Audio pros have expensive toys, and a sad fact of life is that there are unsavory characters who covet those toys. Sometimes shady people steal or try to steal gear in hopes that they can sell it for quick cash. These are the tools we use to earn our living, so it makes sense to thwart these efforts before they happen, and to be prepared in the unfortunate event that they do. There are a number of ways to protect your investment. The first: Don’t advertise.
Nothing quite says “steal me” like a vehicle boasting the name of a sound company, backline vendor, or worse, the band’s name painted on the side. Leave the panels blank and save your advertising for the internet or print. Similarly, keep your mouth shut regarding the parking or storage locations of gear. You don’t know who may be listening. If your business is located in a warehouse district, keep signage on the doors vague, perhaps leaving off the “sound and lighting” part of your business name from the entrance. If you’re on the road and heading for a hotel after the show with a truck full of gear, keep it to yourself.
From “On the Digital Edge” by Steve La Cerra, FOH, January 2024, page 50
