Out of Gaff Tape!

[rwhealey]

I was starting to gaff down some cables yesterday when my roll ran out.

I went backstage to the place where our director hid the box of gaff tape (so nobody uses it to make white shoes black for run...)

AND THERE'S AN EMPTY BOX!!!!!

Fortunately, I had finished the sections that people might walk over, so I grabbed some dark spike tape and put down a couple of strips so the cables wouldn't move.

A new box should be on the way I think this one lasted a year and a half. Before we hid them, it was less than a year.

[DaveySimps]

That is both expensive and frustrating. I am usually VERY flexible and easy going, but nothing frustrates me more than when I go out of my way to make sure we are well stocked and organized, and I cannot find what I need for the task at hand.

Tape got so bad that I decided to have one stash by the rail for crew use. The case is is an odd ball storage room that few people have access to. That seem to do the trick. Ever since then, everyone has always had tape when they need it, and I only go through a case or so a year, instead of two or three. And, no one feel likes they need to ask for tape, it just always seems to be refilled before the roll or two gets low.

~Dave

[mnfreelancer]

This is a problem more at our hotels than our rental warehouse. I've found myself holding the last roll and not realizing it, using it up and finding no more in the box. The housemen seem to like to use it for random things that duct tape would be far more appropriate for. I'm happy though because at the warehouse we have two cases on deck - we shouldn't be running out for a couple of months now.

[chris325]

The worst part is when directors find the stash of gaff tape, and then proceed to use ridiculous amouts of it on things completely non-theatrical, completely oblivious to how much gaff tape costs.

[mattbarnes84]

1 in my truck, 5 in the AV booth, and one taped under the house amps for bad times... next day none can be found for a show? how dose this happen...

[NickJones]

Originally Posted by chris325

The worst part is when directors find the stash of gaff tape, and then proceed to use ridiculous amouts of it on things completely non-theatrical, completely oblivious to how much gaff tape costs.

I had a conversation like this last week:
Director: Nick, please can you gaffa some chairs together, I want to make a couch for the set.
Nick: We are having a real couch for the show, why can't we just get the stage crew to carry on 3 chairs?
Director: It's easier to tape together.
Nick: (Sigh) Ok
Director: Good, all taped together!
[Ten minates later, after scene has finnished. Stage crew try and carry off chairs taped together, only to find it bends, and there needs to be 3 people to carry off the 3 taped together chair]
Director: Nick, please can you gaffa that some more?
Nick: It will do exactly the same thing, only use more tape, the chairs are bending, not the tape,
Director: Try it.
Nick: See, same thing.
Director: Oh
Nick: Where is the other roll of gaffa?
Director: The arm rest on my chair fell off.
Nick: So where is it?
Director: Used.

FRUSTRATING!
Nick

[Eboy87]

I'll admit that when I first saw this thread, I thought it was going to be about Gafftaper. Gaff, where have you gone?

I have nothing real constructive to add to this thread.

[cdub260]

Originally Posted by Eboy87

I'll admit that when I first saw this thread, I thought it was going to be about Gafftaper. Gaff, where have you gone?

Lately Gafftaper has been busy playing evil overlord over in the Off Topic Forum

[lieperjp]

Originally Posted by cdub260

Lately Gafftaper has been busy playing evil overlord over in the Off Topic Forum

Yet another reason to become a CB supporter!!! (To everyone out there...)

Ok, Gafftaper, you can point the gun somewhere else now...

[thatactorguy]

Originally Posted by chris325

The worst part is when directors find the stash of gaff tape, and then proceed to use ridiculous amouts of it on things completely non-theatrical, completely oblivious to how much gaff tape costs.

I recently built a set for a high school production an hour away from me. After final construction, I forgot to take my gaff home with me, but didn't realize it until a few days later. When I went to see the show, somebody had discovered my gaffa and used it to tie up the sheriff in the show (he was supposed to be). Since they only ran two performances and I had four more rolls at home, I waited until strike on Monday to bring it home. Duct tape would've looked more believable, but unfortunately, the students thought they'd found a roll of black duct tape. *sigh*