Please see my post #56 in this thread.
You’re not their mom, but they might be your undoing. Good luck.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Tips for Being Organized and Prepared for Gigs
- Thread starter Beej
- Start date
You’re not their mom, but they might be your undoing. Good luck.
No. But I would tell him or her the same story I just related, and ask if they wanted to be the one blamed for blowing the gig.
If they don’t have a spare guitar, they can buy a serviceable one from the Glarry website for $55 USD, including a cheap gig bag.
When I was a lot younger, I’ve been the poor (literally) kid without resources. I bought a cheap contact mic for my first acoustic guitar, and brought it and that guitar on my first gigs - going-away parties for draftees who were being shipped to Vietnam. My Dad was the first guy who said “what happens if your guitar goes south?”, when he heard we got a gig.
Miss him a lot.
Last edited:
That's my point too. I'm not going to bring gear for everyone else. If they can use some of my spare stuff, that's fine, but their responsibility is their responsibility. I've had people with sketchy gear and they were highly encouraged to upgrade. They did.
I know plenty of guitarists who only bring one and they've never blown a gig. I almost always only bring one bass, too, and I've never blown a gig. Plenty of other things are more likely to go wrong than breaking a string or internal wiring. My Fender P once fell off a 7 ft high stack of chairs 2 minutes before a gig and didn't even go out of tune
If you’re running a Floyd, sure, bring a backup. Most guitarists I know bring one and maybe an acoustic, but that’s a different story.
I’ve got my gig bag and my tech/misc “away bag.” And keep a punch list for anything special I may need for a specific gig.
But I’ve done IT enterprise network support, much if it onsite at client locations, for the last 35 years. So having everything necessary assembled and ready for a “pack & go” is second nature to me by now.
But I’ve done IT enterprise network support, much if it onsite at client locations, for the last 35 years. So having everything necessary assembled and ready for a “pack & go” is second nature to me by now.
@JimmyM , you’re a working musician, and I love you, man. And I’d rather be lucky than good, because if I wasn’t lucky, I’d be no good at all.I know plenty of guitarists who only bring one and they've never blown a gig. I almost always only bring one bass, too, and I've never blown a gig. Plenty of other things are more likely to go wrong than breaking a string or internal wiring. My Fender P once fell off a 7 ft high stack of chairs 2 minutes before a gig and didn't even go out of tune
But I still ain’t gonna tempt fate when a light Chinese bass and an old dual Fender gig bag might save my fat behind.
I pack the truck the same way every time and I have one gig bag for instrument accessories with another for PA accessories. I agree with the never pilfer or mix what's in these bags. If a cable goes bad I tie a loose knot in the bad end and either put in the drawer of broken things or fix it when I get home. I go through everything quarterly and perform maintenance on everything. Wipe down all cables and check connections with a meter. Vacuum speaker enclosures, wipe down boards, etc. No I don't want your help!
I do an "idiot check" before I leave for the gig then once again on the stage when tear down is complete. It's hard work but I prefer to set up and tear down all of my own stuff so that things go where they need to be and so that chords aren't yanked out or wrapped incorrectly. Once I set the mains and monitor speakers ask me before moving them. Once I set the faders I am the only one allowed to touch them. Before I change into my stage clothes I am the set up guy and willing to discuss gear, next weeks gig, last week's gig, the stupid drummers drunk wife, parking, pretty much anything. Once I change into my stage clothes I am the entertainer and only willing to discuss items directly relating to tonight's show. It's the way it has to be.
I do an "idiot check" before I leave for the gig then once again on the stage when tear down is complete. It's hard work but I prefer to set up and tear down all of my own stuff so that things go where they need to be and so that chords aren't yanked out or wrapped incorrectly. Once I set the mains and monitor speakers ask me before moving them. Once I set the faders I am the only one allowed to touch them. Before I change into my stage clothes I am the set up guy and willing to discuss gear, next weeks gig, last week's gig, the stupid drummers drunk wife, parking, pretty much anything. Once I change into my stage clothes I am the entertainer and only willing to discuss items directly relating to tonight's show. It's the way it has to be.
Well I guess if you're prone to breaking strings...@JimmyM , you’re a working musician, and I love you, man. And I’d rather be lucky than good, because if I wasn’t lucky, I’d be no good at all.
But I still ain’t gonna tempt fate when a light Chinese bass and an old dual Fender gig bag might save my fat behind.
Don't forget to bring a spare car in case you break down on the way
I used to play mandolin in a band. We practiced at the guitar players house and I let the bass player use one of my practice amps. The bass player had a larger rig for gigs, or so I thought. We had a gig and the bass player shows up and says to the guitar player, “did you bring my amp?”
Guitar player says “no, why would I do that?”
“Because it was at your house” says the bass player.
