Unable To "Hang Out" With Friends And Fans At Gigs

[Etchbass]

I was wondering if anyone else has the problem of not being able to hang out, walk around and socialize with everyone at their gigs because of having to watch all of your band's equipment like a hawk. I don't see any real way around this, and was wondering if anyone else feels the way I do, or has figured out a way around it, besides rotating watching your gear with band members, or ruining your girlfriend's good time by making her keep an eye on your stuff.

Also, I always find myself wanting to hang out after the gig, but having to load up my stuff into the car immediately after, not wanting to leave the car unattended, and therefore having to head back the the studio with it right after the set to secure it all instead of getting to hang out with friends, fans, socialize and drink the way I desperately want to.

I have insurance on all my equipment, but have a bass I don't think could ever truly be replaced, and don't want to pay a 100 fee to replace anything that gets stolen, especially a pedalboard, where it would be 100 dollars for every pedal-- not worth it to even insure that.

Is this just the nature of the beast? Do you guys ever just throw caution to the wind?

[Basshoofd]

Stand close to the stage and tell your friends to come to you

[electracoyote]

At our gigs, one of us, or our sound man, is always taking a peek at the stage even as we rub elbows with friends and fans.

I get more worried during multi-band gigs where the load in staging area is near the rear door and thousands of dollars worth of equipment is just sitting there ripe for the picking. It's hard to watch the stuff in that situation sometimes.

[jmattbassplaya]

Learn to not care. Honestly. Ever since I started using an SVT I've been saying that if someone can steal it without me seeing it they deserve it.

[Gearhead17]

Some shows are like that for me. Festivals....too many people walking around, other bands waiting to unload gear and set up.

You need to let it go at some point. I play a bar in Chicago that has no backstage area and you are basically playing on an "island" surrounded by drunk girls. Stuff gets knocked over, things get moved. Luckily we have security guards/bouncers over there. One trick to keep your gear safe right when the show ends is to throw it in the case right away. Unhook a few pieces of your gear and put it in a small pile right away, then go talk to the other people. Have a bag on stage to throw cables or other small stuff in right away so the sound guy does mistake them for his own stuff. This also cuts down on people grabbing random small stuff.

It really depends on the neighborhood you are in. Typically, you can leave your gear in your car all locked up after a typical bar show. If you are in a rough neighborhood or a shady bar, you might want to reconsider playing there in the future.

Bass gear is helpful though - bulky and mostly heavy. Or at least heavy looking. Harder to steal too. Try running through that door way with a 54lb 210. It may be lighter than most cabs, but you will still not move very fast...

[Stumbo]

You're workin'.

My bands have always understood that we take of business first. Girl friends/wives at gigs we're rare. We used to throw parties occaisionally for everyone and go out when we weren't gigging. They understood that we we're working at the gigs not partying.

FYI:do not have your girlfriend watch the equipment while you're drinking and carrying across the room. She won't be around long.

[pringlw]

I don't worry about everything - I worry about my basses because they are worth more to me than just the insurance money. So I usually try to make sure that those are all secure. The amp and cab I worry less about because for me at least it's more replaceable and... Let's face it they aren't easy to carry away unnoticed.

[Nev375]

A bicycle cable lock running through all the handles of your cases, bags and speaker cabs is what I would do.

[garak7]

Looks like you have about 4 choices, one of which you mentioned: Take turns with bandmates or friends watching the gear; Stash the bass/precious gear somewhere safe; Use a more expendable bass on the gig; Like Gearhead mentioned: Avoid those gigs where sticky fingers are likely to populate the place.

[hrodbert696]

I assume you've got a band with 3-5 guys in it. Just set up a rotation of who's on gear watch during breaks and post-show. First break might be your turn to hang out onstage while other guys go to the bar or the bathroom. If your friends are there, they can come to the stage and talk to you there. Second break, one of the other guys does the watching and you go to the bar... etc.

