Do you let other bands/musicians use your gear?

[MattS]

So my band is playing a "fest" this weekend and one of the other young (age) bands asked if they could use our drum kit and bass cab. Now i've had many people ask to use my amp rig over the years, I've even had people ask to use my amp rig at a show that I wasn't playing, and most of the time it's from younger musicians who either a) don't own any show-playing gear b) they don't feel like lugging all their gear around and/or c) they just want to be seen/heard using a nice quality rig instead of their behringer-like rig. This usually gets me pretty annoyed, I can understand if "Jose's amp died at practice this morning, we're desperate", but that almost never is the case. I've been doing this for years and I worked hard and do everything a human can do to maintain and transport my gear; lugging gear around is part of the rock n roll game.

So I was wondering what your thoughts on the topic are? I really don't want to come off as a jerk or anything negative, and I'd hate to lose any pleasnt contact from any band, but the times I have let others use my gear they've treated it poorly; yanking out cables, jumping off cabs, unnecessarily loud, they aren't familiar so they carry it improperly and drop it, etc...
How have you declined their request to lend them your gear for the night? How have you done it in the nicest way? Curious as to how others have handled situations like this.

 

[Doc Ellis]

It's your stuff. You don't want anyone using it, they don't use it. You don't need to justify it.

I have been asked before, and simply just say "Sorry, no." Nobody has treated me poorly for declining.

 

[scottfeldstein]

For a friend, of course. For others... Well, if it was a legit emergency I might be moved to do it--if they looked trustworthy and I was going to be around for their performance anyway. If it was just a case of not owning or not wanting to bring their own rig, I guess I'd probably charge money. If they don't want to pay a few bucks, screw 'em.

All of this is probably still a really bad idea. Who's going to be responsible if they break something? You can bet it won't be them. It's another thing if you have some kind of written contract for it, but that's obviously not the case here.

 

[pacojas]

if people use my stuff, it usually involves $$$! we supply backline at gigs (on occasion) at really good shows and that makes it worth the effort.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

I've actually been at the other end: my band opened for Reba Russel and I went to their bassist and asked if I could use his amp. I had mine in the car but they had already set up their backline and it was not the biggest stage to play.

He said to go ahead, it's a rental. So I said that however he put the settings during his soundcheck, I would leave it like that and make any adjustments on the bass itself.

Oh and for the record: I play a Behringer rig and people absolutely love my tone! I am still learning to dial in "the" tone but as long as people are happy ....

 

[kevteop]

I'm happy to let anyone use my gear if they'll first give me a security deposit for the cost of replacement and are willing to pay my rental fee.

Or, if it's someone I know and trust, they can borrow it anyway.

 

[knumbskull]

yep. no problems so far. it's often the norm at smaller venues or DIY gigs round here.

 

[Dave W]

It was always a "no" in the past, but now I'll say that it depends.
Friends of mine or the bands, no problem.
Random people, maybe.
People that booked a gig yet don't own their own gear, or are clearly trying to mooch off of us because they are lazy. No.

 

[Mystic Michael]

So I was wondering what your thoughts on the topic are? I really don't want to come off as a jerk or anything negative, and I'd hate to lose any pleasnt contact from any band, but the times I have let others use my gear they've treated it poorly; yanking out cables, jumping off cabs, unnecessarily loud, they aren't familiar so they carry it improperly and drop it, etc...

This is a topic that comes up with great regularity here in "Band Management". In fact, there was a very intense, very spirited discussion of it just a few weeks ago, IIRC...

Bottom line is that you aren't required - legally, morally or otherwise - to share you gear with anybody. And that there are very good reasons to make a policy of NOT doing so - including those you've just mentioned.

Your gear, your choice. Simple as that...

How have you declined their request to lend them your gear for the night? How have you done it in the nicest way? Curious as to how others have handled situations like this.

This really isn't as difficult or complex as you might think. You don't have to be overly concerned with "being nice", you don't even owe anybody an explanation - and it doesn't matter what they think about that either. Really.

