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How long does it take you to load in/load out? Tips for making it more efficient?

J

jonas_24112

Jul 11, 2011
416
1
#1
First of all, which is load in and which is load out? Do you load in at the beginning of the gig and load out at the end or vice versa? I've never been sure which was which.

Anyways, please describe your basic band PA set up and how long it takes you to get to sound check. Imagine you are setting up in a a venue/bar that has a door relatively close (50-75 ft) from the stage. How long does load in and load out take? Got any tips for making it go easier and faster?

For me- 5 piece band, basic PA set up is 2 mains, 2 subs, 3 floor wedges, 1 rack of gear, 1 mixer, 3-4 mics, set of LED colorstrips in back of drummer on a truss. Usually takes us around 1-1.5 hours to set up and 45 minutes to an hour to be torn down and out of the venue.

Tips for making it easier:
-We will be putting casters on the subs. My subs are small, but have two 15's in each. I'd estimate each weighs around 75 lbs.
-Lead singer is expected to hook up all mics to board, Set up stands, etc. for all vocalists.
-I'm toying with a stage snake. It cuts down on stage clutter, but no sure about saving time.
-I was taking the c-clamps off my light strips each time and packing them back in the box. I scored a cheap padded speaker stand bag at GC and am now leaving the clamps on and storing the lights in the bag. (I am neurotic about these lights. I love them and want them to last forever!!)

That's it for me for now. Thanks.
 
#2
I've been in a few bands that had great load-in/out systems. Both had common elements.

Pre-1) Everyone gets to the gig on time (and if time permits, sets up their own gear right away) - that's at least 1.5 hours early, 2 is ideal and when the van with the gear arrives, everyone gets busy.

1) Know how to properly pack the van. If the gear is packed neatly and efficiently, it's easier to take out, put back.
2) Everyone pitches in - no slackers. Start by unloading the van and staging the gear. Once the gear is in and staged each person takes a specific role - 1 guy sets up mics, two set up the mains/subs/monitors, 1 get the board and outboard gear hooked up.
3) When the gig is done, do all that in reverse but this time put your Tetris wizard in the van and everyone else starts bringing the gear out (logically) - so that they guy in the van can pack it neatly.

Neatness counts!

Learn how to properly wrap cables! Nothing slows things down like a tangled knot of 50' speaker wires, mic cable and patches.

Learn how to properly pack the van. Usually the van owner has the system down. If you are the 'new guy' pay attention to how the van is packed. If there is gear to be moved, move it - don't stand around. Find your role (Are you the cables guy? Are you the van packer? Do you know how to wire the board/outboard rack?) - find your role and get good at it.

Rolling traps and other cases make load-in and out significantly easier and more efficient. Get 'em, use 'em, love 'em.

Load in is bringing gear into the venue, load out is taking it out.
 
#3
It always seems to take just as long as you have. If the trailer shows up 4 hours before stage time, it takes 4 hours. If you have 1 hour to get it done, for some reason it takes an hour.

The one thing that really seemed to make things go more smoothly was letting the singer not help.

There was one gig, that he stood in THE DOORWAY munching greasy chicken wings from the happy hour buffet and trying to converse with the boys that were trying to carry EVERYTHING through the doorway he was blocking. I moved him out of my way like 10 times!!
 
#4
jonas_24112 said:
Usually takes us around 1-1.5 hours to set up and 45 minutes to an hour to be torn down and out of the venue.
Click to expand...

Most places we play already have a PA, so it takes me about 15 minutes to set up including my mic. If the gig is at 8 p.m. I try to be there a little before 7 p.m. Then I help our keyboard player who has all kinds of junk to set up.

With our PA and sub its about the same amount of time as your band. Our goal is to have a sound check 1/2 hour before we start the show. If the show is at 8 p.m. we'd get there at about 6:30 p.m.

We're pretty organized, I don't know how we could speed it up.
 
#5
tZer said:
Pre-1) Everyone gets to the gig on time (and if time permits, sets up their own gear right away) - that's at least 1.5 hours early, 2 is ideal and when the van with the gear arrives, everyone gets busy.
Click to expand...

That's the BIG one.

1. we unload

2. Guitar and I set PA speakers. Drummer and #2 guitar set lights.

3. Drummer sets up and mics drums. guitar#2 wires lights. guitar#1 wires PA. I set mikes, monitor and instrument lines and connect to snake.

4. Drum check starts and we set up personal amps/guitars.

We can do it comfortably in an hour if necessary but we allow 2 hours and we don't skimp on PA
 
#6
Good PA gear will do more with less. You probably don't need two 2x15 subs, if you can get by with two tops. You could almost certainly do a fine job with 1x15 subs---maybe even one of them. And if you have subs, you should be able to use 12" tops. I don't know what you have, but a lot of people use 15", 3-way, or 2x15" tops, and (again, if you've got GOOD equipment) that is overkill. Powered speakers can greatly reduce the mass of gear you need to move.

In-ear monitors would eliminate the need for wedges.
 
#7
Chuck King said:
Good PA gear will do more with less. You probably don't need two 2x15 subs, if you can get by with two tops. You could almost certainly do a fine job with 1x15 subs---maybe even one of them. And if you have subs, you should be able to use 12" tops. I don't know what you have, but a lot of people use 15", 3-way, or 2x15" tops, and (again, if you've got GOOD equipment) that is overkill. Powered speakers can greatly reduce the mass of gear you need to move.

