Ever afraid of forgetting your gear?

[badinage]

I arrived at a bar/club once that we used to play about every six weeks and the owner held up a BLACK-painted 50cal can and asked "any chance this belong to you?". It did, and had not yet been missed, I think it had some almost-never used spares/adaptors in it. That can was painted ORANGE the following week.

In my sound-running days, I'm embarrassed to say I once left a box under a mix riser that had a three-station intercom system and two spare horn diaphragms in it. I never saw those again, but all of it belonged to me, so my bad, my loss.

 

[Hambone70]

Checklists are idiot-proof. I use them for gigging, camping, flying, anything that requires a number of items or procedures.

 

[Ewo]

Man, for years I figured I was just OCD to walk back in the venue and check the stage then look over the stuff in my SUV, before I drove off. Now I know I'm in good company!

 

[fourfinger]

I started using an iPad, so as not to forget lyrics... But once forgot the iPad holder (on a venue's mic stand). Bandmate brought it for me.

I have a top-handled, foam-padded photographer's box that I installed masonite dividers into. It's about 15" x 10" x 14" and contains my amp head, two speakon cables, iPad, iPad holder, iPad pedal, two chargers, power cables, instrument cables AND homemade pedalboard with 3 pedals. The stuff only seems to fit one way, so that helps me remember.

 

[bigthemat]

forgot the cable for my pedalboard power supply. Luckily I always have a couple one spots in my case, for this reason. Couldn't use everything but I was able to at least power my preamp and tuner, and then switch power to whatever pedal was needed

 

[MrLenny1]

A friend of mine use to number his cases in large white numbers. 1-5, do a count before closing the trunk. Good security also when there are several bands on the venue.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

My easiest to forget item is the cables for my combo, well my sorta combo. I use a Genzler combo where the head bolts onto the top of the cab but you can't keep the speaker cable attached or the power cable attached with the cover on. For smaller gigs, I prefer a true combo that has the speaker already attached and you usually tuck the power cable in the back somewhere. Nothing to forget as long as you have the amp itself. For my amp / cab separates I have the cables in the storage bag for the head. So maybe the psuedo-combo is my worst case scenario.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Not quite sure if this is the correct forum for such a topic, but let's say I tried to find the correct one.


I probably fall into the category of people who get more anxious about little things than the average, but I've been wondering if others here can relate.

I've been playing gigs for a while now and have actively tried to keep my setup simple and compact. I bring my bass in a hardcase with the necessary cables and such, a pedalboard in a nice rugged flightcase, a monitor, a stand for my bass, a stand for my ipad and said ipad of course. Within the bass case are a couple of other helpful things like a screwdriver, spare batteries, spare strings and such.

So I know that I arrived with 6 things and that's what I'll have to take back home again. However, I just cannot shake the feeling that I will eventually just forget something. That goes up to the point where I sit in the car counting my 6 things over and over again.

It would be actually pretty difficult to forget something, because we have some guys who will take our PA system and bring that to a warehouse after each gig. So if I were to actually leave something behind, they would probably take it with them and tell me afterwards. Still, it makes me feel very uncomfortable. Just imagining how I forget like a powercord, or even worse, something like my pedals.

Have you ever actually forgotten something at a venue and were unable to get it back?

Nightmare scenario.

 

[Lenny JG]

Not quite sure if this is the correct forum for such a topic, but let's say I tried to find the correct one.


I probably fall into the category of people who get more anxious about little things than the average, but I've been wondering if others here can relate.

I've been playing gigs for a while now and have actively tried to keep my setup simple and compact. I bring my bass in a hardcase with the necessary cables and such, a pedalboard in a nice rugged flightcase, a monitor, a stand for my bass, a stand for my ipad and said ipad of course. Within the bass case are a couple of other helpful things like a screwdriver, spare batteries, spare strings and such.

So I know that I arrived with 6 things and that's what I'll have to take back home again. However, I just cannot shake the feeling that I will eventually just forget something. That goes up to the point where I sit in the car counting my 6 things over and over again.

It would be actually pretty difficult to forget something, because we have some guys who will take our PA system and bring that to a warehouse after each gig. So if I were to actually leave something behind, they would probably take it with them and tell me afterwards. Still, it makes me feel very uncomfortable. Just imagining how I forget like a powercord, or even worse, something like my pedals.

Have you ever actually forgotten something at a venue and were unable to get it back?

I've lost plenty of cables and it gives me anxiety every time I leave a show. Lol

 

[buldog5151bass]

I do at least 2 idiot checks before I leave home, and leave the gig.

 

[MVE]

Forgetting things at gigs is a reoccurring nightmare I have.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Not quite sure if this is the correct forum for such a topic, but let's say I tried to find the correct one.


I probably fall into the category of people who get more anxious about little things than the average, but I've been wondering if others here can relate.

