How to lug a double bass around at a gig

[cello&bass]

Hi all, sorry if this has been posted before - I did a couple searches and couldn't find much other than how to get a DB into a small car or on public transportation.

I've played cello for about 8 years and just recently made the foray into double bass (been playing about 9 months) and my (college alumni orchestra) conductor was kind enough to let me give it a go this season! We have our first two concerts coming up this weekend and I have a couple questions about how to best transport the bass around once I'm at the venue and have the bass out of its case.

Typically at a rehearsal I just use one of the college's basses, which are kept in a little room about 10 feet from where we sit. But if I have to carry one very far (without its bag, I mean) I'm not sure what's the best/most ergonomic way to do it. Just for short distances I grab it by the c-bout with the neck over my left shoulder and the bridge facing right...but if I have to go very far my lower back starts screaming (I'm a 48yo woman with sacro-iliac problems). Is there another less strenuous/more ergonomic way to carry it if there's a ways to go between the "green room" and the stage?

Any suggestions for how to get the (unbagged) bass to the stage while also carrying your stool and music all in one trip are appreciated, too.

Also, what about carrying it up a flight of stairs? The few times I've had to deal with stairs so far, I just kinda backed up the stairs and carried the bass "downhill" from me by grabbing the c-bout as described above. Seems like I read somewhere to kind of sling it onto the back of your right hip, with your right arm around the front of the bass, and grab the corner of the c-bout. But my arm is a little too short to get my fingertips curled over the edge securely. I can reach the end of the fingerboard, of course, but am afraid that carrying it that way too many times would eventually loosen the fingerboard from the neck. What tricks of the trade have you guys come up with for lugging your bass around at a venue (without fastening it onto a buggie or putting a wheel in - I'm just looking for suggestions on the best way to carry it within the venue, with a minimum of back strain.)

Thanks a million!

[Eric Hochberg]

If you have to carry farther than is comfortable for you, then you should put it back in the bag and wheel it (assuming you have a wheel). You are risking damaging the bass carrying it as you are along with a stool, etc. It's too easy to bump into things along the way, especially in that environment with students running around, lugging instrument cases, too much of an obstacle course.

Give yourself a break, put it in the bag, and relax!

[Andrew McGregor]

If I were you, I'd be taking it in the bag right to where you sit and unpacking there. Then take the bag away to somewhere you can leave it.

Even at a concert, leaving the bass on stage is perfectly acceptable so long as you're there early enough.

Orchestra management should be sympathetic to you using the closest possible space to the stage, too. Of course, there isn't always a suitable space that won't be in the venue folks way.

[bejoyous]

Instead of the bass facing right, face the bridge to the left. Have the neck on your left shoulder and hook the butt of the scroll behind your neck. Use your left hand to hold the front corner of the left bout (looking down the bass. This leaves your right hand free to open doors and hold onto stair railings.

Also, ask the stage manager to move it!

Also, do as the above writer said; carry it onto the stage in the bag and remove it there.

[cello&bass]

Thanks everyone, I'll try carrying it facing left with the scroll behind my neck to help support it. To carry it upstairs, then, do I just pull the body up higher by lifting on the C bout? I wouldn't want to bang it into the steps ahead of me.

I'm asking all this because I ran into a situation at the college a couple weeks ago where I arrived at rehearsal, got one of the basses off the college's music room rack (they're not kept in bags) and then found out we had sectionals waaaay on the other end of the building. I was on my own to get it carried down there; had to go up a small flight of stairs, walk a long ways, then go down another small flight before getting to the room where the sectional was to be held. Didn't have either a bag or a wheel with me. I was winded and my back was spasming by the time I got there! Whew! The flight of stairs going up was a bit of a challenge (going down the other one was fine), and I was just thinking there's GOT to be a better/more efficient way to carry one of these things! I'm especially interested in the easiest/safest way to take it up a flight of stairs.

Thanks again for your suggestions!

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by bejoyous

Also, ask the stage manager to move it!

What?! No! Don't trust it to Igor!

[Jake deVilliers]

The purists will be mad at me but I carry un-bagged DBs like I carry 2 x 12 planks ie on my shoulder.

Up on the shoulder, bridge pointing out, fingers under the strings and in the treble f-hole, I can cover a lot of bluegrass festival grounds that way.

I carry basses from the repair room to the sales floor at Long & McQuade the same way. It helps to clear a path through the sheet music/keyboard/trumpet/violin shoppers!

[bejoyous]

The scroll-behind-the-neck way is only good for level floors and descending stairs.

Seriously, if it hurts you to move it, ask someone to move it for you.

[mwf5454]

there are some lightweight folding golf carts that work great. Some have a u shaped piece or a hole at the bottom that the endpin can go through.
With the addition of some preformed foam pipewrap (affixed with duct tape) and a bungie cord or two to attach to the rings on your bag you can go almost anywhere. The neck goes under your arm and you grab the handle. The wheels are nice and wide. Maybe a little putsy on some stairs but doable. Occasionally a narrow door is interesting but you might need help with some even just trying to wrestle without a cart Definitely the deal on the flat where you can use your other hand for stuff. An individual might be able to attach a little bit of something besides the bass to the cart. I have been using them for years going to bluegrass events. If you are in an area that has garage sales you might find one there. Stay away from the cast aluminum units as they way a ton. The one I use now is a Titleist Stowaway Plus. Here is a link to some offered on Craiglist so you can see what i am talking about
http://nh.craigslist.org/spo/914660291.html
Good luck
Mark

[runmollyrun]

Hold your bass in both hands and make a second trip for your stool - that one-handed method of carrying a bass hurts my lower back, too, and I only do it when I need to get through a really narrow space.

I also make use of a bow quiver and a backpack or bag for misc. stuff so my hands are free to carry the bass.

Those golf carts are great for carrying a bass long distances. I use a two-wheeler handcart & bungie cords; it's a little heavy and awkward to throw in the car but it works too.

But don't listen to my advice, I've got the nastiest banged up bass in town.

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

The purists will be mad at me but I carry un-bagged DBs like I carry 2 x 12 planks ie on my shoulder.

Up on the shoulder, bridge pointing out, fingers under the strings and in the treble f-hole, I can cover a lot of bluegrass festival grounds that way.

Plywood basses only, please. I'd never carry a carved bass with my fingers in the ff holes.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Plywood basses only, please. I'd never carry a carved bass with my fingers in the ff holes.

I'll carry any bass that way, but I have very gentle fingers.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

I'll carry any bass that way, but I have very gentle fingers.

Jake, Jake, Jake.....I gotta agree with Marcus on this one.

[Roger Davis]

I try to keep my bass in its cover most of the time, but there are times when that is not possible - setting up, getting onto the stage from the wings/bandroom etc. How do these 'legit' guys get on when they're a member of an eight-piece bass section? Bit like dinosoars trying to make love?

[Carl Johnson]

I like the "Caveman with date" approach; Grab it by the scroll and drag it around. Specially good with rockabilly and with school instruments.