I would agree with the caveat that you need to give them the opportunity to get out of your way quickly. Nothing pisses me off more than someone getting in my way when I'm trying my best to get out of THEIR way in a hurry. Takes way longer than it should if we're all up there dancing around each other at the same time.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
15 minutes between bands - no backline provided...?
- Thread starter Taustin Powers
- Start date
Sorry but if you cant swing the 15 min Change over you're screwing around.
D
The way this type of gig usually "works" is that there are massive delays that will get progressively worse for each band. If you're playing late, don't expect anything to be on schedule. Be as efficient as possible, 15 minutes is tight but it can be done. If not, who cares. All it means is that the next band will be even more behind schedule.
I was just remembering an occasion when a quick change went remarkable well. It was at Wiener Staatsoper. Bonnie Raitt was the headliner. The stage was so deep that the acts were all set up on rolling platforms. When it was time for the change, a small army of workers rolled off the opening band platforms, then rolled in the headliner platforms. That was pretty cool.
That's how the superstars do it.
That's how the superstars do it.
I've done this many times. It sucks but it's doable. Agree to have your drum kit staged if at all possible and, as much as it sucks, pressure the prior band to get off the stage asap. I'll help them move their stuff if it will speed up the overall process, but only if I ask first.
Your not the drummer who cares.
But seriously I worked for a production company and did festivals were we had 20 mins. Its doable. They might have rolling risers to roll one kit out and the next in it depends on how big the stage is. As a bassist your fine. If your worried go up and offer to help the other guy move his rig off and then get a few more mins for you to put yours up. The sound guys / stagehands and the drummers are going to be the ones going crazy.
But seriously I worked for a production company and did festivals were we had 20 mins. Its doable. They might have rolling risers to roll one kit out and the next in it depends on how big the stage is. As a bassist your fine. If your worried go up and offer to help the other guy move his rig off and then get a few more mins for you to put yours up. The sound guys / stagehands and the drummers are going to be the ones going crazy.
Last edited:
This is what I saw on Wednesday. The bands were Snarky Puppy and Steely Dan. Everything that could be set up on rolling platforms was. Both bands have massive amounts of equipment. I didn't time the changeover but it couldn't have been more than 15 minutes or so.I was just remembering an occasion when a quick change went remarkable well. It was at Wiener Staatsoper. Bonnie Raitt was the headliner. The stage was so deep that the acts were all set up on rolling platforms. When it was time for the change, a small army of workers rolled off the opening band platforms, then rolled in the headliner platforms. That was pretty cool.
That's how the superstars do it.
Of course there was also an army of techs and stagehands to make it happen. I'm guessing most of us don't have that.
Last edited:
In the 90s and early 2000s when local original music shows were a thing this was standard. Assemble everything backstage and know you have to hustle everything off as soon as you're done. Should be no problem if everyone is a pro.
Some definitely run that way, but in my experience it has been rare. One big event I played wound up running a over an hour late, and I believe we were the second band. This was because they did not hire an experienced stage crew. I believe they got all of the mic cable tangled and did not want to unplug. Eventually they gave in and realized they had to unplug and untangle the mess.
Ironically every band was required to do a sound check early in the day, and the sound checks ran relatively smoothly. Now that I think of it, a backline was force on us for that gig.
My guitar player spends 15 mins just setting up all his foot pedals
Ain't both of those the SOP for multi-band gigs? Get that kit out there then it's on the sound crew if they can't get it mailed in time.
They say 15 but probably mean 20-25.
Each band member can grab their own stuff. Just have cables piled on pedal boards and guitars on stands.
Are stairs involved? That can complicate things.
Each band member can grab their own stuff. Just have cables piled on pedal boards and guitars on stands.
Are stairs involved? That can complicate things.
"Fête de la Musique
June 21, 2022
Berliners celebrate the beginning of summer with an open-air music festival, the Fête de la Musique. Every year on the 21st of June, musicians and bands play live music in the streets of Berlin for free."
June 21, 2022
Berliners celebrate the beginning of summer with an open-air music festival, the Fête de la Musique. Every year on the 21st of June, musicians and bands play live music in the streets of Berlin for free."
Considering the format, this doesn't seem so surprising. How tight of a ship they run as far as time slots also seems an open question; although they're Germans...
The show will be chronically behind schedule. To be ready in 15 minutes, everything has to be pre-staged, with nothing to stow or put away. The previous band isn't packed up in 15 minutes. Then you have all the onstage commotion during the change-over. Do your best, but nobody who knows anything thinks that is possible on one stage.
If I can unpack backstage somewhere, I can dedicate 10 minutes of that window to helping the drummer and then set myself up and perform a line check in less than five. The soundcheck is performed during the first song. The stages I did this on were broken down to the left and built from the right, so there was no bumping into each other. Getting the drums ready is the hard bit.
If the bands share the drum kit and everyone brings their own cymbals and snare, it's much easier.
If the bands share the drum kit and everyone brings their own cymbals and snare, it's much easier.
I've seen amateurs fail at this kind of schedule many times, but speaking as a former pro stagehand, 15 is plenty if you have an experienced crew, with or without gear wagons. If you want a better idea about what will happen, ask how many hands they have working the changes. If they answer that it's up to the bands it will be hell, if they have ten hands and they know the work, you won't have to worry, and stay out of the way. Just be sharp for when the board man calls for line checks while parts are still moving, that might be all the check you get before performance.
- Jan 26, 2014
- 768
- 1,555
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist;DNA Amplification, GHS strings
Not impossible. My bands have always been quick on/off. Hook everything up and tune beforehand, preassemble the drums offstage and its fast. If the sound guy takes too long to get everything wired up, that's on them.
When done, everyone takes their gear off stage and then helps with the drums. The singer has minimal gear so he/she should be the first to start hauling drum gear off the stage. Then disassemble and pack up off stage.
You have a lot more instruments but as long as the band before you doesn't screw around, it's doable.
When done, everyone takes their gear off stage and then helps with the drums. The singer has minimal gear so he/she should be the first to start hauling drum gear off the stage. Then disassemble and pack up off stage.
You have a lot more instruments but as long as the band before you doesn't screw around, it's doable.
- Jan 26, 2014
- 768
- 1,555
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist;DNA Amplification, GHS strings
I always try to set up/break down as quickly as possible. The other bands are waiting to get on and I've been that band watching guys chatting with their friends with no consideration for anyone else. Granted it's usually younger guys that are just stoked to have played and still feeling the rush, so you kinda give them a little leeway. Just a little though. I've gone up and asked if they needed help a couple of times.
We played a DIY show and the band before us had nothing ready to go. The gear was secured in a locked room upstairs and they literally brought one piece down at a time. Took well over 45 minutes. Then they played four songs, badly, and were shut down by the guy running the show.
We played a DIY show and the band before us had nothing ready to go. The gear was secured in a locked room upstairs and they literally brought one piece down at a time. Took well over 45 minutes. Then they played four songs, badly, and were shut down by the guy running the show.
Reality is its going to cut into your play time. If your play time is 45 minutes that sucks, if its 90 minutes not too bad etc.. Agree with the post that the organizers are clueless. If they are having so many bands that they only planned for 15 minutes for the previous band to get off the stage and you get on and all set up they SHOULD have had a backline. Probably no stage manager and the last band will get screwed.