I've been playing gigs for a while now and have actively tried to keep my setup simple and compact. I bring my bass in a hardcase with the necessary cables and such, a pedalboard in a nice rugged flightcase, a monitor, a stand for my bass, a stand for my ipad and said ipad of course. Within the bass case are a couple of other helpful things like a screwdriver, spare batteries, spare strings and such.

So I know that I arrived with 6 things and that's what I'll have to take back home again. However, I just cannot shake the feeling that I will eventually just forget something. That goes up to the point where I sit in the car counting my 6 things over and over again.

It would be actually pretty difficult to forget something, because we have some guys who will take our PA system and bring that to a warehouse after each gig. So if I were to actually leave something behind, they would probably take it with them and tell me afterwards. Still, it makes me feel very uncomfortable. Just imagining how I forget like a powercord, or even worse, something like my pedals.

Have you ever actually forgotten something at a venue and were unable to get it back?

Ever forget gear? Sure, sometimes I look at gear in my closet and ask: Why did I get this? How long has it been sitting here? (And) I wonder if I can sell it fast on TB?

 

[JimmyM]

I’ve left stuff at gigs, forgot to bring stuff to gigs (including my bass), but I have yet to not be able to recover something I forgot.

 

[groovepump]

I once forgot my music notebook with all the chords for all our set list songs. It was 2 years of bass notes with some parts actually written out. I left it behind after we played a festival gig. Fortunately, the band that played after us noticed it, and returned it to me via our drummer, who was hanging about and socialising with them. I was so relieved when I got it back. So many hours had gone into those notes, written out in the keys we played the songs in. Very relieved to have it returned. I generally am OCD about keeping track of "my stuff", and always make it a point to put cables back into their proper containers, with cable ties, etc. Yeah. OCD is me. I even have to physically touch or hold my car keys in my hand before I close the car door so I don't lock myself out. I'm a mess . . . I don't often lose stuff, but I do obsess over it sometimes.

 

[groovepump]

I’ve left stuff at gigs, forgot to bring stuff to gigs (including my bass), but I have yet to not be able to recover something I forgot.

I forgot to load my cabinet once and remembered halfway to the gig. Fortunately, something made me aware of it before I got too far from home. I live 50 miles from the venue. Still made it on time though. barely.

 

[Beej]

In my youth, I lost some mic and instrument cables, and once left a brand new nice quality guitar stand behind that I didn't get back. That one still burns me - I literally owned it for less than a day. I've forgotten things lots of times too, usually incidental stuff that either didn't matter or I had other things to compensate.

Once I spent hours setting my bass up perfectly and was looking forward to playing it at the gig. Problem was, I left it on the workbench when I drove not quite 3 hours to play the gig. The bass player in the headlining band kindly let me use his back up bass but I'm sure I had resting bitchface all night.

Now that I'm old and obsessive, I make lists and spreadsheets, pack in advance and label everything.

 

[pepj]

Yep, last time idiot check with a flashlight...if you remember to bring one.

I find it helps if you get your pile ready to loadup and do it in with no stops or chats between.

Last time i was distracted and left a bag but recovered because venue kept it for me ...I contacted them next day...
The other time, gtr mentioned i had a nice lead and low and behold it went missing. I got it back though.

 

[shadven]

I've left behind at least 4 guitar stands and 3 microphone stands.

My brother left his 1970 telecaster on the curb after a gig. We realized it an hour later at 3 AM, we drove back but it was gone, gone, gone.

 

[Thebiggestjerk]

Not quite sure if this is the correct forum for such a topic, but let's say I tried to find the correct one.


I probably fall into the category of people who get more anxious about little things than the average, but I've been wondering if others here can relate.

I've been playing gigs for a while now and have actively tried to keep my setup simple and compact. I bring my bass in a hardcase with the necessary cables and such, a pedalboard in a nice rugged flightcase, a monitor, a stand for my bass, a stand for my ipad and said ipad of course. Within the bass case are a couple of other helpful things like a screwdriver, spare batteries, spare strings and such.

So I know that I arrived with 6 things and that's what I'll have to take back home again. However, I just cannot shake the feeling that I will eventually just forget something. That goes up to the point where I sit in the car counting my 6 things over and over again.

It would be actually pretty difficult to forget something, because we have some guys who will take our PA system and bring that to a warehouse after each gig. So if I were to actually leave something behind, they would probably take it with them and tell me afterwards. Still, it makes me feel very uncomfortable. Just imagining how I forget like a powercord, or even worse, something like my pedals.

Have you ever actually forgotten something at a venue and were unable to get it back?

They make medication for this.

 

[juancaminos]

Wrap colored electrical tape around your gear. Mics, Mic stands, case handles, instrument cables, extension cords, power strips, any/everything. Stages are dark. Everyone's accessories look the same. Just a few bands of tape to distinguish your biz and you'll be able to find your stuff. And, if you leave it behind, folks are too lazy to remove the tape so they can boost it. This cheap hack has worked for me for years.

View attachment 4783513

My color is white. Everything I own, music wise, has white tape on it.