I listen to the songs. Over. And over. And over. And I woodshed those songs until I play them in my sleep (at least that’s the goal) everything else is easy after that.
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Tips for Being Organized and Prepared for Gigs
- Thread starter Beej
- Start date
The best way to get organized is to go lightweight... gig bag, bass, and wireless unit for the bass. This puts one at the mercy of the sound system and the sound guy, though.
It is sure nice, but I'm going back to amp/cab because of the PA system. Nothing wrong with the brand, Bose Panaray, but their authorized retailer designed it poorly. It's a local company called Zamar Media Solutions that specializes in churches. They put the entire PA system behind the choir mics and ambo mic. No need for monitors, but feedback is an never-ending solution. It's getting frustrating to get some volume for the guitars and bass.
It is sure nice, but I'm going back to amp/cab because of the PA system. Nothing wrong with the brand, Bose Panaray, but their authorized retailer designed it poorly. It's a local company called Zamar Media Solutions that specializes in churches. They put the entire PA system behind the choir mics and ambo mic. No need for monitors, but feedback is an never-ending solution. It's getting frustrating to get some volume for the guitars and bass.
my checklists, mental or written, pretty much comport with previous posts, so i trust them and rely on them.
after that: i concern myself with the supply-chain/logistics of securing beer: must be mexican lager, and i'm not averse to toting my own if necessary.
after that: i concern myself with the supply-chain/logistics of securing beer: must be mexican lager, and i'm not averse to toting my own if necessary.
Bring one more extension cord and one more power strip than you think you need!
A VOM meter will save your life many times over.
Store bought power bars ALL suck. Bad cable, circuit breaker, and funky surge protection that doesn't work.
Buy a steel quad box, 2 Edison duplex outlets, some 12 gauge cable, and a good plug and make your own.
Store bought power bars ALL suck. Bad cable, circuit breaker, and funky surge protection that doesn't work.
Buy a steel quad box, 2 Edison duplex outlets, some 12 gauge cable, and a good plug and make your own.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Tips for Being Organized and Prepared for Gigs
have a back up or an extra of all of the important stuff
have a back up or an extra of all of the important stuff
^^ I'm subbing tomorrow. I don't even have a song list.
^ Condoms, better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.
^ Condoms, better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.
I just have a list that's in my gig bag. I usually get there at least an hour and half early, but that's because I enjoy hanging around and can help set up the PA etc. Depending on how far I have to haul my cab it only takes 15 minutes for me to set up. Sound check is usually an hour before. If I don't need an amp or cab there's not much to take.
I never listen to our music anymore. I practice a lot, but rarely on the stuff we play. The issue for me going to a gig is take as little as possible. Extra stuff is a little screwdriver, an extra instrument cable, an extension chord, powerstrip, microphone in case the PA guy forgot one for me, and a little headphone amp with in ears so I can noodle around before the show if I want without being the dork on stage.
The main thing going through my head is take as little as possible.
I never listen to our music anymore. I practice a lot, but rarely on the stuff we play. The issue for me going to a gig is take as little as possible. Extra stuff is a little screwdriver, an extra instrument cable, an extension chord, powerstrip, microphone in case the PA guy forgot one for me, and a little headphone amp with in ears so I can noodle around before the show if I want without being the dork on stage.
The main thing going through my head is take as little as possible.
\
you bring a drum key - how about drum sticks? having a pair came in handy for me a time or two for drummers who broke their last pair of sticks or the one drummer who arrived to use the supplied backline and didn't bring any sticks
^ The times I supplied backline (I don't any more), I always included sticks. Drummers aren't the sharpest tools on the bench.
I must have some kind of weird photographic memory. Back when my P.A. company was much bigger, my business partner would take the call, and make a checklist (40,60, 80 cases) of stuff rented. My warehouseman would pull all the gear, working off the checklist, and have it ready to load. I would check this with NO checklist, and somehow find the mistakes. Now that I've downsized, I can still put together a P.A. and lighting system from memory, and knock on wood, have never forgotten anything, without ever opening a road case to check it's contents.
On the other side of the coin, I go to the store for bread and milk, and forget the bread.
On the other side of the coin, I go to the store for bread and milk, and forget the bread.
Set-up choreography...especially if you provide your own sound. Once each member has completed their respective set-up, avail yourself to the BL for addt'l tasks as required.
Riis
Riis
Another pilot here, so checklists are a given. I also worked as an engineer, often at customer locations in rural places without as much as a Radio Shack (R.I.P.) to fall back on. That pre-trip checklist was a whole lot easier than explaining to a customer (and your boss on a testy conference call) that you’d get right to work when the Fedex Priority package arrived, delivering what you’d left plugged in at the desk next to yours.
I use a go bag, full of cables, parts and tools, that gets rechecked the day after each gig or jam as I’m putting things away and wiping down my instrument.
I use a go bag, full of cables, parts and tools, that gets rechecked the day after each gig or jam as I’m putting things away and wiping down my instrument.
Always bring a second bass, a couple 9V batteries, duct tape, extra cables, a multitool, scissors if possible, and bring your own DI box and a backup preamp just in case. At the bare least a second bass and a backup preamp are an absolute bare minimum must, you probably won't need them but if you do, big deal to have them.
I bring a bass, amp, whatever effects I may need, cords and a strap. Oh, and sometimes I bring an extra set of strings. Prepared. No need for a spreadsheet.
I showed up a bit early to a high profile gig once, was unloaded and ready....and the sound company was setting up....they said “you must be the bass player”
Years ago, I was working as a sound guy for a new bandleader doing corporate events. Bass player mentality was in full swing so I was my usual hour early, with parts, first aid, and tools for everyone.
“You can’t be the sound guy. Shouldn’t you be getting high in the van?”
