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That's what we want you to believe.
Drug addicts and other assorted arseholes are everywhere.
Does anyone give you weird looks when you take it into the restroom?
On breaks always stand right in front of your gear and look like this...
or hire someone to do that.
or hire someone to do that.
Having had extensive experience in shaky neighborhoods, my rules are simple.
Don't bring anything you'll be heartbroken to have lost. This one is hard when you are young and starting out, as even a modest axe may represent a big part of your net worth, but even in my present position of hobby bassist with a day gig, this rule is what keeps me at the used Lakland level and away from Foderas. Yes, my avatar features a Carl Pedigo build that I commissioned, but Carl's work is a bargain, and it's one of only a handful of instruments I've purchased new, since first playing trombone, 47 years ago. And yes, I do bring it to many gigs...but I also keep a beater 5-string on hand for when I know a scene will be really, really ugly, or it's an outdoor gig and the weather might be bad.
Always have your axe with you, unless you have a lot of confidence that it could not be lifted without a lot of effort and visibility to others. Gig bags are God's gift to working musicians! Otherwise, I might leave the axe on stage, between sets, but only if the crowd vibes right, and I may move it behind the drums so no one gets it without being obvious, athletic, or both. If going to the loo will be a problem, ask a bandmate to babysit your axe.
Use a combo amp when gigging multi-band events where there is a constant swirl of load-in/load-out, which can beget theft opportunities. Class D amps fascinate me as a great theft hazard - small, high-value items! No one is casually gonna snake your SVT head, but those light and portable Class D heads could easily migrate. For those kind of events, I bring a Genz Benz combo - a Shuttle 9.2 saddled to a 1/12 cabinet (and I have a second cabinet available), and sometimes wonder if I'd be better off still with a unit that would require a screwdriver to yank the head out, but I love the sound and light weight of the GB rig.
Finally, understand that bad stuff can happen anywhere, anytime. In the 1970s and 1980s I logged a lot of late-night time as a pedestrian or on public transportation in and out of "bad" neighborhoods in Philly and NYC. Never had a problem, but also always tried to keep a low profile, and as a trombonist, I was traveling without an amp. The one time in my life I was mugged? Broad daylight, 1988, I was swarmed in a neighborhood of multi-million dollar homes alongside Harvard University. And all I had was a near-empty wallet and a backpack full of books...I couldn't frickin' believe it! Those kids must really have been hurting for their next fix of meth...
Don't bring anything you'll be heartbroken to have lost. This one is hard when you are young and starting out, as even a modest axe may represent a big part of your net worth, but even in my present position of hobby bassist with a day gig, this rule is what keeps me at the used Lakland level and away from Foderas. Yes, my avatar features a Carl Pedigo build that I commissioned, but Carl's work is a bargain, and it's one of only a handful of instruments I've purchased new, since first playing trombone, 47 years ago. And yes, I do bring it to many gigs...but I also keep a beater 5-string on hand for when I know a scene will be really, really ugly, or it's an outdoor gig and the weather might be bad.
Always have your axe with you, unless you have a lot of confidence that it could not be lifted without a lot of effort and visibility to others. Gig bags are God's gift to working musicians! Otherwise, I might leave the axe on stage, between sets, but only if the crowd vibes right, and I may move it behind the drums so no one gets it without being obvious, athletic, or both. If going to the loo will be a problem, ask a bandmate to babysit your axe.
Use a combo amp when gigging multi-band events where there is a constant swirl of load-in/load-out, which can beget theft opportunities. Class D amps fascinate me as a great theft hazard - small, high-value items! No one is casually gonna snake your SVT head, but those light and portable Class D heads could easily migrate. For those kind of events, I bring a Genz Benz combo - a Shuttle 9.2 saddled to a 1/12 cabinet (and I have a second cabinet available), and sometimes wonder if I'd be better off still with a unit that would require a screwdriver to yank the head out, but I love the sound and light weight of the GB rig.
Finally, understand that bad stuff can happen anywhere, anytime. In the 1970s and 1980s I logged a lot of late-night time as a pedestrian or on public transportation in and out of "bad" neighborhoods in Philly and NYC. Never had a problem, but also always tried to keep a low profile, and as a trombonist, I was traveling without an amp. The one time in my life I was mugged? Broad daylight, 1988, I was swarmed in a neighborhood of multi-million dollar homes alongside Harvard University. And all I had was a near-empty wallet and a backpack full of books...I couldn't frickin' believe it! Those kids must really have been hurting for their next fix of meth...
