We were doing a three-day business-to-business networking conference in a converted warehouse on a pier on the East River in New York. Our company provided sound reinforcement and A/V for a stage with the evening entertainment, an area where several hundred attendees were served meals and listened to speeches, as well as several booths.
We negotiated meals into our agreement because there was nothing within walking distance and our truck would be hopelessly blocked in by mid-morning.
For the first two days, catering was wonderful. The third day, the overloaded catering manager didn't arrive on site until almost lunchtime. The crew patronized a coffee and roll cart (the only other food source there) for breakfast.
Lunch came and went, the speeches were over. Load-out time was here, and the crew turned to me to get them fed. Catering dude was running around like a madman, and chasing him down was a task.
I had a plan B. In the rack was an old mono delay. I hooked it in, and said "feed the crew" and then set it on infinite repeat. I nudged the delay's playback level below the jazz exit music that was playing. You had to be within 10 feet of the speaker to hear the message.
Then, leaving it going, we started breaking down. Within five minutes, the catering manager jumped onstage and shouted "Holy crap! I forgot to FEED THE CREW!" Minutes later came a parade of kitchen workers with chafing dishes. We ate like kings that afternoon.
Robert Orlinick, Las Vegas
