This is the part where I make most of you jealous.

[Dave R]

Our band has been gigging regularly, and some of the band members are feeling a little flush...

So tonight is our 2nd gig where we HIRED A ROADIE.

Yes, he set up all our gear, including "the beast", my bass amp. I walked up, plugged in my vintage '73 Jazz, and sound checked.

No sore back, no sweat stains before the gig even starts. No scuffed shoes, or busted knuckles. Just the music. Aaahhhhh.

Sound check is done, and we don't go on for another hour, so I came home to make you all jealous before I go play. (Gig near home.)

And when the gig is done, I'll put my bass in my case, shake some hands and tell everyone thank you, and it was a joy to play with you/for you as the case may be, and I'll be home before midnight.

This will probably add 10 years to my career.

[Dave Muscato]

How's your back? Sounds like a sweet deal!

[Dave R]

How's your back?

Its great! I carried my bass (only) from the car to the stage. Didn't break a sweat.

Now, my shoulders will be sore after three hours with an 8lb bass, even with my fancy fur-lined strap. That'll be the next upgrade. I've got GAS for a strap.

[madeinthePRC!]

Is that the amp or the bass, i play DB, and where did you score that!

[Dave R]

Its the bass. A '73 Fender Jazz. I bought it in '76. So you can do the math and see how old I am...

[Jazzdogg]

Does your band also have a sound man?

Whaddaya pay a roadie in Boise?

[Johnny Crab]

Band I'm in had that before my time and to quote them "it was easier, but we made half the money".
We all need the exercise and having no PA(we all use our own BOSE PAS) makes things VERY LESS complicated(in the 70's and 80's the guitar player and I did the 40 foot truck full of gear, PA, lightshow, and 3 roadie thing).

How did the roadie dent your take home pay as a percentage?

[Dave R]

Does your band also have a sound man? Whaddaya pay a roadie in Boise?

No sound man. Our (guy) singer does the sound. "Set it and forget it."

Roadie costs us $50. Five of us kick in $10 each. He makes about $15-$20 an hour. Costs us each about $3 an hour. Saves us a lot of wear and tear on our bods.

We used to console ourselves by saying "they pay us to move the gear. We would play for free, for fun." I've heard several other people here say that, too.

Now, I feel like they're actually paying us to play! Oh joy!

[manicbassman]

Originally Posted by Dave R

Roadie costs us $50. Five of us kick in $10 each. He makes about $15-$20 an hour.

he's making a lot less than that... he's got to kick his heels waiting for you to finish the set before he can load out... how many hours is he actually present at the venue? Is he able to go away and do another paying job?

[Spoiled Grape]

My band always brings a roadie with us on the road, and sometimes at home. It makes things 10000% easier and usually doesn't dent our pay too much.

[Dave R]

he's making a lot less than that... he's got to kick his heels waiting for you to finish the set before he can load out... how many hours is he actually present at the venue? Is he able to go away and do another paying job?

Naaaah. We don't travel far to play. He sets up, then goes home for 3-4 hours, then comes back for tear-down. I guess he does have double-commute, but its not far.

It makes things 10000% easier and usually doesn't dent our pay too much.

That's what we're finding.

[IanStephenson]

I've been trying to convince the guys that we need to do this. We only make about $90 a show each, but I'd love to kick in $10 to have someone do the donkey work. I'm not sure I'd be able to get out of ALL the work, and I probably would want to set up my own rig, but I'd pay that to have someone haul my cab(s), and help out with the lights (which I currently manage).

Ian

[Wally Malone]

The down side: The times that I've worked with bands that had roadies were the only times that my equipment took a beating.

Wally

[BigOleBoogie]

Originally Posted by Wally Malone

The down side: The times that I've worked with bands that had roadies were the only times that my equipment took a beating.

Wally

+1

[chaosMK]

This is all I have to say about that-

[BellBottomBlues]

My band is currently 9 people. 2 Acoustic guitar players, one electric guitarist, 2 violin players, cellist, drummer, pianist, and me on bass.

Lets see how much gear we end up bringing, most of this gear is mine and was put towards the band:
4 Bass Guitars
2 Strats
Les Paul
Telecaster
4 Acoustic Guitars
Cello
Upright Bass
2 Violins
Classical Harp
Fender Rhodes Piano
2 Other keyboards
All the stands for all that, plus microphones for the classical instruments, singers, and drums.
Drum Kit thats on the small side
Bass stack
Bass stack for pianist
Guitar stack
2 Fender Deluxe Reverbs with extra cabs
PA rated at a few thousand watts
Mixing board
Monitors
Lights
Merch
Odds and ends (folding chairs, tables, etc)

There is so much gear. Obviously many hands make light work and we don't always bring the PA but its still a back breaking amount of stuff.

We load out into 2 full sized cargo vans with trailers I wish I had roadies...

[Dave R]

Wow. How long does it take you to set up, once you arrive on site?

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by Johnny Crab

Band I'm in had that before my time and to quote them "it was easier, but we made half the money".
We all need the exercise and having no PA(we all use our own BOSE PAS) makes things VERY LESS complicated(in the 70's and 80's the guitar player and I did the 40 foot truck full of gear, PA, lightshow, and 3 roadie thing).

How did the roadie dent your take home pay as a percentage?

You have Bose sticks? Awesome!!! Those things sound great! I got to sing with a country band that had those...wonderful devices!

Cherie

[SirCanealot]

Originally Posted by manicbassman

he's making a lot less than that... he's got to kick his heels waiting for you to finish the set before he can load out... how many hours is he actually present at the venue? Is he able to go away and do another paying job?

And does he get free booze while watching you play?

[Dave R]

And does he get free booze while watching you play?

Nope. We're a bunch of Mormons, so no booze. But we regularly get hors d' ouvres, or desserts like cookies, or pie, or cheesecake...

He doesn't hang around. He sets, he goes. He comes back, he tears, he goes.