In-ear monitors would eliminate the need for wedges.
Click to expand...

The subs were literally free. All I had to do was replace one of the speakers and voila', instant ground pounding. The cabs are a weird 4th order bandpass design that fit 2x15 into an enclosure the size of a sealed 1x15. That's why they are so heavy. I don't know how efficient they are compared to a ported or sealed enclosure, but since I only have about $100 invested in them, I'll put up with 'em for now?

Our mains are powered 12" two-ways. I agree they are light, loud and sound good. Hopefully one day I will have the GAS to sell them and get a set of powered 18's for subs.
 
#8
Downsize makes setup easy. We use only mains for vocals and instruments a couple of monitors and a head with built in effects and 3 mics..easy done.We have more if we need it and pray for clubs w/sound.... then its easy peezy.
 
#9
jonas_24112 said:
The subs were literally free. All I had to do was replace one of the speakers and voila', instant ground pounding.

but since I only have about $100 invested in them, I'll put up with 'em for now?
Click to expand...

BONUS - Free is AWE-SOME!
if they are a two man lift due to weight, and size isn't the issue, just plan on using two people to lift - and run with it.

I prefer a hand truck or dolly to wheels on some cabinets, only because it affects how they are loaded in a vehicle. If that isn't a concern - very cool having them wheeled though - you can put stuff on them and roll More out at once - increasing productivity. Dont' skimp on wheels, go larger and rubber type, not hard wheels, better when you hit the parking lot, and rugs, bumps, transitions, etc. Be sure to over rate them for weight, so you can load things on top.

We also use a spool for mic cables, connect them end to end and roll em up - NEVER a tangle. I tried them for speaker cables, but never liked it becasu I have several connection types/lengths.
 
#12
One hour for set up for us. We have a couple of different templates. When we bring the PA, we have board, snake, two mains, and three wedges. Add 20 minutes to mic and check drums. 5 minutes for a sub.

Usually we play at places with PA's. Then it's a 15-minute set up.

mkmsound said:
Stole this from a band we opened for:
Get electrical cable reels from Home depot. Ones with the hand crank. Hook all mic cables together on the reel. No more tangles, only reel off the ones that you need.
Click to expand...

The bright orange ones used for extension cords! Yeah! Hold the roller with one and and crank with the other. I used that every week for years. Worked GREAT! Never a tangle.
 
#13
I as well as the rest of my band try to be as professional as possible to at least the extent to get there on time or before and load our stuff in and set it up to at least it will not take long to setup everything if we are unable to back line. For me it takes me under to 15 minutes to physically move into the venue my gear and set it up. Takes two to three trips as well. Having a combo or small cabs and heads could cut the time because you may be able to grab all of it in one or two trips. Usually after the gig we try to pack up in lesser or equal the amount of time especially if the venue is closing. However even if it is a bar I like to pack myself up so it is not messed with.
 
#14
If we don't have PA gear (which is most of the time) we can set up and be line checked in less than 15 minutes usually. With our small PA setup for small venues with no sound system we can easily pull 30 minutes. This is mainly because we only mic vocals and kick. The big system comes with our soundguy and he is super efficient so he usually takes less than an hour with our help. Load out is faster in all cases.
 
#15
Set up: 2-3 hours for us.
Tear down: usually 2 hours or less.
3 people working.

We use a hose caddy for mic cords.
Hook one end in the reel and roll it up, grab next cable, attach to first cable, roll it up.
Repeat until you're done.
Saves time and keeps those cables in good shape and untangled.

All other cords and cables are properly wrapped up and stored in plastic warehouse totes.
The main PA snake has it's own large tote.

We also use a 24 channel snake with a 16 channel board.
In case of problems with a snake channel, we just switch one of the unused lines for the bad one and fix it later.
 
#16
Two subs, four mains, four monitors, board, power amps, huge masses of cords, take about 15 to 20 minutes to unload and get to the stage area: all depending on access to the stage. Everybody unloads their own amps, guitars, keyboards and such, and the drummer unloads his own drums which he carries in a big, wheeled coffin.. Set up time is thirty to forty five minutes, with the singer taking care of the monitors, microphones, and lights, I do the PA with help from the keyboard player. Ten minute sound check and we're ready to roll. Tear down and reload takes about twenty minutes. Planned packing makes unload and reload into the trailer pretty easy.
 
#19
MatticusMania said:
5 minutes from the car to the setup area. Another 5 minutes actually setting the gear up and tuning.

10 minutes, from car to gig ready, if Im talking just my gear.
Click to expand...

That's how I do it, but I usually allow myself 20 min so I can go slow. I live about 10 min away from the venues I most often play at, so I can literally leave my house about 30 min before show time and still have time to relax before we start.

It's taken me decades to get this down, so YMMV.
 
#20
onosson said:
That's how I do it, but I usually allow myself 20 min so I can go slow. I live about 10 min away from the venues I most often play at, so I can literally leave my house about 30 min before show time and still have time to relax before we start.

It's taken me decades to get this down, so YMMV.
Click to expand...

Most of our gigs are about 30 minutes away from where I live.
When possible, I try and leave my house an hour and a half minimum before set time. I, too, like to not rush, and am bothered when my bandmates decide (or just cant manage time) to show up 10 minutes before we play. And then they take 30 minutes to move the same amount (usually less) gear than I do.
 

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