Tablet stand for live gigs

[pdxdjazz]

For gigs, I’ve used over the years a small iPod, a 12” iPad, and currently an iPad mini (8” diag.) which for me, has been the best compromise between readability and portability. In its case, I can carry it in the side pocket of a suit jacket.

The case I found is a “book” style made by iHome
https://www.amazon.com/iHome-IH-IM11.../dp/B00DZIYNWU
It acts as it own table-top stand in both portrait or landscape as the tablet can swivel 360° in the case.
The swivel mechanism has a “half-moon” shaped cut-out in the back cover. (This is important...read on)

A tablet holder for the bandstand must be reasonably stable and secure as well as easily adjustable for height and both left/right and up/down. I’ve learned that when the tablet is in just the right spot, the screen will perfectly reflect the light or window that's above or behind you.
It's also helpful if the tablet can be easily removed from the holder for web-searching or to share your chart with a band-mate.

I had been using a ProLine music stand
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Proline...74228076964.gc
The tablet is NOT secure on this device and the assembled stand is like a surfboard to carry around.
If only there was a way to safely connect the tablet to the bottom part of the folding stand and leave the table-part home.

I took the stand and tablet to my local Home Depot.

I found that this thingy would slip into the stand.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Carlon-1...-CTN/100404151

I found that this gizmo would slip snuggly on to the big end of the other piece
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Charlott...00HD/203812455

I'm guessing on the sizes I used but the photos are representative.
The 90° arc swivels left/right and cross fitting tilts up/down.

The top of the cross fitting slips up through the half-moon cutout in the tablet cover (remember that?) and holds it securely enough for me. I basically just “hang” the tablet/case on the “hook” formed by the top of the pvc cross fitting.
It could be made more secure by inserting a short (~2”) piece of pvc pipe into the top of the cross fitting. Since the pipe was sold in 10’ lengths, I decided the fitting alone was secure enough. After years of experience with it, I’ve concluded that is in fact, the case.

The benefit of being able to move and reposition the stand independently from the mic (for me) outweighs the inconvenience of the additional stand. On many sub gigs I don’t load-in a mic stand.

One thing that I don’t enjoy about shopping at a big-box home store is the LACK of available customer assistance.
So there I was, standing there holding an electrical thingy in one hand and a plumbing gizmo in the other, exploring how they might connect together... people kept coming up to me asking if they could help!
That's what happens when you are thinking outside the box in a big-box store.

As a finishing touch, I wrapped each piece with black electrical tape. With the black tablet cover, the unit is rather invisible from the audience.

Necessity is a mother





)BOB