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Should I Lend out my Rig?

#161
Renting is a different game. It's an odds game: will you recoup enough over time to overcome the inevitable repairs and still turn a profit? Most rental gear is sturdy but uninspiring for a lot of reasons, not the least to give the renter incentive to bring their own gear. I've never rented. I'd be curious to know if there are "repair" clauses in the agreements.

I co-host "jam nights" as a drummer. I've been out a few pairs of sticks and that's the cost of doing business. A broken snare drum head is the next most likely thing to happen. Cymbals are where things get expensive.

Guess what: I bring good but not great cymbals to those gigs. I'm getting enough money that I'm coming out ahead. I bring all of those sticks where I was trying a model out, one broke and the other didn't. A real potpourri of sticks that have accumulated over the years.

I also have the authority to say to any meat head basher that's just pummeling my drums, "hey thanks for coming out. You're done." That's why the bar has bouncers, to back me up. Usually it's the same old guys playing and I know whom I can trust. I'm there anyway.

All that said, I'd lend my bass rig to Dave Peg (or my best drums and cymbals to Dave Mattocks).

KO

DblG said:
Does your guitarist know how much you have invested in your rig that he so gladly offered up for (free) use? Shame on him for doing this, and shame on him for giving you a hard time when you refused.

As for professionals travelling w/o gear or instruments, I guess it's not that uncommon. I was asked to rent my bass for a show by the company doing the sound/stage for some Disney pop artist's backing band. I didn't do it because I felt uncomfortable but they didn't give me a hard time about it...they ended up renting one from GC.
Also, one of my keyboardists that I gig w/ does a bunch of different "tribute band" shows and one involved him being in a Jethro Tull band when Dave Pegg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Pegg )came to town with his Mandolin show. Dave did his gig he was touring for, and then did the Tull thing with this band afterward. That was the only time I lent my bass out....they already had a backline. I was scared, but it came back in one piece none the worse. Doubt I'll ever do it again though, even though it's only a 2005 MIA Fender Jazz fiver.
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#162
fdeck said:
One additional note... don't expect a contract to protect you. If the guy is a slimeball who is too broke to have a rig (probably pawned it to finance his Habits), then getting money out of him will never happen.

In my view, contracts work if both parties are honest to begin with.
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Ding ding ding!

I'd expect $1000 (or $3000) cash in my hand as a deposit before I lent out my gear for this situation. Contract? Don't make me laugh!

KO
 
#163
One last post: When I do a gig and some other guy is supplying the rig, if I get paid at all, all of the money goes to the guy who supplied the rig. That's when you earn it. Showing up and playing is usually* free.

KO

*In town and with my band only. Other restrictions may apply.
 
#164
Nice work. I only lend out my gear to people that I have seen play & like and am playing with THAT NIGHT. I tend to watch my gear too. I like being able to hear my rig offstage.

That said, there is NO way I would have allowed some random band to play with my stuff at a frat party for free.
 
#165
My wife's cousin called me up, out of the blue, stating that he was now a bass player, but without a bass. He used to be a guitard, but has decided to play bass.
He said he knew that I had a couple of basses and could he borrow one until he could afford to buy his own.
My response was a follows:
"You are way more likely to take my wife (his cousin) then you are likely to get your hands on one of my basses. Hell, I've had the basses as long than I've had your cousin and that's pushin 25 years."
He did not like that, but I still have my basses.
To the O.P. ... a big hairy NO would be my answer!
Fishheadjoe
 
#166
Two words scare me in your post and those are FRAT PARTY. I wouldn't bring my own 3000$ rig to a frat party let alone let some stranger use it. Tell him if he wants to use it he can pay for it and the your time(as I would go to thr gig to make sure nothing happens)
 
#167
NEVER EVER!!
ive loaned out rigs twice.. and ive had rigs blown up TWICE!... and guess how many times the jerks dipped out the back door... TWICE..

was asked to loan a rig as backline at a multi band show.. i declined.. my friend (who was running sound even ) loaned his... the second band blew his 15... the third band blew his 410 AND his HEAD!!!... they then asked to use mine... you can guess my answer.
 
#168
Broadbent said:
Two words scare me in your post and those are FRAT PARTY. I wouldn't bring my own 3000$ rig to a frat party let alone let some stranger use it. Tell him if he wants to use it he can pay for it and the your time(as I would go to thr gig to make sure nothing happens)
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A little late for the response :p but point definitely well taken.

