As someone who hasn't gigged much, how do I stop thieves?

[Altitude]

Load-out is when you have the most risk. Equipment is walking out the door and only its owner can tell whether it's in the hands of the right person. A guy with any degree of confidence can grab an instrument in the case, walk out the door with it, and not even be questioned.

This is one of many reasons I'm obsessed with small and light. I want to minimize trips to the car at 2AM. I'm at 2 trips now, because I still have 2 heavy cabs. I think I can get down to 1 trip if I get one of these super 112s. Or at least that's what I'm telling my wife.

Otherwise, take the light stuff to the car first and leave your cabs for the last trip, as those are least likely to get lifted.


I don't see a ton of risk of theft from the stage in the midst of the night (like a set break). There, the risk is that an inebriated dude will come up and try to play Barney Miller for his buddies.

 

[AngusHasMoxie]

I know any number of pros who have been knocked off for their gear, but the most common scenario based on my anecdotal observation is "whole band on tour come outta the waffle house to find their van gone."

Most creative divestment of gear goes to some Portland pals who forgot to hitch the back door of their van and posited gear all across town, only a small part of which was eventually retrieved.

Best stealing of an instrument goes to some guys in SF, CA who stole a trumpet from a rival band and then recorded a tauting put-down single utilizing the horn on a solo. GENIUS.

For sure the van thing is way more common. Honestly as I was typing my answer I realized I should probably load out only when I leave so things aren't in my car for as long... I have tinted windows and store everything under a parcel shelf in my hatchback so you'd have to see my putting my gear in to know it's got goodies inside

 

[EMoneySC2]

My cabs have painted grills with my name and phone number painted all over them. I paint my road cases and racks bright colors. I have notes with my name and phone number hidden in my basses battery compartments. I track all the serial number information off my gear, and I have pictures of the gear with visible notes with my name.

I'm a pretty paranoid person about this stuff, so in the near-ish future I may also look into taping cheap bluetooth/gps trackers onto my gear in hidden places. These are what I'm looking at right now:

Track your phone, wallet, keys & anything else with TrackR!

 

[Altitude]

For sure the van thing is way more common. Honestly as I was typing my answer I realized I should probably load out only when I leave so things aren't in my car for as long... I have tinted windows and store everything under a parcel shelf in my hatchback so you'd have to see my putting my gear in to know it's got goodies inside

But I still think your stuff sitting in your locked car is way safer than the stuff sitting at the edge of the stage waiting for you to come back for it.

 

[EMoneySC2]

But I still think your stuff sitting in your locked car is way safer than the stuff sitting at the edge of the stage waiting for you to come back for it.

When my gear goes in my car I leave. Too easy to bust a window and make off with everything. I've heard enough of those stories to know better.

As for load outs, I've got a nice cart so I can load in/out in one go. I show up with my gear all at once, and leave with it all at once. It all never leaves my sight.

 

[west al]

The way to protect your gear,..... ROADIES!

 

[morgansterne]

I brought several thousand dollars worth of stuff to a big festival show. I didn't unload the car afterwards (it was super late and the fam was asleep already). I locked it in my car of course, and parked it out of sight of the road. The windows are tinted anyway, you can't see in it.

However I left my side entrance to the basement unlocked and a thief came in around 2:30 a.m. and grabbed a couple guitar amps.

(I got my stuff back as the thief was caught very quickly. The cop believes the guy was casing the whole neighborhood looking for unlocked doors.)

The moral of the story being, he ignored the expensive stuff because it was locked (and out of sight) and grabbed cheap stuff because I made it easy for him.

 

[lefty1979]

Playing in God's house probably help's keep away some of the baddies.

You'd be surprised. I never leave gear at church. Little stuff walks all the time (cables, mics, etc.). Remember, lots of churches stay open during the week, and anyone could be walking through.

 

[Munjibunga]

The only thing I've ever had stolen at a gig was a pitch pipe at the Sigma Chi Ball in Palm Springs back in 1980. It was in an age before electronic tuners.

 

[duff beer]

I remember a load out downtown in December, -35C, from the 4th floor of a hotel. The drummer had borrowed a large van that could hold ALL of our gear which saved us parking and driving from our rehearsal space (my basement).

We didn't even trust the staff cleaning up after the event. We got hold of a small wheeled flatbed cart and would load a portion of gear (we brought our own PA) onto it. There were 4 members in the band. 2 people hauled the gear down though the freight elevator while one person stayed with the remaining gear and the other one stayed in the van to keep an eye on the stuff already loaded. It took twice as long but we had peace of mind...

 

[colantalas]

One tip: keep the guitars and pedalboards behind the merch table, and have one person manning the table at all times. Load the table and guitars out last at the end of the night.

