Gear left at Venue - There when you went back?

iamoldschool · #1 09-12-2011, 08:30 AM

Had a gig this past Friday night for a cruise-in in Rogersville, TN. We set up on the courthouse lawn and played 6-9 with a short break. It was pretty dark when we finished and loaded up, after which my family and I went to a local restaurant and ate before heading home, some 30 miles away. Guitarist lives about 60 miles away from the gig, so we were actually getting home at about the same time. As I pulled into my drive with the band trailer my phone rang. The lead guitarist on the other end said "Man, you won't believe what I've done. I left my guitar in Rogersville and I'm getting ready to drive back over there to get it." I'm sure the only reason he called me is because I live half the distance and he was hoping I would go back for it, so I volunteered. I drove the 30-odd miles back fully expecting it to be long gone, but when I drove up in front of the courthouse, there it was, his '57 re-issue American Strat just laying on the courthouse lawn!

So, what gear have you lost or left and went back after? Was it there?

Tigger Bangdang · #2 09-12-2011, 08:40 AM

Southern Hospitality I guess!

maxgrant · #3 09-12-2011, 08:50 AM

OMG. Well, you WERE on the COURTHOUSE lawn in Rogersville, TN.

I bet if you'd left it at the side of the stage in a club in any big city you care to name, it would have been sold three times before you managed the return trip.

iamoldschool · #4 09-12-2011, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxgrant

OMG. Well, you WERE on the COURTHOUSE lawn in Rogersville, TN.

I bet if you'd left it at the side of the stage in a club in any big city you care to name, it would have been sold three times before you managed the return trip.

No doubt! To be fair to all the slacker theives in Rogersville, it was dark, in a black Gator soft case (canvas = no reflection) and behind a monument. I had to look twice before I found it myself and I knew what I was looking for.

Waffles and Scotch · #5 09-12-2011, 10:12 AM

You know, I think I might've left a Modulus Quantum 6 behind that statue...LMK if you find it and I'll PM you my address.

iamoldschool · #6 09-12-2011, 11:32 AM

I just may not be that honest.

rtslinger · #7 09-12-2011, 01:23 PM

Drummer left his snare one time thinking he needed to bring it for a back line kit left it there and no one stole it got it back the next day

Stinsok · #8 09-12-2011, 02:22 PM

A buddy left his Precision at a club for a week! Nobody messed with it!

jnuts1 · #9 09-12-2011, 02:27 PM

left my buddies 72 strat on the loading dock of the studio last year (he went drinking leaving us with his gear) & someone brought it to the office the next day.

silentmike · #10 09-12-2011, 02:30 PM

We left two XLRs bundled up ton top of a 10 foot speaker stack supporting a projector. We remembered the projector, but we forgot the XLRs. They weren't even there the next day! It must have been the sound guy too. No-one else knew they were there!

bolophonic · #11 09-12-2011, 02:30 PM

I opened up for a band who loaded out my bass with their gear and then brought it back.

Russell L · #12 09-12-2011, 02:37 PM

Left my tux jacket at an Adams Mark Hotel one night. It was gone the next morning.

Left my gig bag in a parking lot one night. Got a call from some maintenance crew the next day. They were at a local diner and said they had a bag with my name and number on it. That was pretty cool.

silentmike · #13 09-12-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolophonic

I opened up for a band who loaded out my bass with their gear and then brought it back.

My singer once did that to someone's bass. She didn't notice that the guitarist and I were both using our cases! Needless to say I soon rectified the mistake.

maxgrant · #14 09-13-2011, 01:19 PM

This never has happened to me, but one of my buddies left his guitar sitting in the driveway of the drummer's house. I saw it immediately after he drove away (it's a BIG driveway and could actually park 5-6 cars, it's almost like a pulloff point for one of those scenic exhibits), and took it to him at work the next day.

Said guitar playing friend (who also is a bassist and a pretty good one too) is kind of nervous and antsy, so I called him right away and left a message on his home phone that I had his precious child and it would be well taken-care of.

JmJ · #15 09-13-2011, 01:26 PM

Did a gig opening for Blues Traveler at the Wetlands in NYC. I was all alone when I used the deserted loading dock. I got home only to realize I must have left the amp head behind. I raced back and did not see it outside. I banged on the door, when it opened the Blues Traveler road crew was there, I asked them if they saw an amp head lying around, one guy said "this one"? I had spray painted the bands name on it so they knew who it belonged to and set it aside for me. I thanked them profusely, put my heart back in my chest and went home.

Semisweet · #16 09-13-2011, 01:53 PM

Nice! Do any of you put your name or some type of contact info somewhere on it?

Marko5657 · #17 09-14-2011, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Semisweet

Nice! Do any of you put your name or some type of contact info somewhere on it?

I really should do that.

I know when the trailer is loaded up, I and probably a couple of the others do a careful final walk-through to make sure nothing was left behind.

It’s also probably a good idea to etch your social security number or something somewhere hidden just in case of a different scenario.

Edit: This was shown to be bad advice, as it's not wise to use your whole social security number for reasons that should have been obvious to me.

MX21 · #18 09-15-2011, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marko5657

...It’s also probably a good idea to etch your social security number ...

Then they can steal you gear AND your identity.

lowliferumble · #19 09-15-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marko5657

I know when the trailer is loaded up, I and probably a couple of the others do a careful final walk-through to make sure nothing was left behind.

AKA " The Stupid Check" !!

More than pays for itself , time and time again!

pasta4lnch · #20 09-15-2011, 10:38 AM

Wow!

Not gear - but when my wife was pregs w/ our son, Mothers day came around. Her hands were swelling to the point her wedding ring didnt fit anymore which was bumming her. I walked over to a local mall w/ her ring in my pocket w/ the intent on getting a bigger ring (nothing crazy, just something she could wear)

after looking to no avail, I walked over to Target to get some stuff, on the way out I took my phone from my pocket and the leather pouch that held the ring came out too. I didnt realize it till over an hour later - ran back over to Target for dear life (on a Sat - which in my area the Target is always SUPER packed w/ people) and there it was right on the floor by the escalator . . . (and I remained alive to tell the tale!

)