The things that really bothered me the most about this whole situation before their gig were:

1. 'Professional' band without the gear to do a gig or prior arrangements to rent gear.
2. They didn`t contact me themselves or even offer compensation upfront.
3. My guitarist was taking their side in this whole debacle and even started cussing me out over the phone for not helping them.
4. Frat party.

The things that really bothered me the most when we played together that night:

1. Besides the drummer, none of them talked to me the entire night. Maybe I was raised differently, but I`ve always taken the time to at least introduce myself to every muso playing the same bill as me (even if it`s just to say, "hey, have a great show tonight").
2. Finding out that they had supposedly spent all their gig earnings on booze and drugs. I find this shocking considering I was told they were suppose to be making around a grand.
3. Although none of their doing, my guitarist tried to say that my rig was cheap compared to the amazing $5,000 bass their bassist used. Sorry bud, but last time I checked the bass he used was only a tenth of that, and that`s still no reason to justify them using my rig.
 
#169
jmattbassplaya said:
A little late for the response :p but point definitely well taken.

The things that really bothered me the most about this whole situation before their gig were:

1. 'Professional' band without the gear to do a gig or prior arrangements to rent gear.
2. They didn`t contact me themselves or even offer compensation upfront.
3. My guitarist was taking their side in this whole debacle and even started cussing me out over the phone for not helping them.
4. Frat party.

The things that really bothered me the most when we played together that night:

1. Besides the drummer, none of them talked to me the entire night. Maybe I was raised differently, but I`ve always taken the time to at least introduce myself to every muso playing the same bill as me (even if it`s just to say, "hey, have a great show tonight").
2. Finding out that they had supposedly spent all their gig earnings on booze and drugs. I find this shocking considering I was told they were suppose to be making around a grand.
3. Although none of their doing, my guitarist tried to say that my rig was cheap compared to the amazing $5,000 bass their bassist used. Sorry bud, but last time I checked the bass he used was only a tenth of that, and that`s still no reason to justify them using my rig.
Click to expand...

One thing I've noticed in life now that I'm old...:p...is that you will at times meet people who consistently put you in situations where you either feel like you're being rolled or you have to put your foot down while they threaten to scream about what a jerk you are. People like that are not your friends. Your guitarist sounds like he could be one of these types. And that band of "pro's"...oh well...I think their begging for cash because they spent their pay on drugs sums it up. They're just mendicant street musicians when it comes down to attitude I guess.
 
#175
Well obviously, you made the right choice... "No." Good call. Don't feel bad either. If they are really pro, then (A) he would have a rig for the show and (B) they wouldn't have blown all the money they made up their noses.

Man, if I'm playing a gig, and some stranger wants to do a walk up and play a song with my gear (even if they know someone else in the band), you can bet I am gonna have a problem with that alone.
You paid for the gear, it's your call.
 
#178
jmattbassplaya said:
A little late for the response :p but point definitely well taken.

The things that really bothered me the most about this whole situation before their gig were:

1. 'Professional' band without the gear to do a gig or prior arrangements to rent gear.
2. They didn`t contact me themselves or even offer compensation upfront.
3. My guitarist was taking their side in this whole debacle and even started cussing me out over the phone for not helping them.
4. Frat party.

The things that really bothered me the most when we played together that night:

1. Besides the drummer, none of them talked to me the entire night. Maybe I was raised differently, but I`ve always taken the time to at least introduce myself to every muso playing the same bill as me (even if it`s just to say, "hey, have a great show tonight").
2. Finding out that they had supposedly spent all their gig earnings on booze and drugs. I find this shocking considering I was told they were suppose to be making around a grand.
3. Although none of their doing, my guitarist tried to say that my rig was cheap compared to the amazing $5,000 bass their bassist used. Sorry bud, but last time I checked the bass he used was only a tenth of that, and that`s still no reason to justify them using my rig.
Click to expand...

Im sure its already been covered ad nauseum, but to summarise,

you-

- at best gain nothing
- at worst lose plenty

they-

- at best gain everything
- at worst lose nothing

Id print it out on a card and hand it to the next clown that asks for your gear, because I wouldnt go through that conversation more than once.
 
#180
I actually dont care if someone uses my amp. As long as my band is playing the gig too(meaning im there), and that we have the understanding before hand that if they break it they bought it.

I've let people use my amp, and on occasions used other peoples amp.

Once my bass shorted out at a show and I even used someone elses bass. though they guy was a good friend. but I have to admit I would almost never let anyone use my bass.
 

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