Low paying gig...take the cheap gear?

[DJ Bebop]

Play every gig like it's your last.

• 2020:
  • 18 January: Singer-songwriter David Olney died in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida while at the 30A Songwriters Festival. While performing alongside Amy Rigby, he became motionless. Fellow performer Scott Miller said, "David was playing a song when he paused, said 'I'm sorry' and put his chin to his chest. He never dropped his guitar or fell off his stool. It was as easy and gentle as he was."[64]

 

[Marc valero]

This past weekend I played my Sterling Sub 5 at all three gigs and they were small shows and it sounded fine. This weekend for 3 gigs it will be the EBMM SR5, Friday were playing a place that occasionally gets known acts.
I think a lot of us here have good enough secondary instruments and equipment to do a good show, when in doubt.

 

[fishdreams]

I've played with pro violinists and cellist who dragged their +100 year old cellos and violins (easily >$50K instruments) in the dark through mud and marshland. Because we were gonna do a really cool musical experiment.

It taught me that in the end only the music matters, so I try to bring what brings out the best in me regardless of monetary value.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

We have a gig Friday night at a relatively small place for our absolute minimum pay. This is essentially our "foot in the door" as they own multiple venues and we could get steady gigs at these places. I "want" to take my most expensive bass as I havent gigged with it in a bit but I keep thinking, "cheap gig-cheap gear". Now, my cheap stuff still sounds good so its all good either way. But, do any of you think this way? Yeah I know, first world problems lol

Bring whatever inspires you to play and sound your best.

 

[fishdreams]

Also, some of the worst damage I have seen has happened on the biggest stages, and there's no connection to my mind between venue size and risk, other than perhaps people getting too close to the stage. But if that were a problem to fear, I'd have cancelled half the shows I ever played.

Did a show once in a proper concert venue where the classical violinist guesting with us forgot there was a microphone wire attached and dropped his $100.000 violin on the concrete floor, literally in pieces. Horrible horrible accident - and the violin got repaired, he's probably still playing it.

 

[electracoyote]

"You never know who may be listening to you..." --Paul McCartney

Some of my best future opportunities came from someone who happened to saunter in for a cold one and was impressed with what they saw/heard.

I am in that camp of weirdos who feel every audience deserves your best, the full show, best gear, best aesthetic, best performance, regardless of the prevailing socio-economic demographics. Indeed, when I'm in a real crap-hole I love the look of surprise and delight on the faces of patrons who weren't expecting anything near the level of professionalism and entertainment my band provides. It certainly helps them justify the 500% mark-up on their beverage.

Class up the place. Prepare for fate. Bring your best. Always.

 

[obascin]

Cheap gear for high risk areas or if you can't pack up and leave quickly. All it took was getting gear stolen once to know I will never bring my high-end gear to a gig again. However, if you tour and have a crew that's a different matter.

 

[P. Aaron]

No matter the gig, I take the gear that I always work with. It's not a lot of gear but, it's reliable and sounds good. Mostly replaceable.

There's always someone watching who could potentially make your musical fortunes greater.

 

[bassplace]

I play for the enjoyment of playing so I play the gear I want. And all my gigs were low pay and are usually a net loss. I wasn't losing enough money so I joined another band.

 

[DJ Bebop]

"You never know who may be listening to you..." --Paul McCartney

Some of my best future opportunities came from someone who happened to saunter in for a cold one and was impressed with what they saw/heard.

I am in that camp of weirdos who feel every audience deserves your best, the full show, best gear, best aesthetic, best performance, regardless of the prevailing socio-economic demographics. Indeed, when I'm in a real crap-hole I love the look of surprise and delight on the faces of patrons who weren't expecting anything near the level of professionalism and entertainment my band provides. It certainly helps them justify the 500% mark-up on their beverage.

Class up the place. Prepare for fate. Bring your best. Always.

Yup, got a nice gig playing a party.
A club owner was their and liked us

 

[El Güero]

I play for the enjoyment of playing so I play the gear I want. And all my gigs were low pay and are usually a net loss. I wasn't losing enough money so I joined another band.

The hep cats on the fast track buy lights and PA. That really speeds up the losing process. YMMV

 

[BlueTalon]

This is one of my biggest pet peeves is when someone in my band says something like this my blood boils. If the money isn't worth your best effort, don't accept the gig! You don't give a half fast effort because you don't like the pay - and that includes your equipment. I'll never understand this mentality if I live to be 100.

I can certainly understand making certain gear choices if the gig was an outdoor gig with questionable facilities and weather. I'd like to think I could put on as good of a show in that circumstance as I normally, do even with a cheaper bass and amp rig.

That said, the last few times I've had outdoor gigs with questionable weather forecasts, I brought the good stuff anyway.

 

[BlueTalon]

I have, in the past, politely escorted people off stage when they mess with the gear between sets.

But I also just grabbed a beer once and silently watched a guy spend 15 minutes adjusting my pedal board, trying to get the microphone (turned off at the mixer) to work so he could sing.

You have more patience than I do.

 

[basslayer]

I take my cheaper stuff to outdoor gigs, but I will play a Squire and make it sound great. People have raved about my playing at gigs and asked what brand bass it is, only to drop jaws when they see the Squire logo. As long as the cheap gear can stay in tune, I can roll with whatever. At clubs, I tend to play with one of my three main basses (pbass, jbass, or a reverend P). My most expensive bass rarely leaves the house because I play reggae and an active 6 string is really heavy And a bit overkill for my needs on stage.

 

[dangevans]

Every gig, you take what will make you sound the absolute best, cheap or not. EVERY gig.
You never know who will be there that could hire you for something else. Plus, it is the most professional mindset.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

If they're not paying well, don't play all the notes

 

[El Güero]

I pity the fool who would take a cheap bass to play a gig, any gig, and especially for a nationally televised performance someone important may be watching. Playing a cheap bass under those circumstances would be like tying your left and right shoestrings together before running a marathon.

 

[BlueTalon]

Every gig, you take what will make you sound the absolute best, cheap or not. EVERY gig.
You never know who will be there that could hire you for something else. Plus, it is the most professional mindset.

I never don't want to sound as good as possible.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

Always play and sound your best. You never know who will see the show.

If the gig isn't worth it, don't take it.

 

[Kael]

Good luck. It has been my experience that low paying gigs lead to more low paying gigs. Take whatever you feel best allows you to do your job regardless of pay. As others have said, if it is a location where you fear for damaging your gear, then perhaps take the cheap stuff.