One can never be “over-prepared”

I’m currently enjoying a nice run as trivia host at two local eateries each week – Tuesday nights at Beer Bones Bar & Grill in Loudonville, and Wednesday evenings at the Van Patten Golf Course in Clifton Park.

Last week, however … had its moments.

I arrived at Beer Bones nice and early and set up my equipment. And noticed something strange.

My microphone connection wasn’t working.

No worries, I’ll just go back to my car and get my backup equipment that … that …

Oh, the backup equipment that I left home when I cleaned out the car? Oops.

Well, I know what this means. Chuck now goes old-school – and channels his inner theater voice. No microphone? Then project your voice, my boy. Orate from your diaphragm. Fill the room with your air-infused volume.

I made it through … trivia went well … but boy oh boy did I need some throat lozenges afterwards.

I checked my microphone situation. Apparently my primary microphone … well … word of advice. Used microphones are on borrowed time. And that microphone’s time ended probably the day before I needed it. Backup microphone is now my main microphone. So there.

Let me check my other cables. HDMI wire … okay, where’s my HDMI wire?

It’s not here. It’s not there.

Aw, nuts. I lost it somewhere. And I need that HDMI wire to communicate with the television screens at Van Patten Golf Course. Dang it.

Okay, Chuck. You can prepare for this.

A quick trip to Walmart in the morning, and i had two more HDMI cables. Just in case one got lost on my way to Clifton Park. 😀

I arrived last night at Clifton Park and began to set up my equipment. Microphone works. Hallelujah. Sound system works. Praise be to the heavens.

Now to connect the HDMI cable to the big TV screen …

And it was only then that I noticed … the HDMI cable I thought was missing was STILL attached to the TV screen from last night. I thought I disconnected it and put it in my gear bag; no. I disconnected it from my equipment and it hung there on the TV back for an entire week.

Oopsie.

Oh well. At least I now have two backup HDMI cables for … you know … any other sort of emergency.

Ha ha. Such is life, I guess. Trivia hosting works out when you prepare for anything.

Even when you prepare for the un-preparable.