Tips for Being Organized and Prepared for Gigs

[Medicine Man]

I do our lights and PA myself for about half our gigs, and I feel the most stupidly simple advice is to do everything the same every time. Each thing has a specific place, and that organization makes it easy to eyeball if everything is there. Then make sure it goes back during load out as well when people are tired after the show. Don't just chuck everything away cuz people want to out a couple minutes faster.

 

[PauFerro]

I bring EVERyTHING. Rather than have to think through everything I need for every different gig (they all seem to have different system, lighting and other requirements), I have a tub of all my stuff and I bring it every time. To reduce haulage, I have a Rock N Roller carrying dolly that works OK.

I keep things that are weather/temp friendly in my car permanently -- extensions cords, speaker stands, bass guitar stands, music stand, certain music books. I pick what I need as I load up my dolly.

There are some small, pesky things I seem to always lose -- like the cord that goes from my phone to the mixer for background music. I have 4 of them.

I also do thinking for the musicians. Most, for some reason, refuse to bring a system for keeping their music from blowing away during wind. Others have no lighting for when the client turns out the lights on you. I have backup for those musicians.

I have a backup bass, backup bass amp, backup strings, and backup XLR and 1/4" cords and a backup microphone.

I sometimes have backups for my backups

I also use an APP called ColorNote on my phone. Free from iTunes or Google Play, can't remember if it's for Apply but definitely for Android. I have a checklist there I review just to make sure I have everything.

 

[bassliner50]

Self practice, group rehearsals, and a well equipped gig bag.

 

[jthisdell]

I don't bring a lot of backup stuff but I do keep two pedal boards, one small mostly for upright and one larger. Each board goes in a bag with all the cords etc needed. The only exception is my mic and cable which needs to be switched. So I don't have to think is ever in there, I just need to grab the right board, bass, head and cab.

 

[Ostie]

I have a gig bag with all the aforementioned items (except condoms) but I find the most surprises are at the venue. No power, dirty power, ungrounded outlets, no stage, small stage, bare concrete or grass....you gotta be ready for anything.

 

[Kyle Lee]

I have a tub full of all my music stuff: cables, extra cables, adaptors, pedals, mic, sharpies, tape, dry erase markers, picks, screwdriver, wrench, extra strings, music binder, etc. It always lives in the tub, no need to check where things are, or if I have everything.

It's as simple as rolling out my dolly to my car. Amp lives on the dolly, tub atop the amp. I kinda always need 2 trips to/from the car though. First trip carrying bass case, big water bottle, and guitar stand; generally easy-to-carry things that allow me to easily figure where the heck exactly I need to drag my dolly on the second trip.

 

[TheReceder]

Stretching the topic a bit... but overall logistics for a gig for me.

I can only say what my dream gig is.
1. Everyone brings what they needed. Including simple things like Gaffer/Duct tape, and a flashlight
2. Load in. Everyone helps, people don't drop their gear in other peoples spots. Nothing more irritating than having to move drum and guitar cases to place foh, lights, or my bass gear. I hate moving things more than once.
3. The gig. Have a plan, and a setlist that should work and fill the time. Have "spares" if you need em but don't go into the last set and start every next song with. "So what are we doing next"
4. After the gig, Short facetime with the crowd as they leave.
5. Tear Down. Again, Everyone helps, get your personal gear packed away first to avoid guitars getting kicked over, drums being in the way etc. Every case, cord, and instrument has a spot off stage, and everyone knows what they are. (Edit) everyone knows how to wrap cords (over under) (End edit)Tasks are assigned, a couple for the lights, FOH, and MISC. No one leaves until the trailer has a lock on it.
6. Last walk around to make sure nothing gets left behind.

I can honestly say that I've had this happen.... maybe once, back in about 1979.

 

[GrapeBass]

I'm sure this has been covered like a million times, but I'm covering it again.

I like to think I'm fairly organized when it comes to gig preparedness, but at our last gig, I noticed some different approaches to organization and setup amongst the bands performing (and even in my own band ).

Today I sat in on an incredibly boring talk on "supply chain management" at work and the speaker defined logistics as "the detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation". (I learned later he'd lifted that directly from Wikipedia, but that's not the point.)

