Renting out your gear to other bands

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by MrMcHaggis

Here's my concern: I don't know how much to ask.

2.5-5% of street price new, at the very least.

[steveksux]

I'd look into how much it costs to replace my gear.

The trouble with this setup is you're dealing with young bands that can't afford decent gear, and are liable to go hog wild, have no idea how loud they are, when its breaking up, if you're not there to monitor the volumes and keep an eye on things the whole time...

If you're going to charge what a local rental company would charge, you might be better off actually renting the gear from then. They rent it enough that if it gets broke it'll be paid for.

Randy

[MrMcHaggis]

Originally Posted by TRichardsbass

Okay, back.

If you do it, simple rule. ONLY YOU, THE SOUND GUY, IS ALLOWED TO TOUCH ANYTHING ON THE AMPS! Make it clear to the kiddies that they are getting the chance to play thru good equipment so only you touch the knobs. If they can't follow the rule they don't play. Simple.

I have lent my backline to several national headliners in the past couple of years, and I'd say half were buttwipes. The only rule I had was that you don't put the master past 8 and the pre past 8. You can put all the effects you want in the effects loop, and set your bass to max and whack the livin' hell out of it. Just nothing past 8. That way nothing can really be blown with my rig.

Had a guy from one band, which shall remain nameless but comes from LA, not only did he not put the effects in the loop but put them in straight into the passive input, but he turned everything all the way up. At the end of his last song the amp went kaput. Turns out he really did some serious damage. His band manager tried to just run away but I managed to get the club owner to withold the door cash until the band manager and I worked out something.

I also had another national act that actually called me because their bassist and I use the same rig and his was in for repair. When I got to the club to see their performance I almost crapped. HE HAD SPRAY PAINTED THE BAND LOGO ON MY CAB! While nice guys, their road manager told me that they would be taking the cabinet with them to their NYC gig and when the other one was out of the shop they would send it to me.

I went ballistic. My cab was new, his was clearly "roadworn". My rig now was painted and you can't just get grills from the manufacturers easily. And they needed my cab for a big show they were going to just trade me with their broken, worn piece o' crud?

This one was not so simple. Wound up taking the band and their label to small claims. In the end, I got only enough cash to have a new grill made, but not from the original manufacturer.

I also have had some other great experiences. The guys from Dash Rip Rock used my rig and treated her like a baby. Also, Evan Dando's bassist used it for a gig and actually gave me some kudos.

Its a crap shoot, but you seem so enthusiastic that you probably should do it. Just really try and emphasize that no one touches the knobbies except you.

Have fun.

That was more-or-less my idea. As I mentioned the most powerful amp in the house is my own (the LH1000) and the cabs have 100 watts over the head. So I'm mildly concerned because numerically speaking I shouldn't have to worry about the cabs. I could also run them outside of bridge mode so the amp is limited to approx 400 watts (I could even add a third cab, drop it to 2ohms and have it essentially limited to 600 watts between the three cabs) and there will be (that I'm aware of) no way in hell to blow them.

Still, I would like it best if there was in fact, no way they could touch the knobs, I just set the volume and EQ for them and proceed to watch/enjoy their set. But as one of our TB'ers mentioned, it only takes a single moment of sudden artistic inspiration to crank that knob. I'd hate to think my trust in these kids is foolishly placed, but they showed A LOT of respect and gratitude the first time around.

Originally Posted by bluewine

Again, you are a very unique and generous individual.

I get the feeling that if something happens to your gear, it would not be a big deal and you would be able to have it fixed or replaced with no problem.

Larry Hartke has actually been very kind with me, even well outside of warranty he made absolutely no hesitation to have my LH1000 serviced free of charge at the first sign of trouble.

I'm sure my HyDrive 410 will receive similar treatment (and that one's still under 2 year warranty).

I'm a little more worried about the little SWR. It is a hell of a workhorse and I've fed it well over 200watts in the past and it has sustained it (the only damage that is has is purely aesthetic, and by that I mean I'm just too lazy to put the grille on after spray-painting it, the cab has held like a champ.)

