[grc] Advice on allowing beverages in on-air studio

[Caitlin Reading]

Hi Susan

 Thanks for adding this suggestion. It's a really good one. With the
emerging
competition amoung companies marketing branded merch this is becoming an
affordable and great tool. Some places offer samples of items up to a
quantity of 10
with no commitment. Great keepsake for visiting guests.     thank you,  c

On Mon, Jan 16, 2023 at 5:40 PM Susan Sheldon <pledge at wortfm.org> wrote:

> Before our engineers, hosts, and other volunteers came back from the
> pandemic, I asked our imprint vendors for samples of travel mugs.
> We tested these out for "spillability" and then ordered the best-priced
> *vs* quality mug to supply all our volunteers, with about 10% extra.
> These had our logo and were good-quality mugs. The cost was about $3 if
> I recall correctly, but they were discontinued so I got a great price.
>
> Because they looked alike, we wrote the volunteer's name or initials on
> the bottom of the aluminum mug in permanent ink as we gave them out. The
> volunteers appreciated the welcome back gift, a gift that came with
> instructions that they needed to use either the mug we were supplying or
> something with similar spillability qualities when in the studios or around
> any computers.
>
> I'm guessing, given the low cost of travel mugs, that you could find a
> reasonably priced one and offer it to volunteers as their studio mug,
> charging them a little more than the cost to cover shipping. Maybe put the
> samples (with prices) somewhere where volunteers could sign up under the
> one they want (picture on the top of the page) and let them know you will
> be going with whatever gets the most votes, in order to meet quantity
> minimums.
>
>
> Warm regards,
> Susan Sheldon
> Donor Partner
> WORT 89.9 FM
> 118 S Bedford St
> Madison, WI 53703
> susan at wortfm.org
> (608) 321-9579
> she/her
>
> *Community radio is 90% community and 10% radio. ~ Zane Ibrahim*
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 16, 2023 at 2:47 PM Caitlin Reading via grc <
> grc at maillist.peak.org> wrote:
>
>> Thank you Al Davis for that great tutorial on handling the hardware in
>> case
>> of an
>> "accident".  Truly though, if someone must have a beverage then definitely
>> a container that does not require it constantly be handled, for example
>> allowing bottles w/caps is a nonstarter as few have the discipline to
>> prioritize
>> replacing the cap first & foremost. They spill ounces of liquid..
>>  Sippy cups for folks who are not around small children, allow only a
>> small
>>  amount of liquid to escape, teaspoons v. ounces if any, if it is tipped
>> over.
>> They are cheap, easy to find ($ stores), have much variety in
>> configuration
>>  & colour and are lifesavers.
>>     Why not use a sippy cup in a designated cup holder and everyone
>> is served.  Ask your station volunteers to test a cup's ability to leak
>> BEFORE
>> they would use it and the point is made. Most adults don't even
>> think about this.
>>    Let's not forget, this is a radio production booth or room, not the
>> living room
>> at home.       c
>>
>> On Thu, Jan 12, 2023 at 7:39 PM al davis via grc <grc at maillist.peak.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > On Thu, 12 Jan 2023 12:31:13 -0800
>> > Dana Matthews via grc <grc at maillist.peak.org> wrote:
>> > >  beverages in
>> > > a restricted area of our on-air studio
>> >
>> > Ideally, the policy would be "no", but that is hard to enforce in
>> > practice.  It more important to know how to deal with a spill and to
>> > make sure everyone knows how to prevent spills when the liquids are
>> > there.
>> >
>> > This probably means to provide cup holders, like the ones in cars, and
>> > strictly use them, and strictly prohibit the liquids from the danger
>> > spots.  Also, insist on a container that is spill resistant, like a
>> > sippy-cup or bicycle-style water bottle.
>> >
>> > Most equipment can be cleaned with water, but check to be sure.  If you
>> > get a spill, immediately turn it off, especially if the liquid is not
>> > plain water.  The soundboard is probably the most vulnerable.
>> >
>> > A kitchen sink with a sprayer is the best.  Wash it as good as you can,
>> > and let it dry.  Do not apply power until it is dry.   You will need to
>> > take the modules out, if you can.  You will probably need to relube the
>> > faders after you do this.
>> >
>> > In the better boards, the faders plug in, and are not on a PC board
>> > that contains electronics.  The best boards use Penny & Giles faders,
>> > which do a good job at protecting the innards, but you only find these
>> > on older boards and high end boards, because they are very expensive.
>> > (around $100 per channel as of the last time I checked).  The enclosed
>> > rail-type faders from Bourns or Alps are pretty good at protecting the
>> > guts, and are reasonably priced.  (adds a dollar or two over the thin
>> > faders)  The "thin" faders are asking for trouble, especially if mounted
>> > on a large PC board that has electronics on it.
>> >
>> > Guessing what the various boards use ....
>> >
>> > Mass produced boards like Behringer and Mackie are probably thin faders
>> > on the PC board.
>> >
>> > I believe Arrakis ARC and MARC series are thin faders on the PC board.
>> >
>> > I believe Audioarts AIR series are thin faders on a pigtail.
>> >
>> > I believe Audioarts R55, and most Audioarts digital are Alps rail type
>> > on a pigtail.
>> >
>> > Some early Kaatskit (mine) were thin faders on a pigtail, later ones
>> > Bourns rail type on a pigtail.
>> >
>> > Most high end older boards, have P&G on a pigtail.  These are the ones
>> > that cost a fortune new, but a lot of them have made their way to
>> > community radio through donations, as the rich stations convert to
>> > digital.  If you are fortunate enough to have one of these, what you
>> > have is better than anything you can buy new. You might need to re-cap
>> > it, but it is worth the work and expense.
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