[TomB]

In over 40 years of gigging in every conceivable venue I've never had a piece taken from a set-up stage in an open venue with lights & customers, like during band breaks. That tends to be a time when you can safely visit within the venue (although drinking is up to you and that's another thread). Obviously you need to keep your wits about you to make sure the situation stays secure.

The load-in/load-out described is WAY riskier, and if you're socializing during that time you're risking plenty and pretty much deserve what you get, IMO. I always try to chat with whoever is on stage then, but wait to visit until everything's set-up (load-in) or packed (load-out).

If you miss visiting with some folks then I agree with Stumbo... you'e working. I'm sure they'll understand.

[Akami]

Usually if I'm in a situation where I would have any concerns, I'll pull my mic and bag it, then either keep my instrument on, flipping it to my back while I visit with customers and friends, but then I'll usually pack everything up while I get them to visit with me on stage.

As Gearhead and JMatt both pointed out, there comes a point at which you need to just go with fate and quit worrying, unless there's a particular reason to do so.

[Etchbass]

Thanks for the input. I NEVER put on the "I'm working vibe." If I'm playing a show, I'm PLAYING. Music is entertainment. It shouldn't ever feel like work, in my opinion. If you treat it like work (at the actual gig/show), it will come across in your demeanor and performance, and you don't want the audience to hang around feeling like they are at work or watching you work, do you? That sounds miserable to me.

[Nev375]

Originally Posted by Etchbass

Thanks for the input. I NEVER put on the "I'm working vibe." If I'm playing a show, I'm PLAYING. Music is entertainment. It shouldn't ever feel like work, in my opinion. If you treat it like work (at the actual gig/show), it will come across in your demeanor and performance, and you don't want the audience to hang around feeling like they are at work or watching you work, do you? That sounds miserable to me.

Apparently you have equated the word "work" in your mind that MUST be something miserable by definition. Likewise the word "play" must be fun and entertaining.

I would suggest to you that some people actually love their jobs and cannot wait to get to work and get the day started. Likewise there are some kids that don't like to go "play" because fun is often not in the action itself but in who you get to share it with.

I urge you to reconsider such drastic and opposing definitions. Success and happiness can easily coexist when one's work IS their play.

[MNAirHead]

Real road cases... stack them in a pile in the middle.... then put a sheet over them.

I find it's much more prudent to meet people BEFORE ... my wife will often have dinner at the venue before... even 1/2 hour makes the world of difference to your pals.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Etchbass

Also, I always find myself wanting to hang out after the gig, but having to load up my stuff into the car immediately after, not wanting to leave the car unattended, and therefore having to head back the the studio with it right after the set to secure it all instead of getting to hang out with friends, fans, socialize and drink the way I desperately want to.

Leaving all that aside for a whole different post....


"Music, it's not just and adventure, it's a job."

Do the job. Be a professional. There are 20 other hours in a day to commit social suicide

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by TomB

If you miss visiting with some folks then I agree with Stumbo... you'e working. I'm sure they'll understand.

Yeah, I agree, if you can't tear yourself away to go take a little inventory and quick security check, you get what you deserve.

The safety and security of the equipment comes first. Everyone else will just have to understand.

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by Etchbass

Thanks for the input. I NEVER put on the "I'm working vibe." If I'm playing a show, I'm PLAYING. Music is entertainment. It shouldn't ever feel like work, in my opinion. If you treat it like work (at the actual gig/show), it will come across in your demeanor and performance, and you don't want the audience to hang around feeling like they are at work or watching you work, do you? That sounds miserable to me.

Then you don't have what it takes to be a professional musician. You can have fun at work, and looking like you're having fun is part of the "work" of being a musician.

[Papa Dangerous]

Get a van, load it into the van after the show. Proceed to get a band dog, a vicious yet friendly rottweiler should do the trick. Leave dog in van with equipment.

[seanm]

I've just never worried about it. It is going to look very suspicious if somebody goes up on stage during a break and starts walking off with your bass.