Sample phrase: "Sorry, but I have a strict policy of not lending out my gear or instruments. No exceptions." Easy, no?

If anyone has the nerve to get in your face about it, don't argue, don't justify, don't explain - don't even discuss. And don't back down. Just walk away...

MM

 

[paganjack]

If I know the guy and know that he'll be decent to it, then sure. I share amps with other bands plenty, I've even loaned out a bass or two for those in dire need.

Randos? Usually no on that front.

 

[EricF]

Depends on the situation for me.

I have done gigs where it was just two bands - us and a band we're very good friends with. My bass rig and the other band's drum kit were used by both bands. It worked out fine.

If it's one of the random bands we share a stage with on our typical one-set bar gigs, the answer is no.

 

[Marial]

It depends. When I was playing indie rock there was no way I'd let anyone else use my gear. Now that I'm in an alt-country band I'm a lot more familiar with the various musicians in the 'scene' and have no problem sharing gear and it goes both ways. I've used one guy's Meatsmoke a couple of times, he's used my Ampeg, I've used another guy's old Bassman and he's used my Ampeg. Given the style of music I don't have to worry about any of the other bass players destroying my rig.

Matter of fact, the night of our CD release the opening band was sound checking and one of the tuner pegs on their bassist's acoustic bass broke. Fortunately I'd stuck around to make sure he didn't have any trouble with my amp so I just handed him my bass to use for their set.

 

[fishdreams]

My stock answer to people I don't know (certainly those who didnt feel like bringing their own gear) is that that I am sorry, but if someone is going to wreck my amp, I just want to be sure it's me. Accidents do happen.

I have been on the other end too; I borrowed someone's GK portable amp for a gig and somehow the handle got destroyed. That was overseas, many years ago before the dawn of online resources etc, and I had no idea how to find the right handle for it or were to take it to have it repaired . My friend didn't care too much, but this is just how something relatively silly has the potential to become a major embarrasment.

 

[BassPlayer3187]

Most of the time, when I'm asked this question it's in order to save time between bands and not have to strike a drum kit and bass rig after the opening act. (Which also allows my band to have more time for our set.) Usually it has nothing to do with the other band being lazy or wanting to use better gear. If that's the only reason they want you to backline then I'd say absolutely not.
When playing in a professional situation I usually don't mind letting the opening act use my rig. If it is an amateur situation or an amateur bass player I'd say let them bring their own gear. Especially if it's because they want to be lazy or like my rig better than theirs.

 

[kmqu601]

I generally don't have any problem with people using my gear, for shows with a bunch of bands on the bill it seriously helps time in between sets. I really dont have a complex setup (bass-->amp-->cab) so I don't have to worry about people messing with settings/effects/etc.

 

[MrLenny1]

Some drummers will say yes but, some will ask the sit in to use his own snare
in case he is a basher and breaks his drum head.
I say yes but I monitor the volume on stage to make sure he isn't
blowing my speakers up.

 

[sensei_steve]

My bass cab and someone else's head? NO!!! My entire rig, maybe.

 

[bluewine]

Even though I don't have an elaborate or expensive rig, I don't let anyone use my gear.

If someone asks, I'm nice to them but it's still a no.

On the other side of the coin, I never ask to use other players gear.


Blue

 

[Flyingfrets]

A friend, yes.

Anyone else, "Sorry, no."

 

[the Arsonaut]

MattS,

Let your drummer make up his own mind...
but at the most, he should only provide shells...
they should provide their own stands, hardware, cymbals and snare.

You can decide whether they use your whole rig, just your cab, or nothing at all.
And either way, you want all of the other bands to respect your decision as well,
whether you allow one band [only] to use your gear or not.

If you decide not to let them use it:

You're playing the El'n'Gee this weekend. So, what you do is; you tell Joaquin (the owner) that you've had bad luck with bands using your gear, and ask him to back you up on that...
tell him the Arsonaut said he'd drink all his 'gansett and burn his lousy club down around him if he didn't comply...