As aforementioned though, the head will be pushing 1100watts at max, the cabs can take a combined total of 1200watts.

My concern however, is that if these kids do leave it cranked, there will still be an amount of strain on the equipment. Again, I could run it in parallel mode so it wont see nearly as much power.


Thanks again everyone for your wisdom and advice!

[Mousekillaz]

If you can afford to give it away, great ... otherwise expect it to come back destroyed or worse, not at all.

motto: The lack of preparedness on someones part, does not constitute an emergency for me.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by MrMcHaggis

Larry Hartke has actually been very kind with me, even well outside of warranty he made absolutely no hesitation to have my LH1000 serviced free of charge at the first sign of troubl

Small world, are you from Jersey? I went to High School with Larry.

[MrMcHaggis]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Small world, are you from Jersey? I went to High School with Larry.

Actually know the only time I've been to Jersey I was driving right through it. I called him one day and we really hit it off, he's great to talk gear/music/industry with and a real nice gent.

But that's pretty crazy, high school with Larry? Was he playing in that thee-piece band back then?

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by MrMcHaggis

Actually know the only time I've been to Jersey I was driving right through it. I called him one day and we really hit it off, he's great to talk gear/music/industry with and a real nice gent.

But that's pretty crazy, high school with Larry? Was he playing in that thee-piece band back then?

Not that I know of, that might have been post High School. There were several really good power trios back in the day from that little corner of Jersey.

I have lived in WI for all of my adult life. I didn't know Larry was still actively involved with the company.

[MrMcHaggis]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Not that I know of, that might have been post High School. There were several really good power trios back in the day from that little corner of Jersey.

I have lived in WI for all of my adult life. I didn't know Larry was still actively involved with the company.

Most certainly is. When I asked about the Samson business he said that Samson doesn't actually own Hartke amplification but they do however, solely distribute it. Unless I misunderstood him, of course.

His cell phone number is actually still publicly available, I was pretty surprised the first time I called and he answered and took out a good 20 minutes of his busy schedule to talk to me and listen to my room mate freak out about it in the background.

[bassplayer8953]

As someone who has loaned (never rented) gear in the past, this is my take on the whole idea of providing backline to players I do not know, or do not know very well:

Reconing a single speaker runs $50 and up, and diagnostic (repair is extra) for an amp head with problems is $150 - $200. I'd think long and hard about providing backline for any sort of multi-band event. The potential for financial armageddon is definitely there, especially with young kids, armed up with multitudes of pedals & other pre-amps, and no idea of how to handle a "real" rig.

If someone is going to destroy my gear, it should be me. I bought & paid for it. There are companies that rent out gear, let them deal with the possible damage & other issue, that's what they get paid to do.

JMO, of course...

[MNAirHead]

I do this all the time..

OPINION.

I rent an entire setup... have the renter leve a generous deposit.. figure stuff will be dinged and dorked when I get it back.

I'll also set all of the knobs... then I'll hot glue the master volume knobs... I can remove it later, it ensures some dork doesn't insist on cranking volume.

Tim

[mboogiemanusa]

I rent out my PA and bass gear all the time however ......the gear does not leave my rehearsal studio so basically I am renting out my rehearsal studio that includes PA/Mics/stands/drums and bass amp. It's a word of mouth business and I keep out the kiddies and thrashers. It's a nice little cash business and a good way to network but occasionally some extra costs come up. One of my bass amps now in the shop - no ones fault but amp needed repair. No one ever plays loud enough to hurt my speakers.

[rtslinger]

NG don't rent your stuff unless you are going to be at the gig and setting it up yourself.
I do not loan nor rent my stuff because in the hands someone else what can go wrong will go wrong. Hit the web the horror stories are out there.

[delta7fred]

I've stage managed a couple of events like this and they are great fun to do. My job was to get the little darlings on and off stage within their time slot. I also had to calm a few nerves and keep anxious parents from backstage, they were 10 times worse than the kids and only upset them fussing about like mother hens, and that was the dads.

We hired a top notch PA but I don't know where the backline came from. Everything was through the PA so the backline was just for monitoring.

