Rant: What am I?

atruedinguss · #1 02-19-2007, 02:41 PM

I'm the bassist, right? Nope. I'm the bassist. And the roadie. And the composer. And the arranger. And the assistant sound guy. And the guitar tech. And I'm alone in it.

I had 2 gigs last week: Friday night and Saturday. Both were in (sorta) the same place, so we left our keyboard, and electric guitar (and amp) there. We also left my bass amp. Anyway, we get to the gig early in Saturday morning and everything's still set up (yay). It goes well. But then I am left to tear down what's in the school gym while our sound guy and guitarist (also the manager) tear down our drums and help tear down the rest of the setup for church that day. I'm grumbling to myself that what I'm doing isn't a one-man job. I'm at it for 45 minutes before they bring the "tour bus" around (minivan with a trailer) so we can load up and go home. I can officially say I took down an entire PA system myself.

I am never doing that again. I demand help with such things! Oh, did I mention that the sound guy and I are the only ones involved that take recording seriously?

Bassist4Life · #2 02-19-2007, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atruedinguss

I'm the bassist, right? Nope. I'm the bassist. And the roadie. And the composer. And the arranger. And the assistant sound guy. And the guitar tech. And I'm alone in it.

I had 2 gigs last week: Friday night and Saturday. Both were in (sorta) the same place, so we left our keyboard, and electric guitar (and amp) there. We also left my bass amp. Anyway, we get to the gig early in Saturday morning and everything's still set up (yay). It goes well. But then I am left to tear down what's in the school gym while our sound guy and guitarist (also the manager) tear down our drums and help tear down the rest of the setup for church that day. I'm grumbling to myself that what I'm doing isn't a one-man job. I'm at it for 45 minutes before they bring the "tour bus" around (minivan with a trailer) so we can load up and go home. I can officially say I took down an entire PA system myself.

I am never doing that again. I demand help with such things! Oh, did I mention that the sound guy and I are the only ones involved that take recording seriously?

I know of some groups where the guy that does what you're doing gets an extra $50-$75 for each set-up/tear-down.

Joe

jimb213 · #3 02-19-2007, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atruedinguss

But then I am left to tear down what's in the school gym while our sound guy and guitarist (also the manager) tear down our drums and help tear down the rest of the setup for church that day.

Lighten up, dude. It's not like they went off to hit on girls and drink at the bar and left you to do all the work. They did work that needed to be done, too. Until you get roadies, you're going to be doing some heavy lifting.

fcleff · #4 02-19-2007, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimb213

Lighten up, dude. It's not like they went off to hit on girls and drink at the bar and left you to do all the work. They did work that needed to be done, too. Until you get roadies, you're going to be doing some heavy lifting.

No doubt, lighten up. It's called being a working musician.

atruedinguss · #5 02-19-2007, 04:18 PM

Yeah, I guess. The only problem is that I don't get a cent for it. The gig neither. I haven't been paid to play. ever.

jimb213 · #6 02-19-2007, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atruedinguss

Yeah, I guess. The only problem is that I don't get a cent for it. The gig neither. I haven't been paid to play. ever.

that's you and your band's fault for accepting nothing but free gigs. either stop playing free shows, or get some merch to sell at them so you'll see at least a little bit of money that way.

don't get me wrong, I've been the guy who does more work than the rest of the band combined, and it does kinda suck, but that's just how it goes some times. You can either let it bother you and have a growing resentment between you and the rest of the band, or you can let it go 'cause you realize that you get to do what most people only fantasize about: play music on stage in front of people.

talk with the rest of the band about sharing load-in and load-out responsibilities if you really think you're doing more than your fair share, and also talk to them about paying gigs. It's fine to vent here when you're frustrated, just don't let whatever's bothering you go unresolved (assuming there actually is something to be resolved).

hartke20g · #7 02-19-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atruedinguss

I am left to tear down what's in the school gym while our sound guy and guitarist (also the manager) tear down our drums and help tear down the rest of the setup for church that day. I'm grumbling to myself that what I'm doing isn't a one-man job. I'm at it for 45 minutes

honestly, i don't see the problem. tearing down a PA shouldn't be such a pain. even if the PA has, say, 2x15" cabs, something that big surely should have wheels (like an 8x10"); and so should a very large rack (if you have one). unless i'm misunderstanding something, like you had to tear down the stage too (again, if there was one). the only problem i see right now is that if the rest of the band finished their tear-downs before you and didn't help.

buliwyfff · #8 02-20-2007, 02:01 AM

Talk to your band about it..

