Asking a band member for too much help.

[1954bassman]

I you have a rig you cannot manage yourself, then I would have to say that is the heart of the problem. Just like the guys in the earlier post having to lug a gigantic guitar rig not enjoying it. I see your guitar player's point.

I own the entire PA in my main band, and I am always looking for ways to compact down, and I most often start with the biggest - or hardest to move piece. I have not used huge bass cabinets in years.

If I was in a band that traveled a lot, and actually needed a big bass rig, I would go with a modular set-up.

To me, I mean no disrespect, but a 610 cab in a road case that one person cannot remove the lid is a dinosaur.

 

[Stumbo]

Can you modify the road case so that maybe an additional handle or two could be installed in the correct position that would allow you to lift off the case top more comfortably on your own?

Or maybe you can use one of those furniture moving straps?

+1 to asking different band members for help each time.

 

[JEBassman]

Can you modify the road case so that maybe an additional handle or two could be installed in the correct position that would allow you to lift off the case top more comfortably on your own?

Or maybe you can use one of those furniture moving straps?

+1 to asking different band members for help each time.

This seems like good advice. The guitar player was clearly being an a**hole, but it's also true that heavy gear can be a pain to lug around. Before you decide to quit the band, think about whether you want to quit based solely on the guitard's comment, or if there are other reasons as well. Do you get a bad vibe from other band members also, or was this a one-time thing?

I'd guess that your 610 puts out a lot of sound, but what about considering having two lightweight cabs that could produce a similar output? It's worth a thought, for your current band and future bands as well.

Good luck!

 

[mcnach]

So I play in a 4 piece. They've been together for a few years, I joined the group pretty recently.

We recently did a tour a, when we unload, we typically carry our own stuff, maybe we'll assist with some drum hardware, we're all pretty independent.

I had a roadcase made for my 610 cab, it's a lift off style due to back ports. I can't get the lid off myself, it's super heavy and awkward.

On the tour, after I roll myself in, every night I would ask the same guy (guitarist) to help me lift it off. It isn't bad with two people, at least I don't think so.

The other night after I asked he told me "no learn to do it yourself".

Not sure what to do at this point. Was I asking too much from him?

and at that stage, when he said no, is when I'd say "then I guess you''ll be needing a new bass player, bye"

seriously.

We don't have roadies, so we help eachother out. No big deal.
Maybe he thinks you don't "need" a 610, and I may side with him [1] But flatly refusing to help out?

Unless you're making tons of money, get out of there.

[1] I'd rather have 3x 210, or 1x 210 and 1x410 if you must have that configuration, because it makes handling and travelling much easier.

 

[gumtown]

Just leave the case on and drill a hole for the speaker lead, if no-one will help lift the cover, plug in and play with the cover on.
What about a soft padded vynal or canvas cover instead?

 

[Muttleybass]

He's being a dick.

And I could NOT disagree more with "being responsible for your own gear". It's a BAND. I get my stuff, I help the guitarist with his cab, I help the drummer with all his hardware... Grab something and bring it in! It's a group effort and the sooner we get loaded in, the sooner we can get set up and the more time to relax before the show.

I don't get the whole "your stuff, my stuff" thing. Jeez, just help each other, fer cryin' out loud.

 

[MICKUSS]

A band helps each other out. No questions asked. Period. Those of you who have a bass rig that you don't need help carrying might want to consider an upgrade.

 

[carl h.]

If YOU can't manage YOUR rig, you might want to evaluate what you are bringing to a gig. If the band thinks you need a big cab it is one thing, but if you are carrying a big cab for pure ego or other reasons, you might want to down size.

You picked the rig.

(Guitar guy was being an ass, might have a legit reason, but still same story)


I've got a fair sized rig, but I can move and set it up myself and am fully prepared to do it too - but the band members always help the other members who are carrying big/heavy/awkward stuff. We work together and it is in our best interest to bring the A game and remain uninjured if possible.

 

[RoadRanger]

OTOH if we all quit our bands because one of the guitarists is an occasional douche we'd never be in a band. After all, they all suffer from "bass envy" dontcha know ...



Oh, and if all you're asking for is a hand with the lid the guy's definitely a douche...

 

[MICKUSS]

If YOU can't manage YOUR rig, you might want to evaluate what you are bringing to a gig. If the band thinks you need a big cab it is one thing, but if you are carrying a big cab for pure ego or other reasons, you might want to down size.

You picked the rig.

(Guitar guy was being an ass, might have a legit reason, but still same story)

Haha, I knew that would get someone upset. I'm speaking from a rock n' roll point of view where you need an adequate rig to be heard over loud drums\guitars. Your micro head and cab will do for the coffee shop gigs....I guess.

 

[xgator4u]

Can you modify the road case so that maybe an additional handle or two could be installed in the correct position that would allow you to lift off the case top more comfortably on your own?

This.

If you can NOT modify in order to manage on your own, then you need a rig that you can manage.
Or get a roadie/cab hauler.

 

[jaywa]

My guitarist and I have reached an understanding on this.

