Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Part 2

I know an advance person who often sets up small sound systems for press conferences. He uses gaff tape to secure the audio cords to the floor/ground so unsuspecting reporters and elected officials don't trip. After the pressers are over, it pains this advance person to throw away barely-used gaff tape, so he painstakingly pulls the tape off the floor and fashions it into gaff tape baseballs.

Pity the fool who walks into his office without paying attention. Gaff tape baseballs can be seen flying around in games of catch to help him and his co-workers blow off steam, particularly on a spring Friday afternoon like today.

The gaff tape baseball hides under a desk when not engaged in a game of catch

Mom, where does gaff tape come from?

Although I don't allow any of my little padawans to call me "mom" (only "Obi Wan"), they do often ask me where gaff tape comes from. The answer? Usually I buy it from production vendors at ridiculously marked up prices when I produce an event, and I make sure to take home any unused rolls. But when I have the luxury of time I can mail order it at a cheaper price. (There are three choices in purchasing--good, fast, and cheap--and you get to pick two. I.e., if it's fast and good, it won't be cheap.)

Page from the Uline catalog

One source is Uline, which sends me catalogs in the mail from time to time. Not only do they sell lots of colors (although I don't have much use for any colors except black and white), they also sell both traditional and bright orange camouflage patterns for all your hunting and fishing needs.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

What happens when an advance team at a site build hasn't slept in a very, very long time?


Gaff tape baseball.


Requirements: Ball (rolled up gaff tape). Bat (crossbar from 3' high pipe & drape). Pitcher. Hitter. Fielders.

Batter up! Circa 2004, Waterloo, IA.

Tale of the Broken Toe

A long time ago (2008) in a galaxy far, far away (New Hampshire) a certain campaign advance person (me) broke her pinky toe on the campaign trail. A phone consultation with a nurse family member yielded advice: "Wrap gauze or cotton around the little toe, then use medical tape to stabilize the little toe next to the other toes. Do this every day until it's healed, probably 2-3 weeks. Oh, and you have to stay off of it for a couple days--none of this walking 10 miles in one day at a rally."

But alas, medical tape and gauze were nowhere to be found in ye olde Hampton Inn & Suites.

Our hero gaff tape, aided by a trusty toilet paper sidekick, to the rescue! After a few days of down time (boo) to stay off her feet,  the advance person and her little piggie went "Wee wee wee" all the way to election day.

 If anyone asks, I was carrying 5 pieces of bike rack by myself,
and one piece slipped from my near-Herculean grip, crushing my pinky toe.
Unless risk management is asking, then I'll have to tell the real, much less cool story.