How much equipment to bring to a gig?

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by RustyAxe

I've been playing bass since '67 ... never once carried more than one bass to a gig. Coincidentally, never had a bass suddenly up and die at a gig either.

I always bring 2 or 3. Basically for stage presence. I rarely switch basses.

My primary bass is a blue 91 G&L ASAT.

Blue

Attachment 307787

[Downunderwonder]

You wouldn't get very far around here without at least vocal mics, leads and stands. I prefer to use my own PA. It's less hassle than sussing out what of the bar's PA actually works.

It sounds like the bass amp is probably pretty feeble. Your best bet is to use your small amp as a monitor and mic it. Don't overpower the vocals in the PA and hope the drummer can keep it under control. It will help get things balanced out front if you are mixed in from the front when you have vocal PA available.

Actually, even if the bass amp is a bigun your best best is a small guitar amp used as a monitor and mic'd. Congratulations, you are on the path to conquering your small bar scene.

[godofthunder59]

I bring my rig, back up amp, tool kit, gig bag, cable case (lots of cables and extension cords, DI etc) and at least two basses. I have been gigging since '71 and let me tell you anything that can happen will happen. Input jack dies, bass stolen, run over by car, knocked over by band member resulting in broken headstock etc. etc. etc. Bringing one bass to a gig is like bringing one cord. you are just asking for trouble.

[Kmonk]

Originally Posted by pushbuttonfour

all right, I guess that was too open a question. I gues what I meant is, will there ever be a venue that provides absolutely nothing?

Most of the smaller venues I've played did not provide anything. We had to bring everything including PA. Some larger venues provided PA and a sound man but nothing else.

You should always ask management at the venue what they provide when negotiating with them.

[obimark]

Let me pose this question "How well can you play a gig if you throw out your lower back?" IME answer is "while lying down on stage or in a chair" or "Not at all"

Bands that want to drag huge/heavy PA (which means I have to help unload/load it) I make well aware of this fact. I'd imagine if any of you throw your lower back (or ever had) you know exactly where I am coming from.

It takes 10 minutes to unload and setup my bass rig and have a decent sound. I don't want to/will not show up 4 hours early so the drummer can mic every drum to play a tiny bar... go figure.

[intheory]

Definitely be prepared...that is the key. My band is busy, playing 8-12 gigs a month. The majority of our venues are familiar as we are booked at most of our places monthly, so we know what we are in for. When we don't know what to expect, we bring everything.
Incidentally, we have FOH support at about half of our gigs. We definitely appreciate not having to load/unload/run our pa at these gigs

As to # of basses...it really is good sense to bring a backup. I don't always bring more than 1, but I have had basses crap out on me live, so it's actually amazing that I don't always have 2 with me...hmmmm...think I will do something about that

-Dan

[busmandan]

Originally Posted by Kmay

One bass? Wow! That's brave. I over prepare though. I carry three bases, but usually one play one and I have two di's (not counting the one on my amp) and a backup amp. Also, tons of extra cables and batteries and stuff. You never know some drunk ass knocks your **** off the stand or your drummer drops his hard ware case on your bass. You break a string., blow a fuse. A battery dies. A million things can happen and I try to prepare. I would hate for a small accident to ruin my night. But, that's just me.

OK - but in what is soon to be forty years of gigging, I've never had a bass cease to function at a show. Amps, on the other hand, are a different story - and I do carry a Sansamp BDDI and a Crate Power Block for emergency backup.

[RustyAxe]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I always bring 2 or 3. Basically for stage presence. I rarely switch basses.

I'm 6'3" and go 240 lbs ... that's all the stage presence I need (or can fit on stage!)

[theretheyare]

After gigging off and on for 25+ years, I know that I play best when I have a modicum of peace of mind. The rule I live by, is to think through beforehand how to bring as little as possible-if i can get by on 1 bass and 1 cable, I will. All this focus on extraneous things that might happen, IME (but that's just me), it takes away from focusing on music. I haven't broken a string in years-and if that ever happens, i will play around it for the remainder of that one gig.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by theretheyare

After gigging off and on for 25+ years, I know that I play best when I have a modicum of peace of mind. The rule I live by, is to think through beforehand how to bring as little as possible-if i can get by on 1 bass and 1 cable, I will. All this focus on extraneous things that might happen, IME (but that's just me), it takes away from focusing on music. I haven't broken a string in years-and if that ever happens, i will play around it for the remainder of that one gig.

What do you mean by " bring as little as possible"?

[millsbass5]

Originally Posted by pushbuttonfour

Hey, I'm scouting around for my first gig. I know every venue is different, but generally, what equipment will be provided, and what will I have to bring myself? Obviously all the instruments, but what about mics, PAs, mixers, amps, etc? Will a guitar amp for each guitar, 2 mics, one small mixer, and a small PA work?

Hell no!!! Fill the truck to the brim and stack it to the ceiling and give 'em a nice, clean mix. But, don't make it too loud, though. That's a good way NOT to get a follow-up gig. Remember, the first impression is the one they'll remember. Pull out ALL THE STOPS, and they'll come back beggin' for more. Always,ALWAYS leave 'em wantin' more!!

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by pushbuttonfour

all right, I guess that was too open a question. I gues what I meant is, will there ever be a venue that provides absolutely nothing?

