Re: When to call it?
I make a weather call when it's obvious nobody else is going to do it. The criteria are that the conditions, existing or imminent, present a threat to the safety of the performers, audience and crew. Lighting? We'll wait it out, but in Kansas or other Great Plains states if you see lightning to the West or South, you'd better be tarping your gear. It's gonna rain big and blow hard *really soon now*.
Rain: if it's pretty much straight down (seldom, see above) we'll keep running if the roof doesn't take on water and the roof towers or soundwings don't have a river running around or through them. If we can't keep the stage reasonably dry and the back line electrical service dry, we consult with the artist representative and then go to the promoter.
Wind: Kansas and Oklahoma can have 105°F days with 30MPH winds that gust higher. I have seen acts have gear blown off the stage on dry summer days. From the provider perspective, if we can keep the PA from swinging and the roof techs have their rig under control we're good. If we can't keep the PA from kiting, we'll bring it in till there is weight on the wing deck. As was mentioned elsewhere, it might suck, sonically, but the show can go on.
Agree with your observation that the local community festival market. They really aren't prepared to pay what it costs to "do it right." They don't have the budget or, if they do, they have a committee member who'll "save us a whole bunch of money by doing it himself" and we're back to the same place.
Have fun, stay safe.
Tim Mc
