Anyone running a full firing-system test before Labor Day, or am I the only one who got burned on cue failures last year?

[Ron Butler]

#5992

Last summer I had a show where like 3 cues on my module just never fired, had to run out and hand-light a chunk of the finale. Still annoys me thinking about it. Now that Labor Day’s about 5 weeks out I’m planning to actually bench-test everything before the show instead of assuming it works from last year. New batteries, re-check all the e-match connections, maybe re-fold some of the modules. Anyone else got a pre-show test routine they swear by? Or am I overthinking it and you just roll with it?

[Mike Brenner]

#5996

You’re not overthinking it. I do a full bench test every spring AND before any big show. Takes me like an hour but it’s caught a dead module twice. I have a spare set of cue cards and I just re-load all the matches, test fire a couple into a bucket of water. Also those cheap 9V connectors are usually the first thing to fail, I replace them like clockwork now.

[Steve Kline]

#5997

I learned this the hard way too. Now I fire off each cue into a test tube before the real show. Takes a while but beats the panic of a silent finale. Also I stopped trusting the little status lights on my used gear, one of them said it armed but didn’t actually fire. Bench test is non-negotiable for me.

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