Transporting gear to gigs in London, Paris, NYC, etc.?

[phatbass]

I was just wondering how you TB'ers who gig regularly in large, overcrowded cities get your stuff (and yourselves) to gigs?

Here in Australia, it's relatively easy to find parking and the traffic is fairly light in comparison.

A couple of years ago I was doing some gigs in the UK (mainly Newcastle-on-Tyne) and did one gig in central London (just off Regent St.) with backline provided, so I just got on the tube with my Bass and had no problems. If I'd had to bring an amp, I don't know how I would have managed.

Although I didn't gig and was only there a couple of days, from what I saw of Paris, it looked like it would have been pretty much the same - narrow streets, limited parking, hell congestion on the roads...

So how do you handle the logistics of gigs in these locations?

[DrayMiles]

My opinion is that if you love to play, the hassle isn't a factor...
But, once you've tasted the sweet nectar of a backline, you can't go back to lugging gear form peanuts. There was a point where I refused to carry anything besides my bass. If the gig pays worth anything, there is usually gear there. If you're playing for any artist worth their salt, they have companies that supply gear or they own their own. Gary Moore told me If I got the gig I had to use a precision in order for him to "get his sound," and he owns an SVT that is mandatory for the gig... At least it was..

In short, if the money is right, add cartage into the fee. If the gig doesn't absorb whatever hassle is involved, I wouldn't do it.

[BassBrass]

I'm in Boston, and once had a gig in NYC after a major blizzard...we had our van, no problems. Another band on the bill was from the City. After the show, I saw the double bass bass player standing on the sidewalk in the snow with 2 cabs, a head and his acc bass. I saw a cab drive up. I thought "No way." I got distracted. Next thing I knew that cab was driving away with all the gear inside, but I missed how he got it all in there and I've been wondering ever since. Apparently it's another skill set that exists for car-free musicians in NYC.

[Fun Size Nick]

Hi Phatbass, I asked a similar question last year when I was about to move to Beijing (thread here). For me, the answer has been that most of the places I play (rehearsal spaces & venues) have some form of backline available, so I just take a bass + cables etc in a Protec semi-rigid gig bag, and I have an AI focus head (2.5kg) and Epifani UL112 cab (16kg-ish) for everything else. When I'm just carting the gig bag, I'll get about via metro or bus with little trouble, but I tend to take a cab if I'm taking the cab (haha) as it's rather a hassle to carry it through metro stations, up and down stairs etc.

It's certainly a world away from doing gigs in Canberra, where I could cruise along uncongested arterial roads in my trusty station wagon, with a 6x10 and two basses in the back...

[PJSShearer]

When I was gigging in London, I brought the minimum amount of gear with me - a 1 x 15 combo, one bass and a gig bag. I parked outside the venue, ran inside with the gear, ran out again and then went to find a parking space!!.
I did one short residency at a restaurant (La Bussolla in St. Martins Lane - long since gone) that had a Polytone mini I could use, but this was rare - you carry your own gear and how you get there is your problem. As I live 30 miles from London, driving to the gig was the only option.

[phatbass]

Originally Posted by Fun Size Nick

Hi Phatbass, I asked a similar question last year when I was about to move to Beijing (thread here). For me, the answer has been that most of the places I play (rehearsal spaces & venues) have some form of backline available, so I just take a bass + cables etc in a Protec semi-rigid gig bag, and I have an AI focus head (2.5kg) and Epifani UL112 cab (16kg-ish) for everything else. When I'm just carting the gig bag, I'll get about via metro or bus with little trouble, but I tend to take a cab if I'm taking the cab (haha) as it's rather a hassle to carry it through metro stations, up and down stairs etc.

It's certainly a world away from doing gigs in Canberra, where I could cruise along uncongested arterial roads in my trusty station wagon, with a 6x10 and two basses in the back...

Yeah; in my younger and sillier days I had 1000 watt rig with 4 quad boxes in my Holden Sandman van...

Just curious - what sort of backline do you find in Beijing? I have to admit my first thought is lotsa Behringer/Alto/Phonic as they're made in China.

[JimmyM]

YOU CAN ACT LIKE A MAN!!!

[rodl2005]

Try it here in Hobart :-) USUALLY park within an easy hand-truck(or trolley as we Ozzy's call 'em) distance, or if lucky -right outside!!! Tonight I got a gig where we park right next to the stage door :-) probly a carry of 15' to the set up spot!!! Sure the pub's a bit of a dive.... but thats another story!! So 2nite- It's SVT>NV610 time!!! Stairs & it's LMII & neo time :-)

[Fun Size Nick]

Originally Posted by phatbass

Yeah; in my younger and sillier days I had 1000 watt rig with 4 quad boxes in my Holden Sandman van...

Just curious - what sort of backline do you find in Beijing? I have to admit my first thought is lotsa Behringer/Alto/Phonic as they're made in China.

That's the ticket

Nah, the venues here tend to have enough sense to buy backline gear that's a bit more reliable. Warwick amps show up a bit, as do Peavey and Hartke. Those are pretty much the only 'good' brands that I've seen in shops here. One of the better live music venues in Bejing has an older (solid-state) ampeg head (I think it's an SVT-300) with a Sunn 4x10, but I have no idea where they got them from.

[ialma]

Once I toured with a band which required only an acoustic bass.
The bass itself was cumbersome, so I brought only the bass and a little preamp. I asked the PA to set my channel flat and worked from the preamp.

[undeadbass]

Originally Posted by BassBrass

Apparently it's another skill set that exists for car-free musicians in NYC.

I've seriously downsized my rig living in NYC. I started here with a 410 and a 4 space rack case that had my Warwick tube head, put that on a handtruck, and took the subway to gigs. Which would've been all well and good if all the stations had elevators. But of course, that's not the case most of the time.

Now I've got an Eden WT head which I use when there's a backline cabinet, and when there's nothing, I use a GK Backline 112. It's more than enough power in the NY clubs - they're either small enough where it's overkill, or have a great PA where it's used as a monitor. Of course, some of the nicer clubs have good backline equipment as well (and surprisingly, taken care of).

[Andrew Jones]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

YOU CAN ACT LIKE A MAN!!!

Godfather Quote? or just a statement?

[greenishblue]

I have gigged in london for ages now, and the only thing i can say is that it is done with difficulty, some venues do have their own loading bays, but more often than not, it's a case of doing some questionable parking and being quick about it!!