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This is one of the reasons I strive to keep all of my load in to a single trip. No moment you get separated from your gear.
Gig bag (I use a Mono) also has the pedalboard, DI, and anything else that could walk away attached to it, which is in turn attached to me. I've never had stuff stolen from stage, but I have had stuff ripped off while I was on stage and couldn't keep an eye on what was going on behind the scenes. Now, my whole kit can fit on stage, including cases.
As long as someone's always by the stage, no issues.
Gig bag (I use a Mono) also has the pedalboard, DI, and anything else that could walk away attached to it, which is in turn attached to me. I've never had stuff stolen from stage, but I have had stuff ripped off while I was on stage and couldn't keep an eye on what was going on behind the scenes. Now, my whole kit can fit on stage, including cases.
As long as someone's always by the stage, no issues.
I'd've never had any bandmates ever with that criteria!
Kidding aside, many posts have nailed it already, i.e., crime of opportunity, (don't give 'em one), leaving gear in the car, (may as well put a bow on it), be watchful at the venue/loading in or out, etc.. Play something easily replaceable or insure your stuff for peace of mind.
I'd add that it never hurts to mark your cases to avoid confusion on multi-band bills. If concerned about resale value, do something reversible like adding a strip of colored gaff tape. Most everything's black and it's very easy for someone to "make a mistake", intentional or otherwise. If your cases, bags, covers, etc. have a piece of, say, lime green tape on them you'll notice them in the gear pile more easily.
Play beaters that are easily replaced.
Get your girlfriend and their friends to watch your gear.
If you are on your own you will learn to manage your gear and keep it always as a top priority when you aren't playing it.
A lot of guys will lock gear up in an office somewhere and party after they're done, or between sets.
That's when you loosen up and your priorities slip.
You leave gear places and have to go get it later, increasing time wasted and exposure to damage or theft.
Bc hey, I've never partied with a bar manager in the office with a bunch of randoms stumbling around gear after close trying to pick off the girls.
Get your girlfriend and their friends to watch your gear.
If you are on your own you will learn to manage your gear and keep it always as a top priority when you aren't playing it.
A lot of guys will lock gear up in an office somewhere and party after they're done, or between sets.
That's when you loosen up and your priorities slip.
You leave gear places and have to go get it later, increasing time wasted and exposure to damage or theft.
Bc hey, I've never partied with a bar manager in the office with a bunch of randoms stumbling around gear after close trying to pick off the girls.
Always keep your eyes on your gear. Always! I've been playing gigs since the mid 70's. Never had anything stolen. When not gigging, make sure all your gear is in your home. Keep receipts of everything and write down the serial numbers of everything. Home insurance should cover anything stolen from your home. Not your car.
That would be tantamount to surrendering to the thieves, rather than resisting them and beating them. It also eliminates one of the great joys of owning - and playing - a premium-quality instrument...i.e. if you can't bring your #1 bass to the venue for fearing of it getting stolen...
MM
1) I build my own basses, and sign my initials on the headstock in Sharpie (then clear coat over it). From a distance, looks ok, but up close it's definitely not a Fender or anything recognizable.
2) I do weight relief on some of my basses (see above). If a thief looks at the back, he'll probably pass it over and steal a guitar instead.
3) I play only in churches.
4) I never leave my basses overnight. I play Saturday evening, take it home with me, and return with it Sunday morning.
No guarantees, but I sleep ok using this approach.
- Oct 7, 2000
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I don't ever want to believe I'm immune to getting my gear stolen, BUT...
I live in NYC, have toured up and down the east coast, done some playing out west, and toured through a lot of Europe. I've played probably over 2000 shows, I'm not super protective of my gear, and I've never had anything stolen.
I think the key is to NOT be an idiot
, and as mentioned already, use some common sense. I've left my bass in my car in NYC. Whenever I did I made absolutely certain it couldn't be seen, and that nobody saw me putting it in my car. If I leave my bass in a club somewhere I make sure it's in clear view, or that there are people around watching it. Truth be told, I've done a bunch of stupid things too where I could have easily gotten my stuff stolen, but it hasn't happened. And my gear ain't cheap.
My feeling is this. First, the people most interested in stealing gear I think would be musicians (it's just too hard to sell gear for drugs and other stuff, much easier to steal phones, laptops, money etc.). For the most part, musicians are cool people, not out to steal people's gear. And if they're NOT those kind of cool musicians, they usually stick out like sore thumbs. For me, anyhow.