 

[Sid Fang]

I drive a compact station wagon that's a great compromise for drivability, economy, and gear capacity, but it does mean that there's no trunk to keep interesting stuff concealed. So I always, always, always have a big old ratty blanket in the cargo area. I always completely cover my gear with that blanket, as shapelessly as possible, BEFORE driving, if I think I may be stopping anywhere between home and the gig/rehearsal. The logic is that, while there are sadly some number of people who will smash and grab if they see an instrument case, or other easily fenceable item, it's a much smaller percentage who will risk breaking into a funky old car just to see what's under a ratty blanket.

It's worked so far... [insert emoji for touching wood]

 

[fdeck]

Most of my gigs these days are on upright, so I don't know how applicable this is.

I pay closest attention to what's the most valuable, which could be emotional or financial value. That's my bass. If necessary, I will abandon the rest of my gear before I endanger my bass.

For the rest of my gear, I'm wary but not obsessive, and am emotionally detached. It could vanish, and I'd be temporarily angry, but not heartbroken. Nothing is an heirloom. I'm also self insured, meaning that I could afford to replace it if needed. I think if you need insurance to protect your gear, than you can't afford it in the first place.

 

[somebrains]

I just shoot GSSF this weekend, it's a glock only competition. Think a couple 100 people with Glocks.

Once in a while some dude will walk off with someones gearbag.

So yeah, thieves are everywhere.

Don't feel bad about being vigilant, last year the dude that got his gearbag stolen had 4 Glocks in it.

 

[RoadRanger]

There were 4 members in the band. 2 people hauled the gear down though the freight elevator while one person stayed with the remaining gear and the other one stayed in the van to keep an eye on the stuff already loaded. It took twice as long but we had peace of mind...

I've always done the rotation thing - one person at both ends and when someone arrives at either end the "guard" grabs the next thing to be moved and goes. Same thing at the destination end except you go empty. This gives everyone a rest. Obviously if you have one or two people that can't move stuff they can be permanent guards.

If you really can't guard both ends definitely do the outside end!

 

[gregmon79]

perhaps it sucks, but that's basically the deal, as far as I'm concerned. Never out of my sight unless I have someone I really trust watching instead.

This. All the way. It only takes seconds for someone to just walk off with your stuff. So I know I always have my gear within view at all times unless its a place I know like my home or say the jam spot. But at a gig, I always make sure all of my stuff is within reach just about. It sucks, but it's just the way it is unfortunately. I've had times when I had to load out to my car, in Chicago city areas, and was pretty much forced to put my gear back in the car when there was still more bands I wanted to stay and watch. I just left. No way am I leaving my gear in my car unattended. Especially in the city of Chicago. My guitarists backpack was stolen out of his car while he was in at a store one time. Busted his window and took his bag.

 

[bholder]

This. All the way. It only takes seconds for someone to just walk off with your stuff. So I know I always have my gear within view at all times unless its a place I know like my home or say the jam spot. But at a gig, I always make sure all of my stuff is within reach just about. It sucks, but it's just the way it is unfortunately. I've had times when I had to load out to my car, in Chicago city areas, and was pretty much forced to put my gear back in the car when there was still more bands I wanted to stay and watch. I just left. No way am I leaving my gear in my car unattended. Especially in the city of Chicago. My guitarists backpack was stolen out of his car while he was in at a store one time. Busted his window and took his bag.

In these cases, a touch of paranoia is actually a good asset.

 

[Showdown]

My cabs have painted grills with my name and phone number painted all over them. I paint my road cases and racks bright colors. I have notes with my name and phone number hidden in my basses battery compartments. I track all the serial number information off my gear, and I have pictures of the gear with visible notes with my name.

I'm a pretty paranoid person about this stuff, so in the near-ish future I may also look into taping cheap bluetooth/gps trackers onto my gear in hidden places. These are what I'm looking at right now:

Track your phone, wallet, keys & anything else with TrackR!

Your business, but it seems pretty excessive to me.

 

[David Jayne]

If it's out of your view it's out of your control. Some people go to gigs specifically to steal. Sometimes they follow you. My friends think I'm weird for bringing my bass into the diner with me after the gig. Oh well. Friends of mine went to the city for a play. They parked in a pay garage and last minute she decided to lock her bag in the trunk. They came back to a busted trunk and no bag. Someone was watching. Other friends were in a hotel with gear in their van. The van was plastered with music gear brand stickers/logos. I warned them. They lost the van and everything in it. You can never be too cautious.

 

[2112]

Try to keep an eye open as you leave the gig to make sure you aren't followed out. Every once in awhile you hear a story about something like this. Even if you aren't mugged while on-the-road, they could figure out where you live and then they know what you might have inside your home.