I played a gig for four hours in a terenchial downpour for free... The weather channel said the rain was over guess not. lol. AND i left my case open on a wall which was obviously full. Has anyone else had such a cool experience lmao?
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Playin in the rain
- Thread starter humbleleon991
- Start date
I played a free gig last November, and it poured rain the entire time we were on stage. There was an awning over the stage, but there was a big leak right in the middle, between me and the singer. Rain was blowing in the back of the awning, and soaked the guitar player's case. The sound man was scrambling around behind us, pulling cables out of the water.
Our set had kind of a summer time, day at the beach theme--Under The Boardwalk (down by the sea) and I Can See Clearly Now (it's gonna be a bright, sun-shiney day). That was the hardest rain I've seen in California in years.
Ed
Our set had kind of a summer time, day at the beach theme--Under The Boardwalk (down by the sea) and I Can See Clearly Now (it's gonna be a bright, sun-shiney day). That was the hardest rain I've seen in California in years.
Ed
rains flooded our basement and i thought all our gear would never work. but it all turned on worked with no issues whatsoever after we dried everything for a couple of days. my wah pedal seems has become glitchy after that though. anyhoo it wasnt actually playing in the rain 
My band had 4 outdoor gigs this year and were rained on every time. 
The last one we didn't even bother to set up because we had no cover at all.
The last one we didn't even bother to set up because we had no cover at all.
i heard of one where the opening act had a hissy fit over rain water on the stage and walked off....the front guy for the headlining act (rolling stones)grabbed a squeege, mopped it up and played the show.....
My trusty plastic tarp has become a regular part of my outdoor gig rig. If we're playing outside I ALWAYS bring it with me, even if we have cover. Rain can come in sideways, and I'm usually set up off to one of the far sides, so...
Any time i book an outside gig i make sure we have a rain or weather out etc. We might just have to cancel if the event will not provide an overhead cover etc. This last summer we did 3 festivals and had great weather. I just booked an outdoor gig for a festival for November 13 in NE Ohio i am worried about it (cold/wet) but we have the ok to move indoors if weather is bad. To me its all in the planning.
Rickett Customs
Commercial User
Been there! Done that!
It was a paid gig. Friday afternoon, street festival, downtown St. Pete, FL. Typical FL weather with the random downpours during the summer.
We were on a trailer\stage thing, covered, but rain was getting in every which way with the wind...by the 4th song of the 1st set we were all standing in about an inch of water!
I played keys in that band. I turned my rig off and started unplugging\packing stuff ASAP!
They let us quit early even after the rain let up. Fully paid!
It was a paid gig. Friday afternoon, street festival, downtown St. Pete, FL. Typical FL weather with the random downpours during the summer.
We were on a trailer\stage thing, covered, but rain was getting in every which way with the wind...by the 4th song of the 1st set we were all standing in about an inch of water!
I played keys in that band. I turned my rig off and started unplugging\packing stuff ASAP!
They let us quit early even after the rain let up. Fully paid!
There is something about being in the rain. It's just nice. The past couple days, we've had rain here in Vancouver. Today I got drenched but had the time of my life getting around the puddles.
I have an acoustic beach bass valued at about $60. That would be ideal for a gig like that.
I wouldn't do a free gig in the rain. Bad enough you're not getting paid, but to risk ruining thousands of dollars of equipment?
I have played in the rain at a paying gig.... we were covered but not sided. We covered the speakers in garbage bags and my amp was under a tarp. Drummer got *soaked*..... But we couldn't believe that people stayed and danced! All ages......wow. Was fun (since the equipment was ok). Found out that murphy's law states that the bass player will always either be in the sun or in the rain LOL. Did another gig where it threatened rain, had poured when we first arrived, but then did nothing but gust wind after. Also found out wind gusts are veryyy nerve wracking when you see equipment wobbling (speakers on poles).
Ever since my first gig I've always carried enough garbage bags and tarps to cover my equipment. If it even looks like it might spit, I have em out and ready for emergency throw overs.
I have played in the rain at a paying gig.... we were covered but not sided. We covered the speakers in garbage bags and my amp was under a tarp. Drummer got *soaked*..... But we couldn't believe that people stayed and danced! All ages......wow. Was fun (since the equipment was ok). Found out that murphy's law states that the bass player will always either be in the sun or in the rain LOL. Did another gig where it threatened rain, had poured when we first arrived, but then did nothing but gust wind after. Also found out wind gusts are veryyy nerve wracking when you see equipment wobbling (speakers on poles).
Ever since my first gig I've always carried enough garbage bags and tarps to cover my equipment. If it even looks like it might spit, I have em out and ready for emergency throw overs.
- Feb 27, 2005
- 3,218
- 125
- Disclosures
- Full disclosure, I'm a certified Fender technician working in a music store that carries Fender, Yamaha, and Ibanez products among others.
I've never played in the rain, but I played bass for a production of Singin' in the Rain (nice pic, btw) where they ingeniously made it rain onstage.
My bass got a little wet, but for the most part the rain stayed in the "sidewalk" they built to drain it. It's an inexpensive DB, anyway. I can't imagine actually gigging with my band's current rig in the rain. We'd pack up and call it quits, especially since downpours in Yuma are one of the signs of incipient Apocalypse.
My bass got a little wet, but for the most part the rain stayed in the "sidewalk" they built to drain it. It's an inexpensive DB, anyway. I can't imagine actually gigging with my band's current rig in the rain. We'd pack up and call it quits, especially since downpours in Yuma are one of the signs of incipient Apocalypse.
Me at Campus Martius, Detroit...
Rained like a monsoon, finally cleared up, we set up, started raining again.. Finally cleared up. The tent was plenty big enough... except for the wind, blew rain in to the point there was barely enough room to keep everything dry.
Randy
Rained like a monsoon, finally cleared up, we set up, started raining again.. Finally cleared up. The tent was plenty big enough... except for the wind, blew rain in to the point there was barely enough room to keep everything dry.
Randy
I played a free gig last November, and it poured rain the entire time we were on stage. There was an awning over the stage, but there was a big leak right in the middle, between me and the singer. Rain was blowing in the back of the awning, and soaked the guitar player's case. The sound man was scrambling around behind us, pulling cables out of the water.
Our set had kind of a summer time, day at the beach theme--Under The Boardwalk (down by the sea) and I Can See Clearly Now (it's gonna be a bright, sun-shiney day). That was the hardest rain I've seen in California in years.
Ed
Did you play November Rain?!?!
Sorry had to do it
