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Before downbeat...

Before I start playing..

  • I show up, plug into the backline and play.

    Votes: 30 16.1%

  • I just bring my rig, set it up, and play.

    Votes: 65 34.9%

  • I show up early to help unload and set up the PA/lights.

    Votes: 124 66.7%

  • Carrots with all that nonsense, I don't gig.

    Votes: 13 7.0%
  • Total voters
    186
Marko 1

Marko 1

Supporting Member
Mar 9, 2009
9,762
13,743
69
Ohio, beeeautiful Youngstown Area
#1
Multiple votes since I know many experience more than one scenario. :)

Where I live, a provided PA is a rare thing, so scenario 3 is the norm.

Scenario 1 I'd find to be a total drag, as I'm a gearhead, and my bass rig is an integral part of my enjoyment.

Actually I quite enjoy scenario 3, at least since it's my PA, and gear is gear... :thumbsup:

but at my age, by the time I get home I feel like I've been run over by a train. :eek:

Scenario 2 might be a fantasy for me. :)

Share your experience, and your feelings on the the topic.

Thanks. :)
 
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#8
Marko 1 said:
Multiple votes since I know many experience more than one scenario. :)

Where I live, a provided PA is a rare thing, so scenario 3 is the norm.

Scenario 1 I'd find to be a total drag, as I'm a gearhead, and my bass rig is an integral part of my enjoyment.

Actually I quite enjoy scenario 3, at least since it's my PA, and gear is gear... :thumbsup:

but at my age, by the time I get home I feel like I've been run over by a train. :eek:

Scenario 2 might be a fantasy for me. :)

Share your experience, and your feelings on the the topic.

Thanks. :)
Click to expand...
I show up at the practice spot. Two people help load things into my trailer. I get to the gig almost 3 hours early. I unload everything, because my PA in now in the back of the trailer. I set up the PA. Everyone shows up and starts setting themselves up. I then plug them in, run their monitors, set their mixes, answer the same exact questions that they ask me every single time we play, back and forth through the whole band, then finish setting up the PA. I set up my rig, and go to do a sound check, but no one is there. I run around to find them all to get a sound check going. I then grab my tablet and set gains one by one. I tell them repeatedly to keep going as they stop each time they hit a note and tell me, "I've got nothing. I don't hear anything" "I know, keep going"

I then finish the last requests of my bandmates before we start. They start the intro, and I set the mix. I bring my bass in to it, and we play.

Pretty much reverse all that for closing
 
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#13
At this time option 4. is the correct answer.

I will order the other results by frequency of occurrence for me (during my active years): 3,2,1.

3. Most of my gigs were with a military band. We typically used our own PA and backline, even when PA and backline were offered. There were exceptions of course where both backline and PA were provided and we could not opt out of one or both. It was pretty rare for us to provide lights.

2. I had two types of civilian gigs. A. I was a hired gun and PA was provided. B. I was a hired gun and I provided the PA in addition to playing bass. 2.A. was the most frequent occurrence.

1. I generally prefer the bird-in-hand approach, even though it requires extra work. When you use your own gear you know the condition of repair, you get more consistent results, and you now how to adjust the gear if the results aren't as desired. I have been burned on provided gear several times. To be fair, I have had amps fail on tour as well, but the operated properly the vast majority of time.

Usually the types of gigs where we had to use the provided PA and possibly the backline were big events or festivals, where multiple bands played with only a 15 min or so break between bands. With these, I typically still use my own amp, but sometimes it was not allowed.

I got burned really bad at a big even where I choose to go ampless. The PA was huge and the monitors were up to the task. The monitor engineer was certainly capable, because he dialed in a very good mix during sound check. But as soon as we started to play, the monitor cranked up the drum fill monitors to the point where they totally buried my monitor. Also every hit of the bass drum was feeding back at the frequency of my open G string. The monitor engineer had just put together the drum fill system and prioritized prioritized his interests over giving us what we asked for. The drummer had a blast...and it's the first gig that comes to mind when people ask about crappy gigs. The estimated audience for this gig was over 10K, and it should have been one of the best gigs of my life.
 
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#18
I used to show up 10 minutes before downbeat and set up my bass gear quickly to be ready to go on time. Nowadays I show up 3 hours before downbeat to setup my bass rig and IEM gear. Spend 30 minutes getting set up, then relax and eat my packed snacks and change into gig clothes before sound check, which is usually 30-60 minutes before downbeat. I help with pa/lights if I have time after dealing with my own gear, but that’s not too common.
 
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#19
Marko 1 said:
Multiple votes since I know many experience more than one scenario. :)

Where I live, a provided PA is a rare thing, so scenario 3 is the norm.

Scenario 1 I'd find to be a total drag, as I'm a gearhead, and my bass rig is an integral part of my enjoyment.

Actually I quite enjoy scenario 3, at least since it's my PA, and gear is gear... :thumbsup:

but at my age, by the time I get home I feel like I've been run over by a train. :eek:

Scenario 2 might be a fantasy for me. :)

Share your experience, and your feelings on the the topic.

Thanks. :)
Click to expand...

In my current band, we hire a sound and light company (a really good investment for a 12 member vocal horn band). I always help our drummer move his gear as he has health challenges, and if I’m not doing anything, I’ll help the keyboard and guitarist hauling their gear as well.

As for my rig, one class D head, a non neo 210 cab, a gig bag a bass stand, a stand for my recorder, and my bass. Which is a significant improvement over what I did in the 70’s. My rig was an SVT with an Ampeg V4-B 215 reflex cab (aka the Deep Freeze), Hiwatt head and Hiwatt 412 cab, and my bass. Also my share of moving PA cabs, lights, cables and mic stands, lights, and helping to move upright piano and or a B3 with a Leslie 950. further, we played a lot of one night stands.
 
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