Second, I've really come to believe that certain things truly aren't worth worrying about. If you're sensible about things chances are excellent nothing will ever get stolen. The absolute worst case scenario is - something DOES get stolen - and if that happened, guess what? You'd survive. And you'd get over it. It wouldn't be the end of the world, and I'll add -- if it DOES seem like the end of the world, then that might be something you might want to take a look at. I would address my fear however necessary, and do my best to not let it rob me of my joy with gigging. I know that might sound easier said than done for someone in your shoes, but that doesn't mean ya can't get over it.
I live in NYC, have toured up and down the east coast, done some playing out west, and toured through a lot of Europe. I've played probably over 2000 shows, I'm not super protective of my gear, and I've never had anything stolen.
I think the key is to NOT be an idiot
, and as mentioned already, use some common sense. I've left my bass in my car in NYC. Whenever I did I made absolutely certain it couldn't be seen, and that nobody saw me putting it in my car. If I leave my bass in a club somewhere I make sure it's in clear view, or that there are people around watching it. Truth be told, I've done a bunch of stupid things too where I could have easily gotten my stuff stolen, but it hasn't happened. And my gear ain't cheap.My feeling is this. First, the people most interested in stealing gear I think would be musicians (it's just too hard to sell gear for drugs and other stuff, much easier to steal phones, laptops, money etc.). For the most part, musicians are cool people, not out to steal people's gear. And if they're NOT those kind of cool musicians, they usually stick out like sore thumbs. For me, anyhow.
Second, I've really come to believe that certain things truly aren't worth worrying about. If you're sensible about things chances are excellent nothing will ever get stolen. The absolute worst case scenario is - something DOES get stolen - and if that happened, guess what? You'd survive. And you'd get over it. It wouldn't be the end of the world, and I'll add -- if it DOES seem like the end of the world, then that might be something you might want to take a look at. I would address my fear however necessary, and do my best to not let it rob me of my joy with gigging. I know that might sound easier said than done for someone in your shoes, but that doesn't mean ya can't get over it
.
When I started gigging again in my early 30s (after taking a long hiatus from playing in bands), I had that concern when I started getting more expensive gear too. Now, countless gigs later, I dont even think about it. I generally dont leave my gear unattended unless I go to the bathroom or something, but no one has ever went near our stuff. I dont leave stuff in the car either. I think if you and your band stayed aware, you will be fine.
Only times I've had gear stolen were not on a gig. Only at a rehearsal complex or at home. Use the same common sense you'd use anywhere else and you will be fine. For the most part. Some people do get gear stolen, though, and beyond reasonable common sense measures, not much you can do but get insurance.
That's why I have some cheap basses! My $100 Squier, I love it, but meh! My Rick on the other hand is reserved to more upscale things, if we ever get any lol
This. Because... you really can't stop thieves. Worst case someone walks up to you and kills you for your gear.
*yay*
And with that happy thought we're back. Seriously, THINK security. That doesn't mean you have to remain in flop sweat mode the entire time you're away from home.
Take load-in/load-out. One trip is usually better because your gear won't be in your vehicle unattended. If you have to make two trips I'd take my bass out last. It's typically the most valuable piece I take out. Use what used to be called "common sense". Don't leave your gear unattended. Don't leave it in your car overnight. If it's in your car make it as stealth as possible. Something as simple as a black towel or bedsheet can visually conceal your gear. Tinted windows help too. Be acutely aware of your surroundings. If someone is hanging around sucking their teeth ogling your gear keep your eye on them. Don't tell strangers too much, like where the band van will be parked or your home address.
It's not like you have to be super paranoid, it actually doesn't have to cause any angst. Just get in the habit of thinking about what you're doing.
If I have to make a stop and I can't conceal my basses I'll take my basses with me. Then if someone wants to steal them they can at least introduce themselves. That was fun back in the day when I'd walk into a bank with a headless bass in a shotgun case (true story).
If I have to make a stop and I can't conceal my basses I'll take my basses with me. Then if someone wants to steal them they can at least introduce themselves. That was fun back in the day when I'd walk into a bank with a headless bass in a shotgun case (true story).
I was stopped on base in Germany once or twice carrying a Cort headless in a gig bag that looked a lot like a rifle bag. Nothing serious, more curiosity.
