What Investment Casting, M&Ms, and Van Halen have in Common
Sometimes, selecting an investment casting partner is a lot like being a part of the legendary rock band Van Halen. Not so sure? Take a trip with us!
Brown M&Ms, Van Halen, and the Devil in the Details
It is May of 1980, riding high off of their self-titled debut album "Van Halen" and its follow-up record "Van Halen II"; Eddie, Alex, David Lee Roth, and crew are in the middle of four years of near-constant touring. They've found a recent surge in popularity due to Eddie's one-of-a-kind sound and Roth's electric stage presence. Even if they aren't your cup of tea, chances are you've heard a few of their songs from this era: "Dance the Night Away" & "Runnin' with the Devil" being their most well-known.
The band's tour takes them to the Milwaukee Arena in Wisconsin, where their contract rider takes center stage and becomes a piece of rock and roll history.
What is a Contract Rider?
Simply put, a contract rider is an add-on document that helps clarify the terms of a signed contract. It "rides" on the initial agreement (1.) and adds context. Riders save both parties time, money, and headaches that would show up in re-writing or drafting a new contract.
Van Halen's rider had much of what you'd expect: requests related to sound, lighting, guitars, stage equipment, girders/stage supports, and so on. However, one line item stood out - a request for a backstage bowl of M&Ms with "absolutely no brown ones." (2.)
The seemingly silly request gained notoriety among venues and stage managers over the next few months. In these circles, it just seemed an over-the-top request for a bunch of entitled, spoiled rock stars. But the band took it seriously. At a show in Pueblo, Colorado, the band famously did $10,000 worth of damage to a dining room because of the presence of brown M&Ms (3.), and a legend was born.
Van Halen’s famous M&M Request offers a lesson in being detail oriented.
The Story Continues
It is easy to dismiss the story here; some snobby rock stars had excessive demands and threw a hissy fit when things didn't go their way. But the true magic of this story, and the deeper meaning behind it, was only revealed years later by David Lee Roth himself.
In his book "Crazy from the Heart" Roth addressed the infamous rider and explained that the M&Ms were a test to see if venues followed their more important instructions. He explains:
"So just as a little test, in the technical aspect of the rider, it would say, “Article 148: There will be 15 amperage voltage sockets at 20-foot spaces, evenly, providing 19 amperes … ” This kind of thing. And article number 126, in the middle of nowhere, was, “There will be no brown M&Ms in the backstage area, upon pain of forfeiture of the show, with full compensation.
So, when I would walk backstage - if I saw a brown M&M in that bowl … They didn’t read the contract. Guaranteed you’d run into a problem. Sometimes it would threaten to just destroy the whole show." (4.)
This explanation makes the chocolates much more compelling. If you weren't able to count on stage managers to read the contract, how could you count on them to nail your lights, sound, or electrical? Simply put, you couldn't.
The tiny detail of brown M&Ms highlighted corner cutting and laziness that may have otherwise gone undetected.
Getting Quality Investment Casting Quotes
So, what can you learn from Van Halen? When seeking an investment casting foundry and shopping around for quotes, find a metalworking partner that will deliver the proverbial brown M&M's.
Your casting project, whether a time-tested product or still in the developmental stages, will have dozens of details that need to be addressed and executed to perfection to have a successful launch to market. Use the quoting and exploration process to learn if a foundry is up to snuff. You can learn a lot about a foundry and its production process by simply asking.
How well does the Foundry Communicate?
Request a quote or some more information about the foundry's capabilities. Do they take forever to respond? Do their tolerances and capabilities meet the demands of your project? A quality investment casting partner will be a great communicator. During the quoting process, you can get a sample of how they communicate without spending a dime. Let them sell you on their capabilities and expertise.
Is the Quote Detailed Enough?
A significantly cheaper quote from a foundry might signal a lack of thorough consideration for your project or a potential compromise in quality control when compared to more reputable partners.
Among other things, a quoting representative will explore:
1- Material
2- Part weight & dimensions
3- Tree type
4- How many parts per tree (internal optimization of your part)
5- The human time per part.
6- Secondary and tertiary (finishing) operations
If you are committed to your material and dimensions, a quality foundry will work hand in hand with you to optimize your production cycle to get you to market quickly with no compromise in quality.
While exploring options or in the process of product development, a reliable foundry should adeptly address inquiries regarding materials, tolerances, and manufacturing processes, ensuring the delivery of optimal parts at the most competitive price point.
Returning to the Van Halen analogy, consider your casting project as a concert, with its distinct requirements serving as your contract and rider. Verify that your potential partner addresses each of your project's needs. In situations where you might lack complete knowledge, ensure they are communicative and collaborative. They can help you find answers to the production questions that you have. Opting for a foundry that functions as a metalworking partner, rather than a simple output, can significantly enhance your product launch. Moreover, an experienced casting partner may bring forth valuable ideas that further contribute to your company's current and future success.
Ask about Quality Control and Casting Tolerances
Another thing to check out during the quoting process is a foundry's quality control process. Ask what dimensional tolerances they guarantee and how they achieve them. This provides another opportunity to see how they communicate, while also allowing you to explore how detail-oriented they are and how seriously they take QC.
If a foundry has numerous human and automated QC checks throughout the investment casting process, chances are you can count on them to deliver perfect parts every time.
Visit the Foundry Ahead of or During Production
Some foundries provide facility tours even before project commitment. Seize this opportunity to engage and collaborate with your casting team before production kicks off. Throughout the casting process, collaborate closely with the foundry team to guarantee your standards are met. A reliable partner will go the extra mile to ensure your product reaches the market precisely as envisioned.
Some foundries offer tours you can take before committing to a project. This allows you get your questions answered first-hand and see the foundry’s capabilities.
Conclusion
While nixing every brown M&M from backstage might seem excessive, cultivating an eye for detail is indispensable in both a rock show and an Investment Casting project.
Ultimately, you want your production cycle and product launch to go off without a hitch. During the quoting and onboarding process, put your prospective investment casting partner to the test. See if they communicate effectively and go the extra mile in preparing your quote, answering your questions, and striving to be the best production partner possible.
Choosing the right metalworking partner will pay dividends for your business.
Sources:
1. Contract riders: Definition of a rider in a legal contract | acrobat sign. Accessed December 30, 2023. https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/business/hub/what-is-rider-in-contract.html.
2. Mikkelson, David. “Did van Halen’s Concert Contract Require the Removal of Brown M&MS?” Snopes, January 19, 2001. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/brown-out/.
3. Magazine, Smithsonian. “Why Did van Halen Demand Concert Venues Remove Brown M&M’s from the Menu?” Smithsonian.com, July 21, 2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-did-van-halen-demand-concert-venues-remove-brown-mms-from-the-menu-180982570/.
4. Roth, David Lee. Essay. In “Crazy from the Heat”. London: Ebury, 2000.
Disclaimer:
This article is primarily designed to be a fun look at a story from the history of rock and roll and expand the overarching message of attention to detail into our industry. We love rock music and this isn't supposed to be taken too seriously.
The content provided in this blog is intended for informational purposes only. We make no guarantees regarding the completeness of the information presented. It is imperative for individuals seeking casting/manufacturing solutions to define their specific requirements clearly. This blog does not offer manufacturing or casting advice, and readers are encouraged to contact our dedicated team for more detailed quotes, personalized information, and expert assistance tailored to their unique needs. 