I help him move and "uncover" his unnecessarily large and loud 4x12 cabinet, and he lets me keep the road case onstage to use as my combo stand and beverage table.



It's been working out OK so far.

 

[DWBass]

He's being a dick.

And I could NOT disagree more with "being responsible for your own gear". It's a BAND. I get my stuff, I help the guitarist with his cab, I help the drummer with all his hardware... Grab something and bring it in! It's a group effort and the sooner we get loaded in, the sooner we can get set up and the more time to relax before the show.

I don't get the whole "your stuff, my stuff" thing. Jeez, just help each other, fer cryin' out loud.

I do more than enough loading/unloading the PA system from the van into the venue and setting dual 15 mains on top of subs! This stuff ain't light. I'm also setting up mic stands and monitors while the bandleader wires everything up. It's mainly me and the band leader. Then I have to grab my own gear out my car. I've done my job. The rest of the guys are fully capable of unloading and setting up their own gear! Sorry, that's just the way it is in my band. Dunno how old some of you guys are but I'm 53! I'm really tired of lifting all this crap (40+ years of it) and I'm not gonna volunteer to do more if I don't have to. Yeah, it's a band but don't buy gear with the expectation of others to help you deal with it!

 

[DWBass]

Haha, I knew that would get someone upset. I'm speaking from a rock n' roll point of view where you need an adequate rig to be heard over loud drums\guitars. Your micro head and cab will do for the coffee shop gigs....I guess.

Not true. My Markbass LMIII + 2 GK Neo112's can work for any situation if need be. I also have a Genz Benz 4x10. Even still, if I had to have an 8x10, I'd split it in half and have 2 4x10's. Much easier to transport!

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I do agree the guitar player was quite rude, it is kind of rude of you to constantly ask only him for help. For all the folks screaming helping is a band thing, why don't you ask anybody else in the band instead of constantly this guy. You quitting over something as small as this clearly indicates you don't even want to be there, are you wasting their time as much as they seem to be wasting yours?

Also, I have no problem helping my band load gear in and out, but if my drummer insisted on bringing a 30 piece kit and my guitar player just had to have a full stack when we are playing small bars with P.A support, truthfully I would tell them no at a certain point and to downsize his rig. Sounds like this guy hit his breaking point.

 

[jaywa]

DW, you sound a lot like my BL. The difference being, my BL's only 31 and he's already figured this out.

When I joined his band they were using a 900w bass head and an 8x10 cabinet. One of the first things he asked me when I joined was, "do you have a smaller bass amp"? I told him I had a 1x12 combo, 150w with a balanced out for the P.A. He said "perfect". I used it the next gig (DI'd to the P.A.), and we've never looked back.

It wouldn't work for every band but we have a 16,000-watt full-range P.A. and IEMs so there's absolutely no reason to roll an arena-scale bass rig on our gigs. And with the space in the trailer that we saved by ditching the big bass rig, we were able to add two more subs to our P.A. plus the power amps to drive them.

 

[fishdreams]

There is a fine line between asking for help every now and then, and putting a consistent, predictable problem onto someone else without his prior consent (I'm sure you don't mean it like that, but I can see him feeling like that)

And I don't know about y'all, but I know i am NOT always in the best mood in early morning hours, after a heavy gig - and I might get crabby too, if I found out I were apparently expected to do something that frankly is not my responsibility.

If I always need assistance going beyond the occasional help request (which seems to be the case here), it is my responsibility to procure that by making some kind of arrangement beforehand.

I'd suggest discussing your problem with your gear with the band in an open format, as an issue to solve, where you acknowledge that in the end it is your problem, not theirs, but you do need some help. Everybody can bring in a solution, and maybe you can together find a workflow that suits everybody- for example, after they have broken down their own gear, the first one who is ready helps you with that particular task.

 

[ChrisB2]

I'm surprised at the number of people telling OP to get a smaller rig.

Look, he wants and/or needs a 610. That's what he wants/needs to play through. If someone else wants to play, or only needs, a 210, or whatever, that's fine too. But there's nothing wrong with gigging a 610.

And there's nothing wrong with asking someone for a hand. I just wouldn't ask that guy again.

In my band, everybody has different sizes, weights, and amounts of stuff, and we all help out with whatever needs moved.

I can't imagine being in a band where no one was willing to help each other, or where you were dictated what gear you could play based on someone else's arbitrary ideal.

 

[jaywa]

I'm not telling OP to get a smaller rig.

I'm telling OP that maybe his guitarist is telling him to get a smaller rig.

 

[MICKUSS]

I'm surprised at the number of people telling OP to get a smaller rig.

Look, he wants and/or needs a 610. That's what he wants/needs to play through. If someone else wants to play, or only needs, a 210, or whatever, that's fine too. But there's nothing wrong with gigging a 610.

And there's nothing wrong with asking someone for a hand. I just wouldn't ask that guy again.

In my band, everybody has different sizes, weights, and amounts of stuff, and we all help out with whatever needs moved.

I can't imagine being in a band where no one was willing to help each other, or where you were dictated what gear you could play based on someone else's arbitrary ideal.

No need for further discussion after this post.