I like to get all of my stuff organized in advance, keep my cables coiled, labeled, etc all the way down to having spare gig bags and printing off extra set lists.

What do you do to ensure all of your logistical needs are met in preparation for a show?

First, and foremost, keep things as simple as possible. Get a medium sized shoulder bag that you can put your charts, set lists, a couple instrument cables, a couple speaker cables, a couple power cables, a mic cable and an extension cord. Some people mentioned gaffer (duct) tape, that's a good idea. If you have a spare tuner that'd be good. A couple of batteries, a flashlight, a small pad of paper and a pen. Oh, and a towel to wipe your bass if needed.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

The fewer things you take, the fewer things you'll forget. Don't worry about the rest of the band, they're big boys and girls.

 

[Biggbass]

I have a back up for anything that reasonably might need backing up; guitar, strings, cables, amp. And I inventory everything at home before loading up and again after loading out before driving home.
So far the only thing I've managed to get to a gig without is a guitar stand. But that wasn't a big deal. I just put my bass in the gig bag between sets. And found that to be such a better solution that I haven't take a stand for my bass to gigs ever since.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I'm sure this has been covered like a million times, but I'm covering it again.

I like to think I'm fairly organized when it comes to gig preparedness, but at our last gig, I noticed some different approaches to organization and setup amongst the bands performing (and even in my own band ).

Today I sat in on an incredibly boring talk on "supply chain management" at work and the speaker defined logistics as "the detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation". (I learned later he'd lifted that directly from Wikipedia, but that's not the point.)

I like to get all of my stuff organized in advance, keep my cables coiled, labeled, etc all the way down to having spare gig bags and printing off extra set lists.

What do you do to ensure all of your logistical needs are met in preparation for a show?

For stuff I use with whatever set-up I'm taking I put it all in my gig bag. For my small venue set-up, I put the power cable and speaker cable in the amp's shoulder bag and go.

I load all my charts into my old 7" Kindle Fire HD with a corresponding number in front of each song on the set-list. Bit of a pain when we skip around the list. I still have the charts for the ones not on the list and they are alphabetical so they are easy to find.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I also use an APP called ColorNote on my phone. Free from iTunes or Google Play, can't remember if it's for Apply but definitely for Android. I have a checklist there I review just to make sure I have everything.

Colored Note is available for iPhones.
‎Colored Note

Downloaded and trying it out now. Thanks.

 

[MrLenny1]

I finally have 2 gig bags that stay in the car, no using during the week
that way it's always there.
2 Class D amps, cables,mic,tool kit, set list, batteries etc...

 

[Turbo Sparky]

7P's:
Prior Proper Planning Prevents P*ss Poor Performance.

I work it from hands to power outlet/strip-
Player: Spare picks, wrist sweatband, ear plugs...in cargo shorts of course.
Gig bag: Bass, strap, cable/lead, multi-tool, battery, strings, micro-fiber rag.
Pedal board (if required): Double check all patch connections and power supply prior to packing, cable/lead from board to amp.
Amp and case: Speaker leads/cables pre-connected, double check amp power cable in conditioner.
Cab and cover: Extra speaker cable/lead.
Backpack/ruck: Drum key, instrument stand, power strip (25' cord), hand sanitizer, baby wipes, extra ear plugs, clean t-shirt, small stick of deodorant, bottle of water, hand towel, 50' XLR just in case, small bottle of acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine, small pack of tissues, gum, and meal replacement bar.

Set-up:
Starts with amp/cab, then power.
From amp:
Cable to pedalboard or instrument, pedalboard power, instrument cable/lead to instrument, instrument stand, bass, strap...
All/any other gear/bags/case doors are placed in the cab cover turned upside down and placed behind the cab (space depending) or next to the stage/riser/staging area.
Either eyes-on (friends/spouse) and or positive control (hands).
Teardown goes in reverse.
No extra bass, no extra amp. All tested prior to departure, and regularly maintained/serviced.

If I had a different gig/schedule/itinerary other adjustments could/would be made to packout list.

 

[Ronzo]

The fewer things you take, the fewer things you'll forget. Don't worry about the rest of the band, they're big boys and girls.

