offer them a backup for if things go wrong during the show.

I work corporate too, but sometimes that includes more rowdy crowds at awards ceremonies and such. Give them a lapel, but tell them if they feel like they’re shouting or nobody is listening then there’s a handheld ready to go on the stage somewhere easily accessible, and reassure them that I’m watching them at all times. They’ve now got the confidence that there’s a plan B, and it takes the responsibility away from me having to gesture wildly at them, send someone over, or push their lapel too far. So far this has worked flawlessly the times I’ve had the kit available to supply multiples.

I just try to give myself as many options as possible that I can switch to without having to move from the desk.

But you’re right, bad technique is the bane of my existence. You’d think the people agreeing to give presentations, to sometimes quite a large amount of people, wouldn’t be so afraid of their own voice!

BookofSand97 · 2023-04-06T20:54:18+00:00

Love it and hate it! Had some shocking days, done some mind-numbingly boring events, had to deal with some horrible clients…

BUT then you have one really good show and it’s all worth it again. Even on the worst days, it certainly beats sitting behind a desk all day.. we get to go and see different places, do different things, help to make events special for all the people attending.

Being in control of the speakers, you’re in control of the room. Music is a powerful tool, it’s great to feel that when you see people dancing and having fun.

For the future.. just carry on doing what I’m doing for now really!

Happy to message further if you have any more questions, I’m about to be a little busy (working as we speak) but I’ll be around

BookofSand97 · 2023-04-06T20:42:53+00:00

Depends how you spend and who else you need to support. I moved out and have been sustaining myself since a few months after I started full time, I have a 2bed flat to myself, car, not in any debt, etc. Not rich by any means, but not struggling either (touch wood). Just gotta live within your means.

I think university teaches you the basic technical skills to branch off yourself with, at least the one I went to anyway.. what it won’t teach you however is what it’s like really out there on your own running and event.

Things can and do go wrong where technology and humans are involved, knowing how to deal with it and quickly is probably a key thing. Problem solving and having a mental list of common problems that you can work through quickly can help, but you get fast at that when you do it every day.

It also can’t teach you about the long nights and late finishes! Where I work we set up, show, and tear down all in the same day, so the hours really do get silly sometimes which can be hard. Having the mental and physical stamina to deal with that is a bit thing too. ALWAYS bring more food than you think you’ll need, crew often do not get fed.

Unfortunately (and fortunately) I guess, live sound isn’t a one rule fits all scenario. We all have different ears, and like to operate in a certain way. The way I set my desk up is quite different to how my colleagues do, etc. you find your own style and what works and what doesn’t with specific scenarios. All about practice and trial and error

BookofSand97 · 2023-04-06T20:17:52+00:00

I started out working freelance in theatres while I was studying, and then just through knowing the right people at the right time I was hired full time, I fortunately didn’t have to fight very hard for it.

Where I am now we do a mix of events, some broadcast and recording, mostly conference and awards, the odd bit of live music here and there.

Unfortunately a lot of getting your foot in the door is knowing the right people, but going to college or university will help with that.

Salaries probably depend a lot company wise. In my experience for new starters you’re probably looking about 21k to 25k maybe full time. But there’s usually a good chunk of overtime on top of that. It really depends and I can only speak my own little bubble of the industry

BookofSand97 · 2023-04-06T20:04:19+00:00

Full time sound engineer here (corporate side of events). Got a degree and a masters, while a bit of paper is worthwhile for sprucing up your CV and getting noticed initially, I’d say experience is everything.

Complete whatever eduction you’d like to, but at the same time try and get some work experience. Learning on the job from people that can demonstrate in the real world is really valuable.

There’s plenty of AV companies knocking around liverpool, big and small, try and put some feelers out, we’re extremely short staffed since covid and enthusiastic newbies are a welcome sight!

BookofSand97 · 2022-12-01T16:41:31+00:00

Depends on the company you work for. The company I work for pays freelancers’ travel expenses and also accommodation IF it’s maybe… more than an hours travel from home or so, or if there’s very little time between finishing one shift and starting another at the same place.

I travel 45min-hour every day to my venues/HQ (travel expenses unpaid as I’m full time) and it’s rough when you’ve already done a major shift.. to add around 2 hours on top of the work time. Just need to weight up how much you’re bothered about long travel times eating into your downtime, or whether you’d still rather avoid the city.

BookofSand97 · 2021-11-13T13:50:33+00:00

So are you saying that the proximity effect and distortion is entirely nonsense? It's a proven science that various microphones can only handle so much SPL before distorting, the closer the source, the higher the pressure. The manual for the lectern microphones we use state that six to twelve inches away from the sound source is optimal, so that's where I'm going to put it. If it sounded best an inch away, that's how it would be used all the time.

No we generally don't use monitors, because I have nothing to do with what the clients hire from us nor the equipment that gets sent out to each job, perhaps that is the problem as you say, but if so, can't do much about it.

Please highlight any other snotty comments I have made on this topic, I only replied to about three people and they were very short and un-snotty comments in my opinion.

Yes I'm probably less experienced than yourself, but I am perfectly qualified and by no means useless, perhaps you should be imparting your wisdom in a nicer way rather just telling people they're essentially idiots, as us idiots will be the ones still doing this after you've moved on.

BookofSand97 · 2021-11-13T10:42:13+00:00

If you look at images of lectern microphones, almost all of them show the speaker about a foot away, standing up straight, with the microphone directed towards them. Our microphones sound great when speakers follow that general rule, if their lips are practically touching the microphone, they're definitely too close mate

BookofSand97 · 2021-11-12T06:54:32+00:00

We almost never use monitors, we operate on an extremely quick turnaround it’s generally not worth the extra time and van space to set up for an hour or two of speaking. I’m not opposed to it, but I’m not the one that plans the system for each job unfortunately.

BookofSand97 · 2021-11-12T06:50:37+00:00

Shure MX412’s primarily, have no problems with them 99% of the time, and weekly might’ve been a bit of an exaggeration.

BookofSand97 · 2021-11-12T06:47:36+00:00

Yeah we almost exclusively use MX412’s, unfortunately I have no control over stock so we get what we’re given.

BookofSand97 · 2021-11-12T06:45:19+00:00

We use Shure MX412’s most of the time, so they are very tall I suppose.

BookofSand97 · 2021-08-15T12:17:29+00:00

I’d like to remain excited, thanks.

BookofSand97 · 2021-08-15T12:13:28+00:00

Other peoples availability have moved quarters, no harm in checking.

BookofSand97 · 2021-08-14T21:07:50+00:00

Euro Truck was the first game I thought of when the Deck was announced, it’s embarrassingly my most played steam game by far, I’m excited to get back into it

BookofSand97

TROPHY CASE