Folding Stand Helper

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Mamaposaune
Posts: 657
Joined: Sep 22, 2018

by Mamaposaune »

Since I frequently need to travel with a folding stand, but get annoyed when my folder or loose music don't want to stay put, I made this cover out of thin plastic that can slip behind the music holder clips, and attached a wider piece across the bottom with white duct tape. Quick, easy and cheap, and it works great.

And yes, I do have several heavier folding stands for outdoor concerts but they're a pain to haul around if I don't really need them.

I call it my handy-dandy folder-holder!
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AtomicClock
Posts: 1094
Joined: Oct 19, 2023

by AtomicClock »

Can you fold up your stand with the bottom piece taped on? A Manhasset accessory shelf adds a lot of stability to a wire stand, and pops off for transport.

What plastic do you use? I do something similar with a piece of polycarbonate. Well, two pieces -- it's broken once (so far)!
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Posaunus
Posts: 5018
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by Posaunus »

I haven't had this problem for years since I started using my Desca Presto (folding plastic) music stand. Just a little heavier and bulkier than a wire stand, but soooo much more robust and convenient.

<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.descamusic.com/product/pres ... c-stand-2/">https://www.descamusic.com/product/presto-music-stand-2/</LINK_TEXT>

Complete with roomy accessory shelf for lubricant, water spray bottle, pencil, tuner, glasses, mobile phone, mouthpiece, ...

Collapsed dimensions: 3.5” x 3.5” x 20” with a built-in carry handle. 3.5 pounds. Easy to carry! Use indoors or outdoors.
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baileyman
Posts: 1169
Joined: Mar 24, 2018

by baileyman »

This is because the shelf is too shallow? A folded cardboard can extend the shelf, and the book will hold it securely by weight.
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Mamaposaune
Posts: 657
Joined: Sep 22, 2018

by Mamaposaune »

[quote="AtomicClock"]Can you fold up your stand with the bottom piece taped on? A Manhasset accessory shelf adds a lot of stability to a wire stand, and pops off for transport.

What plastic do you use? I do something similar with a piece of polycarbonate. Well, two pieces -- it's broken once (so far)![/quote]

The plastic I used was thin, about the thickness of a credit card, but a little more flexible. I had it in the house but I'm not sure what it was made for. The bottom piece does not attach to the stand, but folds so the entire thing is flat and I can stash it in my music folder.
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harrisonreed
Posts: 6479
Joined: Aug 17, 2018

by harrisonreed »

[quote="Posaunus"]I haven't had this problem for years since I started using my Desca Presto (folding plastic) music stand. Just a little heavier and bulkier than a wire stand, but soooo much more robust and convenient.

<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.descamusic.com/product/pres ... c-stand-2/">https://www.descamusic.com/product/presto-music-stand-2/</LINK_TEXT>

Complete with roomy accessory shelf for lubricant, water spray bottle, pencil, tuner, glasses, mobile phone, mouthpiece, ...

Collapsed dimensions: 3.5” x 3.5” x 20” with a built-in carry handle. 3.5 pounds. Easy to carry! Use indoors or outdoors.[/quote]

These types of stands seem good on paper but the shelf/stand back is usually too tall. If you have to have the slide under the stand, then the music is up in front of your face. So you either have to play into the dirt or have your stand up blocking everything. That 3-4" is a lot.

Get rid of the storage area under the stand and it's probably perfect for me.
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Posaunus
Posts: 5018
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by Posaunus »

[quote="harrisonreed"]<QUOTE author="Posaunus" post_id="241677" time="1714358308" user_id="158">
I haven't had this problem for years since I started using my Desca Presto (folding plastic) music stand. Just a little heavier and bulkier than a wire stand, but soooo much more robust and convenient.

<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.descamusic.com/product/pres ... c-stand-2/">https://www.descamusic.com/product/presto-music-stand-2/</LINK_TEXT>[/quote]

These types of stands seem good on paper but the shelf/stand back is usually too tall. If you have to have the slide under the stand, then the music is up in front of your face. So you either have to play into the dirt or have your stand up blocking everything. That 3-4" is a lot.

Get rid of the storage area under the stand and it's probably perfect for me.
</QUOTE>

Not really a problem for me - my slide goes to the left of the stand, so I tilt only a bit below horizontal.

I can see your point if you play with the slide beneath the stand.
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harrisonreed
Posts: 6479
Joined: Aug 17, 2018

by harrisonreed »

Yeah, absolutely! I don't want to derail -- I prefer being off to the left too, but sometimes you're jammed in and don't have the room.
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BGuttman
Posts: 7368
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by BGuttman »

With regard to the Desca, I don't like that model. On a windy day the music can be blown all over the place. I prefer a solid desk. There was an older Desca model that had the solid desk and it seems they discontinued it.

As to Mamaposaune's device, we had a set of cardboard versions made by Baileyman in one of my big bands. We had rather thick "books" of individual parts that worked great with them. We only played indoors so we didn't have to worry about wind.
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whitbey
Posts: 654
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by whitbey »

My out door plexiglass is 8-1/4 x 11 that fits in some of my cases. I use the plexi the same way.
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Posaunus
Posts: 5018
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by Posaunus »

[quote="BGuttman"]With regard to the Desca, I don't like that model. On a windy day the music can be blown all over the place. I prefer a solid desk.[/quote]

Desca stand is great indoors.

Lightweight, compact, convenient, easy to set up.

Fine outdoors on a not-too-windy day.

Any stand can be risky in a stiff breeze. :horror:
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AtomicClock
Posts: 1094
Joined: Oct 19, 2023

by AtomicClock »

[quote="Posaunus"]Any stand can be risky in a stiff breeze. :horror:[/quote]

I don't see it on their website now. But K&M used to make a folding stand where one of the legs had an extension which ran flat on the ground, so you could hold it down with your foot.
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Dennis
Posts: 404
Joined: Mar 24, 2018

by Dennis »

[quote="BGuttman"]With regard to the Desca, I don't like that model. On a windy day the music can be blown all over the place. I prefer a solid desk. There was an older Desca model that had the solid desk and it seems they discontinued it.

As to Mamaposaune's device, we had a set of cardboard versions made by Baileyman in one of my big bands. We had rather thick "books" of individual parts that worked great with them. We only played indoors so we didn't have to worry about wind.[/quote]

Outdoors the Desca is designed to be used with their Fholders. These have elastic straps that bind the stand to the desk, and there is a clear vinyl pocket with a matching upper clear vinyl cover. The vinyl holds the music in place.

Of course, a strong enough wind can blow the whole system over. But even in a moderate breeze it's quite stable.
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JohnL
Posts: 2529
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by JohnL »

[quote="Dennis"]Of course, a strong enough wind can blow the whole system over. But even in a moderate breeze it's quite stable.[/quote]
When the Santa Ana winds are blowing here in SoCal, even non-folding stands are not entirely safe. I've seen ballast bags and ballast slings for photo tripods and have frequently considered using something like that for windy outdoor gigs.