A friend has organised a band night and he's asked me to help out - we've got all our favourite local bands playing and one of them is providing the backline (we know they have good quality but standard gear - all Marshall and Ampeg.) I don't know the soundman but I think it's the regular guy for the venue. Just thought I'd ask you guys if there's anything I should anticipate going wrong or anything to bear in mind to make the whole thing run smoothly? I'm somewhat worried now I've been asked to be there for the soundcheck since I'm actually soon to audition (vocals) for the band that's providing the gear and I know their current singer can't be there until the event has started (so his band are the last on) but I guess that's a separate issue. So does anyone have any advice?

One large order of patience. It is virtually assured that something will go wrong. There is absolutely no amount of preparation that can account for what might actually happen. But in the end, cool heads prevail.

wouldn't hurt to have some extra strings and 9-volt batteries. And duct-tape. :)

Thanks guys - I think my job is pretty much to be cool and take the load off of the guy running it. I'll raid my spares and head over to help set up then!

It's over! and didn't go too badly really apart from the guitarist from one band after turning up very late kicking up a fuss because his bassist hadn't told him he'd said it was okay for another band to use his amp and was even more annoyed when the ampless guitarist broke a string and wanted to use his spares. The band looking for a singer did ask if I'd sing with them (not sure if it was a joke or not...seemed not) but I said I'd rather wait and audition next week. Not as many people turned up as hoped (damn football...) but plenty were dancing and a good time was had by those who were there.

Edit: oh and I had to run home to get another tom for one of the bands who thought they'd complain about the borrowed drumkit...think the organiser owes me for the work I put in and all the running around!

A bit late but the one sugguestion I'd make is that you give each band a time to get OFF stage. The obvious thing to do would be - A goes on at 9, B goes on at 10 C goes on at 11. Doesn't work, as A spends ages setting up, gets on late, and doesn't finish till gone 10, so now B doesn't get set up till 10-30 etc etc and the final band ends up having to cut short their set.

A will FINISH their set at 9:45. B will FINISH at 10:45. C will finish at midnight. Now when A turn up late, screw around in soundcheck, and aren't ready in time, they're eating into their own set - not the next band. At 9:45 you kill the sound and kick them off (ok hopefully you don't need to do this), and let B set up. If they can set up in 5 minutes they can play for 55, if they want to spend 45 mins sending you home for another tom, then they play for 15 mins.

Ian

That's good thinking and I'll remember it for next time - thanks