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buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I always do an idiot check:
- after I pack to go to the venue,
- in the car before I leave the house,
- when I pack up after the gig/rehearsal,
- in the car before I leave the venue.
It's a routine - kind of a "head, shoulders, knees and toes" type of thing.
About the only thing in like I am OCD about. But it works.
- after I pack to go to the venue,
- in the car before I leave the house,
- when I pack up after the gig/rehearsal,
- in the car before I leave the venue.
It's a routine - kind of a "head, shoulders, knees and toes" type of thing.
About the only thing in like I am OCD about. But it works.
Only twice. First time, I forgot my guitar stand. Second time I forgot a strap. Almost had to cancel both gigs. Needless to say, I was off my game.
I once forgot my mic, but once I'd borrowed one I never forgot mine again - the smell and taste of someone else's SM58 is... well, I'll never forget mine again.
These days I'm far more organised. I keep a rucksack ready to go at all times with twice as many of each cable type than I need, power supplies, ear plugs, and a towel for when things get warm. My mic lives on top of the bag so it gets some air, so at any time I basically need to grab bag, amp, bass and head out.
These days I'm far more organised. I keep a rucksack ready to go at all times with twice as many of each cable type than I need, power supplies, ear plugs, and a towel for when things get warm. My mic lives on top of the bag so it gets some air, so at any time I basically need to grab bag, amp, bass and head out.
Or as we often say to our drummer "good job your balls are in a bag".
A few gigs ago he dropped a black stick on a black stage when we were playing. When we cleared the stage still no stick. Every gig after that he complained about losing one of his favourite pair of sticks.
At our last gig our guitarist was sick of hearing him moaning about it so looked in his coffin (those boxes that every drummer has that is heavy enough to have a body in it). Sure enough there is his lost stick.
I sweep the area more than once before leaving, and I look under things and in corners. So far, no losses.
I've had a number of leg issues over the years and got a real nice concert bass stool to sit or half-sit on, especially with upright. I can't tell you how many times I've had to go back to the gig next day to fetch the damn thing!
Also, I do a lot of outdoor weddings on platform stages under tents. For years I carted 2 basses in gig bags. One wedding I only needed one for the gig, and tucked the other under the stage for safe keeping - then completely forgot about it until waking up the next morning. I jumped up, into the truck, and hustled the 20 miles back to the site. The tent crew was just finishing up - they'd struck the tent, then struck the stage, and there, where the stage had been, was a gig bag. You can bet your a** they weren't touching that! That's when I got a double-bass bag and have used one ever since
.
Also, I do a lot of outdoor weddings on platform stages under tents. For years I carted 2 basses in gig bags. One wedding I only needed one for the gig, and tucked the other under the stage for safe keeping - then completely forgot about it until waking up the next morning. I jumped up, into the truck, and hustled the 20 miles back to the site. The tent crew was just finishing up - they'd struck the tent, then struck the stage, and there, where the stage had been, was a gig bag. You can bet your a** they weren't touching that! That's when I got a double-bass bag and have used one ever since
.
When I gigged regulary with my metal band a few years back, I swear half the time I'd forget a power cable for my head. Too focused on the pedalboard, wireless, etc to remember the basics. It happened so many times that we stashed a few extra power chords in the trailer. 
One time we were opening for Bleeding Through and during setup between bands I realized I had no way to get power... I ran backstage at the venue (about 5 seconds away from our start time) and asked a small group of guys if they had a cable to spare. Nice guy came out and pulled one out of BT's keyboardist's amp for me to borrow.
One time we were opening for Bleeding Through and during setup between bands I realized I had no way to get power... I ran backstage at the venue (about 5 seconds away from our start time) and asked a small group of guys if they had a cable to spare. Nice guy came out and pulled one out of BT's keyboardist's amp for me to borrow.
Things are a lot easier to remember if they remain packed up between uses and you only have to remember to restock.
The only times I've forgotten things was when I would distribute them all over the place and then try to gather it back for rehearsal/performance.
The more you gig, the less likely you are to unpack everything. My stuff is now always in several bags and as long as they stay packed, I'm good. I'll do a quick "rummage check" and eyeball each bag. If I don't notice any gaps, I'm good to go.
When I was doing mobile DJ work solo, that could get really scary and I would go through a detailed checklist before I left the house every gig. I was all alone and sometimes hours from home, so no one was going to bail my sorry ass out if I forgot something important.
The only times I've forgotten things was when I would distribute them all over the place and then try to gather it back for rehearsal/performance.
The more you gig, the less likely you are to unpack everything. My stuff is now always in several bags and as long as they stay packed, I'm good. I'll do a quick "rummage check" and eyeball each bag. If I don't notice any gaps, I'm good to go.
When I was doing mobile DJ work solo, that could get really scary and I would go through a detailed checklist before I left the house every gig. I was all alone and sometimes hours from home, so no one was going to bail my sorry ass out if I forgot something important.
As the guy who usually does the PA, same issue. I'm constantly handing out XLR's, mic clips, sheilded cables and just about everything else. Quite a few pieces have wandered away over time, but then I guess a few have wandered my way as well. I still have a 20' 1/4" cable kicking around that nobody would claim!
Yeah, now that you mention it, I've had most of my forgetful moments in the post-gig afterglow, which can get kind of crazy and distracting sometimes. One time I left about four things behind, and the drummer called to tell me he secured them for me.