Yes.

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by millsbass5

Hell no!!! Fill the truck to the brim and stack it to the ceiling and give 'em a nice, clean mix. But, don't make it too loud, though. That's a good way NOT to get a follow-up gig. Remember, the first impression is the one they'll remember. Pull out ALL THE STOPS, and they'll come back beggin' for more. Always,ALWAYS leave 'em wantin' more!!

Most club owners around here wouldn't even let you play a note if you "stacked it to the ceiling". Bring enough gear to match the venue and the volume required by the owners. Bringing more is a waste of time and effort.

[Joe Louvar]

Originally Posted by pushbuttonfour

Hey, I'm scouting around for my first gig. I know every venue is different, but generally, what equipment will be provided, and what will I have to bring myself? Obviously all the instruments, but what about mics, PAs, mixers, amps, etc? Will a guitar amp for each guitar, 2 mics, one small mixer, and a small PA work?

You should work with a simple contract that at least covers the basics (payment, equipment, security, etc) - and charge accordingly.

[pbagley]

I'm just a cover band guy, so what I say is strictly from my own limited experience.

Most of the places I play do not provide PA. One provides lights, the rest do not. We bring in a minimal PA setup - mains and monitors. The drummer plays an electronic set and brings a second mixer which could be used if we had a failure on the FOH side.

There has been a lot of disagreement on bringing a second bass. I bring two. I have had a bass fail at a gig. Last time it was a dead battery (worked at first and then quit). Helpful band member got me a "new" battery, still no sound. Turned out that the second battery was also dead. I have also had an amp die - just the wall plug and a trip to the hardware store fixed it, so I always have a second amp with me now. You can get away with one bass and one amp for a long time, but I like to play it safe.

Good luck.

[bassmeknik]

Originally Posted by theretheyare

After gigging off and on for 25+ years, I know that I play best when I have a modicum of peace of mind. The rule I live by, is to think through beforehand how to bring as little as possible-if i can get by on 1 bass and 1 cable, I will. All this focus on extraneous things that might happen, IME (but that's just me), it takes away from focusing on music. I haven't broken a string in years-and if that ever happens, i will play around it for the remainder of that one gig.

IMHO having the wrong equipment or a failure kinda distracts from the music also...

I really don't want to hear you or any bassist play with broken strings. I can not truly comment on this within the TB rules. I hope your band mates and venue owners are as laid back as you are but somehow I don't think they are.

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by theretheyare

After gigging off and on for 25+ years, I know that I play best when I have a modicum of peace of mind. The rule I live by, is to think through beforehand how to bring as little as possible-if i can get by on 1 bass and 1 cable, I will. All this focus on extraneous things that might happen, IME (but that's just me), it takes away from focusing on music. I haven't broken a string in years-and if that ever happens, i will play around it for the remainder of that one gig.

I play with a guitarist with this attitude......I can't count the number of times I've had to lend him a strap, or a cable, so he could play the remainder of the gig.

[smogg]

Cover band here as well. We bring everything most of the time as most of our venues provide nothing but a few free beers. There are exceptions of course. Two of the largest clubs we play have their own PA & lighting and the venue pays the sound man not us. (I always buy the sound guy(s) a drink or two as a gesture of goodwill at these shows) And of course PA has always been provided at the few outdoor festival gigs we play each year. But I'd say 90% of the time we have to provide everything.

As far as personal gear I am a minimalist. 1 bass (that's all I own) 1 amp and cab. But I also bring a heavily loaded gig bag. IE: tool kit; extra batteries, extra strings, an extra strap, extension cords and power strips, cables and a DI box.

[bluewine]

Cover band here. I always bring 2 basses, GK 2 10 & 1 15 RBX cabs. 2 GK rb1001 amps, pedal board (with oriental rug) and 3 guitar stands.

I use the same configuration for small bars as well as large festivals and fairs.

Whenever I go out to see local acts cover and originals, I'm going to be checking out your whole presentation, your playing, your gear and how you *dress.

Blue

*I saw and outstanding Zeppelin tribute band, but they all looked like they had just jumped off a tractor in a corn field. Even though they were great, they were hard to take seriously.

[Kmay]

Originally Posted by busmandan

OK - but in what is soon to be forty years of gigging, I've never had a bass cease to function at a show. Amps, on the other hand, are a different story - and I do carry a Sansamp BDDI and a Crate Power Block for emergency backup.

Well, I have never had any of the above quit on me either. But, as I stated, I over prepare. I have loaned more cables, batteries and picks (I don't even use picks!) to guitarist who had the bring the minimum approach. I have had "roadies" (which were really mostly friends of the band) and/or drummers bump my gear into door frames and drop snares on my stuff by accident on load in more times than I can count!
But I plan ahead for the worst! Lol!
I had a electrical plug quit working one time that killed my whole rig, and just my rig, if it wasn't for the 25' extension cord I brought, that I have only used that one time and carried it for 6 years, but it was worth it for that one instance. So, I say if you been playing for any amount of time without backup gear and without any failure, you have been very lucky! Lol!
And, as stated, it's more than your ability to keep you instrument safe, there are a lot of things that can happen between your practice place and the moment you start/quit playing on stage.