It was made very clear to them that they were not to touch the amps at all, they had sound checked earlier and all settings were recorded. If they needed more volume to be able to hear themselves then they asked. Nobody asked, but the PA guys were some of the best I have seen so I suspect the monitoring was very good. Their desk was bigger than most of the stages we play on, if we get a stage.

The only things I provided were my own earplugs, but they were not needed backstage, and an 8 slot guitar stand (for the second year I did it). It made me feel ill seeing expensive guitars and basses just lying in the grass waiting to be trodden on.

Not much help to you I know, but if you have someone who knows a bit about gear as the stage manager then that will help. I would certainly not let them fiddle with the controls unless they really know what they are doing, which at that age is possible but highly unlikely.

[Rick Auricchio]

Originally Posted by MrMcHaggis

As I mentioned the most powerful amp in the house is my own (the LH1000) and the cabs have 100 watts over the head. So I'm mildly concerned because numerically speaking I shouldn't have to worry about the cabs. I could also run them outside of bridge mode so the amp is limited to approx 400 watts (I could even add a third cab, drop it to 2ohms and have it essentially limited to 600 watts between the three cabs) and there will be (that I'm aware of) no way in hell to blow them.

Maybe you can't overpower the drivers, but they can be destroyed mechanically with extreme EQ settings.

Again, if the knobs are there, someone will grab one before you have time to stop him.

[Downunderwonder]

Watts are meaningless numbers as far as ensuring nothing blows up. There is absolutely no promise 1100W worth of amp cannot blow even 2000W worth of speakers if you go hard enough with tones.

For all the trust you have in last year's kids and the likelihood this years kids will behave similarly, it only takes one.....

[MrMcHaggis]

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

Maybe you can't overpower the drivers, but they can be destroyed mechanically with extreme EQ settings.

Again, if the knobs are there, someone will grab one before you have time to stop him.

This is very true and I'm glad you mentioned it I hadn't taken it into consideration. So perhaps running it in parallel would be a must so it wont feed it nearly as much power. I would be going from 100 watts of headroom to about 400.

I was eyeballing this:
Middle Atlantic 4U Plexi Security Cover at zZounds

But that would probably take over half of what I'd be making in the rental and that cover would affect the air intake of my LH1000, so I'd have to drill a few small breather holes. I don't plan on consistently renting so I'm not sure if it's really worth it.

[shadven]

Several times a year I play all day tribute / theme shows with 10 - 20 bands. My band often provides the back-line (drums, 2 guitar amps, KB amp, bass rig). We get $350 for the whole back-line. I usually get $100 for my bass rig.

I am there (playing), I know the sound company and stage manager and they are equipment nazis. I tape any instructions on top of the head.

I have one of these all day shows next weekend, "10th Annual Rockabilly Ruckus". I am renting my Ampeg SVT VR w/ Ampeg SVT 410HLF. I usually provide a solid state amp, but I really want to hear my new 2007 USA made SVT VR.

[bluewine]

You know what, lend it to them, especially if they are high school kids and can't afford proper gear.

I remember back in the 60s the rich kids parents buying them cool state of the art Fender and Ampeg gear. My parents were poor and I had to use crap or borrow stuff from people.

Thats why I own about 12 nice basses and a couple of good amps. If I want something now, i'll just buy it.

Blue

[rainbownorth]

Yeah, you know, I probably wouldnt...because I'm poor, and probably wouldnt have the money outright to buy again any of my gear. BUT. If I did, I'd say yes with the caveat that I'd be keeping an eye on my gear while in use, and I'd probably charge for my time as well. They cant provide their own gear that their tough cheese.

Also, even if you werent gonna play as hardline as I would, just bear in mind how hard it can be to squeeze money out of people when they don't wanna pay. You get nice guys and a-holes, but honestly, should anything get damaged, unless theyre willing to go with you to a store and repair or replace your stuff almost immediately, they are going to be wasting some of your time, and effort to chase them up.

[LiquidMidnight]

So, seeing as this thread is over a year old...how did the event go?