Oh, and maybe this is another thread, but does anyone else have trouble keeping track of car keys during gigs? ...drives me nuts! I have developed very specific places for them, and usually I use them, but once in a while at load-out panic sets in... 
with visions of spending the night on the stage!
with visions of spending the night on the stage!
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Oh, and maybe this is another thread, but does anyone else have trouble keeping track of car keys during gigs? ...drives me nuts! I have developed very specific places for them, and usually I use them, but once in a while at load-out panic sets in...
If it is an issue, get a small carbiner or similar, hook it to your bass case (or just toss the keys in your case).
Detachable amp power cords, extra strings. Have had do go direct into board and repair or make do with three strings ( talk about brain drain). Now gig bags and vehicle have extras of both. Last week drummer forgot drum rug and used the floor mat from the back of my hatchback. Now i take extra strap and capo for guitar players, cheap pair of drum sticks, chip clips and cheap music stand for singers that still use printed lyrics. I had a crate power block amp (but sold it) that saved many a guitar player who's tube amp crapped out.
Usually I might forget a cable, power strip, or IEC cable, mostly when I lend spares to others who forgot to bring something. They seem to also forget to return the loaners! I am busy packing my rig and they either keep it, or worse, leave it behind "because it's not theirs". SMH.
Oh, and maybe this is another thread, but does anyone else have trouble keeping track of car keys during gigs? ...drives me nuts! I have developed very specific places for them, and usually I use them, but once in a while at load-out panic sets in...
Same pocket of the same bag every gig.
Yes, the thought of lost car keys is a waking nightmare.
My setup is pretty simple. I don't bring mics or mic stands and only pack doubles of strings and cables, all in two bags (one for cables, etc, one for my pedaltrain nano). Before loadout or packing up for the evening to help break down drums and PA, I make sure my rig and bass are out of the way and packed, which is a quick process. It makes for less stage clutter and allows me to focus on making sure nobody else forgets their stuff.
no , i'm ocd about my stuff ...
but , once upon a time , i did realize, when i was have to Cleveland ( from Akron ) that i had forgot my trumpet ... !! lovely wintery drive up and down thru the snow belt ... and yes , i walked into the Cleveland Agora half way thru the first song ... but i brought a couple single girls with me , so all was good .. !!
but , once upon a time , i did realize, when i was have to Cleveland ( from Akron ) that i had forgot my trumpet ... !! lovely wintery drive up and down thru the snow belt ... and yes , i walked into the Cleveland Agora half way thru the first song ... but i brought a couple single girls with me , so all was good .. !!
Cleveland...yes, it reminds me of a certain band...
The worst thing if you forget your bass in a case after that gig....leaving it as driftwood find for someone else. It all reminds me of that famous incident that was the cause for doing that SPINAL TAP movie in the first place. Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel) remembers this:
Richard Grant meets Chistopher Guest
---- start of quote ----
In 1978, Guest was living at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Los Angeles, writing and performing comedy sketches for American television, including Saturday Night Live. One day, he happened to be in the lobby when a certain well-known English hard rock band checked in. A smile still tugs at the corners of his mouth when he remembers it.
"There's this one guy who comes in late and he's just standing there, looking around vacantly, and the manager says to him:
'Where's your bass?'"
Here, Guest disappears without trace into Tufnel:
"'Well, I dunno, do I? I think I left it at the airport.'
"'You did what?'
"'I think I left it at the airport.'
"'You left your bass at the airport?'
"'Yeah, well, I dunno, do I?'
"This went on, and on, and on," says Guest. "I thought, OK, all right, this is good. And the longer it goes on, the better it is, and after half an hour it just gets surreal: 'Well, we gotta get back there, don't we?' 'Where?' 'The airport.' 'Well, I dunno. I thought I had it. And then I didn't.'" That half-hour observation was the birth of Spinal Tap.
- - - - end of quote - - - - -
Verdict: Forgetting things can make you immortable, and are seeds for something greater to come later down the road.
The worst thing if you forget your bass in a case after that gig....leaving it as driftwood find for someone else. It all reminds me of that famous incident that was the cause for doing that SPINAL TAP movie in the first place. Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel) remembers this:
Richard Grant meets Chistopher Guest
---- start of quote ----
In 1978, Guest was living at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Los Angeles, writing and performing comedy sketches for American television, including Saturday Night Live. One day, he happened to be in the lobby when a certain well-known English hard rock band checked in. A smile still tugs at the corners of his mouth when he remembers it.
"There's this one guy who comes in late and he's just standing there, looking around vacantly, and the manager says to him:
'Where's your bass?'"
Here, Guest disappears without trace into Tufnel:
"'Well, I dunno, do I? I think I left it at the airport.'
"'You did what?'
"'I think I left it at the airport.'
"'You left your bass at the airport?'
"'Yeah, well, I dunno, do I?'
"This went on, and on, and on," says Guest. "I thought, OK, all right, this is good. And the longer it goes on, the better it is, and after half an hour it just gets surreal: 'Well, we gotta get back there, don't we?' 'Where?' 'The airport.' 'Well, I dunno. I thought I had it. And then I didn't.'" That half-hour observation was the birth of Spinal Tap.
- - - - end of quote - - - - -
Verdict: Forgetting things can make you immortable, and are seeds for something greater to come later down the road.