ROTFLMAO!!!
Don’t know the people YOU’VE worked with, one day Mr. Murphy will show up at one of your gigs...

 

[Ronzo]

7P's:
Prior Proper Planning Prevents P*ss Poor Performance.

I work it from hands to power outlet/strip-
Player: Spare picks, wrist sweatband, ear plugs...in cargo shorts of course.
Gig bag: Bass, strap, cable/lead, multi-tool, battery, strings, micro-fiber rag.
Pedal board (if required): Double check all patch connections and power supply prior to packing, cable/lead from board to amp.
Amp and case: Speaker leads/cables pre-connected, double check amp power cable in conditioner.
Cab and cover: Extra speaker cable/lead.
Backpack/ruck: Drum key, instrument stand, power strip (25' cord), hand sanitizer, baby wipes, extra ear plugs, clean t-shirt, small stick of deodorant, bottle of water, hand towel, 50' XLR just in case, small bottle of acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine, small pack of tissues, gum, and meal replacement bar.

Set-up:
Starts with amp/cab, then power.
From amp:
Cable to pedalboard or instrument, pedalboard power, instrument cable/lead to instrument, instrument stand, bass, strap...
All/any other gear/bags/case doors are placed in the cab cover turned upside down and placed behind the cab (space depending) or next to the stage/riser/staging area.
Either eyes-on (friends/spouse) and or positive control (hands).
Teardown goes in reverse.
No extra bass, no extra amp. All tested prior to departure, and regularly maintained/serviced.

If I had a different gig/schedule/itinerary other adjustments could/would be made to packout list.

I’d always bring a backup bass and a DI, but that’s just me.

One thing I’d add is a few DeOxit wipes. Clean and a godsend when needed.

Regarding a backup instrument: a few years ago, I attended the BICSI show in Orlando for work. As exhibitors, we were ticketed to see a show at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney. The band came on, and during the first song, the guitarist broke the B string on his MusicMan Axis. With a Floyd Rose trem, which promptly threw the entire instrument out of tune. He had no backup instrument with him.

It took him 20 MINUTES to change the string and retune. They played a 30 minute set as the opening act. He was MIA for 2/3 of it.

My customers knew I played, and asked me what was happening. I said, “You’re looking at a band that f’d up their big opportunity out of laziness.” They all agreed. As salespeople, they all had their own version of this in their personal histories. Always have your big presentation copied to a flash drive, with your assistant or boss’ laptop ready to go if yours craps out. Duplicate all cables. Etcetera.

Only one chance to make a good first impression. Don’t blow it.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

ROTFLMAO!!!
Don’t know the people YOU’VE worked with, one day Mr. Murphy will show up at one of your gigs...

I just don’t think they’re my problem. I’m not going to bring an extra set of electric or acoustic strings or a drum key and sticks. They can borrow my strap or cable if necessary, but I’m not their mom.

 

[brianrost]

Since I'm the KISS type, I keep cords, spare strings and a tuner in all my gig bags. I was lucky enough over 20+ years of hosting jams to acquire a lot of orphaned tuners and cables so I have more than enough.

I use one drawstring bag with basic tools, batteries, fuses, sharpies, picks, AC tester, etc. and I toss it in whatever bag is going to the gig...unless it's BG only it goes into my DB gig bag. I keep a mike, cable, and stand in my car at all times.

When using my amp head, I have speaker cables, DI box, mike (with cable) and fuses in the bag at all times. My combo has a DI built in so it's just the amp and power cord in the road case.

I've had an old Radio Shack extension cord on a reel with six outlets and a breaker for 35 years and always bring that.

So after loading, the idiot check is one or two instrument bags, the combo road case or my head in it's bag plus one or two cabs with covers and the cord reel.

 

[Bushrod Johnson]

My BL is very, very experienced and all around awesome. A couple of gigs ago his cord shorted out. Incredibly, he didn't have a spare but he was thankful that I did.

 

[Hundred proof]

Everything but the actual bass is pre packed, and only used for gigs so all I need/use is in a constant state of ready ... picture is gear in downtown parking garage ready to be rolled to a gig.