rossiface · #9 02-20-2007, 02:44 AM

I assist everyone else in setting up and taring down gear. One, my stuff takes about 20 seconds to set up, Amp+cab+bass and done. I first help our drummer, cause he has alot of stuff to hit. The guitarist usually get here stuff together quick. When we have to bring our own PA, i've come to this philosophy, who cares whose taking down what gear. We just got to play a kickass set for people and if just one of them was grooving and had a good time, my job is done and i get to leave with a smile on my face

. The more you take that with you, the more you'll wanna gig, the more you gig, the more money, the more money the farther you can travel and get more merch adn the snow ball will keep getting bigger and taking on more speed. It takes alittle while but very worth it in the end. Maybe ask yourself and the rest of the band, what are we trying to do here? Goodluck.

Bottom Feeder · #10 02-20-2007, 02:40 PM

So are you saying that the drummer didn't tear down his own stuff? That sounds a little wierd.

Of course, drummers have a lot of stuff. They picked there weapon, not me.

The old drummer I used to play with had rehearsals at his house. An hour away in the evening rush hour. He never moved anything. I don't much care if he has more to move the few times we actually played out. I have already spent umpteen more hours that him carting my stuff back and forth to his pad and waiting 5 mins out front for him to answer his door every time (what is he doin' in there anyways???)

atruedinguss · #11 02-21-2007, 10:49 AM

Of course the drummer didn't tear down his stuff. My family owns it. My sister is the guitarist. I'm the bassist. My dad's the sound guy. Everybody else is out of the family, but the band uses all of our stuff (most of the time.)

Sundogue · #12 02-21-2007, 11:26 AM

joegeezer · #13 02-23-2007, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atruedinguss

I'm the bassist, right? Nope. I'm the bassist. And the roadie. And the composer. And the arranger. And the assistant sound guy. And the guitar tech. And I'm alone in it.

I had 2 gigs last week: Friday night and Saturday. Both were in (sorta) the same place, so we left our keyboard, and electric guitar (and amp) there. We also left my bass amp. Anyway, we get to the gig early in Saturday morning and everything's still set up (yay). It goes well. But then I am left to tear down what's in the school gym while our sound guy and guitarist (also the manager) tear down our drums and help tear down the rest of the setup for church that day. I'm grumbling to myself that what I'm doing isn't a one-man job. I'm at it for 45 minutes before they bring the "tour bus" around (minivan with a trailer) so we can load up and go home. I can officially say I took down an entire PA system myself.

I am never doing that again. I demand help with such things! Oh, did I mention that the sound guy and I are the only ones involved that take recording seriously?

I hate to say it, but I've always found it this way too. It seems like the bass player is always the most technical guy in the group. He ends up fixing all the cords and equipment, the truck, everything. I am also just plain fed up with it, and I'm 53. The vocalist is always some prissy boy, who won't spend any money on the PA system, or help carry any gear, and always shows up at the last minute. I vowed this time when looking for a band, that either they all help with the equipment, and show up for practice on time, and spend money on equipment up keep or they are down the road. They are all replacable. I will only play with musicians who are dedicated, and are as willing to roadie, as they are to play, or they walk. I always have had trouble getting the guys to invest in the PA system. This time I bought and payed for the whole system myself. 6 subs, two double 15 cabs, and 4 HF horns, 4 monitors, 4000 watts up front and 2000 for monitors, all the mikes and drum mikes and stands, but when pay time comes, I get two salaries. If they don't like it, they can walk. No more MR Nice Guy. It's a business. It will be treated as such, or you can walk.

Dkerwood · #14 02-24-2007, 11:33 PM

Hey, at least it sounds like you have multiple people who know how the PA works. In my band, I have to set up the PA myself because nobody else knows how. Sure, they can run mic cables and move monitors and such, but anything else is quite out of the question.

atruedinguss · #15 02-26-2007, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkerwood

Hey, at least it sounds like you have multiple people who know how the PA works. In my band, I have to set up the PA myself because nobody else knows how. Sure, they can run mic cables and move monitors and such, but anything else is quite out of the question.

Well, knowing how the PA works is a relative term. My sister (the guitarist) knows how to fuss with the faders, but she's afraid to try anything. I actually know the most about it, but I'm always up front. I'm always calling, "Turn down the mids!" when the singers are sounding like crap or "Bass cut my mike!" when I sing. I wind up going back there and just setting the EQs myself. I also am the only one who figured out how to do a recording mix that worked worth a crap. I'm also sick and tired of hearing feedback when we're doing song service for Sabbath School (I'm Seventh-day Adventist). I want to run back there, whack the sound guy, and say "I told you! Don't turn the speakers inwards!"