Wrong answer. Guitar player said, “well, I guess you won’t be getting paid tonight.”
Bass player was miffed that he had to drive home and get his gig rig. He missed the entire first set. I’d like to think he learned a lesson, but probably not.
The band I’m in now, everybody is responsible for their own gear.
Guitar player says “no, why would I do that?”
“Because it was at your house” says the bass player.
Wrong answer. Guitar player said, “well, I guess you won’t be getting paid tonight.”
Bass player was miffed that he had to drive home and get his gig rig. He missed the entire first set. I’d like to think he learned a lesson, but probably not.
The band I’m in now, everybody is responsible for their own gear.
I bought a Remo snare head that I kept in the bottom of my rack case after playing two gigs within a 6 month period where the drummer broke his snare head and had no backup.
I never ended up needing it, but fool me twice....
I never ended up needing it, but fool me twice....
I know I'll get beat up because there are those that think you should treat every gig as if it were Madison Square Garden, but I'm bringing one bass and a set of strings unless I need fretless for a few songs. If it's a gig that has crew and security, sure, I'll bring a second bass along. But, I'd rather not leave gear in the car where I'd lose the gear and the window. I don't want another bass that can walk during a gig. The odds of me needing bass #2 is far, far lower than the odds of someone snagging bass #2.
Hi guys
I bring everything I need and a backup of everything. And my tool box.
Just because Murphy can always show up!
I also bring everything the others in the band might need.
(I even bring backup stuff nobody will ever need!)
Because even when Murphy does not show up,
there always seems to be some idiot who brings a backup Murphy!
may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
I bring everything I need and a backup of everything. And my tool box.
Just because Murphy can always show up!
I also bring everything the others in the band might need.
(I even bring backup stuff nobody will ever need!
)Because even when Murphy does not show up,
there always seems to be some idiot who brings a backup Murphy!
may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
My spare car is an Uber, and backing that up is a Lyft!Well I guess if you're prone to breaking strings...
Don't forget to bring a spare car in case you break down on the way
My most used ‘spare’ items are:-
Spare Picks
Black Sharpie
Gaffa tape
Anti-inflam/Pain cream (arnica) keeps me supple and dancing all night with little/no soreness the next day.
Anti-perspirant/Deodorant - most guys I play with should bring this!!
Ventolin - other people’s cigarette smoke affects my airways & limits my breathing/singing.
Spare Picks
Black Sharpie
Gaffa tape
Anti-inflam/Pain cream (arnica) keeps me supple and dancing all night with little/no soreness the next day.
Anti-perspirant/Deodorant - most guys I play with should bring this!!
Ventolin - other people’s cigarette smoke affects my airways & limits my breathing/singing.
I go through the same mental checklist each time -- just the bare essentials needed to play. I've got a small bag of spares that I leave in my car. I don't bring spares for anybody else -- they're pro's.
Carefully and promptly pack up at the end of the set, things will be where they need to be next gig.
Since my a/c cord on my amp is not hardwired, I pack an extra of those, along with an extra speaker cable. I spread the risk by not putting everything in one bag. Wireless, pedals and amp have separate bags. If any one bag disappeared, gig could still go on.
Since my a/c cord on my amp is not hardwired, I pack an extra of those, along with an extra speaker cable. I spread the risk by not putting everything in one bag. Wireless, pedals and amp have separate bags. If any one bag disappeared, gig could still go on.
I'm in the I only bring my stuff camp. Don't get me wrong but I want to be a team player. I have just had too many instances where "borrow" meant "keep" and I got in trouble for not bringing something that was not my responsibility in the first place.
That said I did let the keyboard player borrow an instrument cable from me when their cable malfunctioned mid gig. But that was an isolated incident.
I put all my stuff in a backpack. I don't trust that everything I need is there from the last gig so I always dump it out on the floor and repack it. That way I can take a mental inventory. I have run into too many instances where I forgot something because I forgot that I had used the item and did not put it back in my bag.
Here is side comment and interesting story (it may be an urban legend). During WWII a company was having problems with quality control of parachutes not properly deploying. The company tried everything to lower the failure rate and increase reliability. Finally they decided on surprise inspections in the form of having the parachute packers use a chute that they had just packed. Quality control shot through the roof with practically zero failures. The reason was that people were a lot more conscientious when their own lives were on the line. Those that did not care about quality were buried.
That said I did let the keyboard player borrow an instrument cable from me when their cable malfunctioned mid gig. But that was an isolated incident.
I put all my stuff in a backpack. I don't trust that everything I need is there from the last gig so I always dump it out on the floor and repack it. That way I can take a mental inventory. I have run into too many instances where I forgot something because I forgot that I had used the item and did not put it back in my bag.
Here is side comment and interesting story (it may be an urban legend). During WWII a company was having problems with quality control of parachutes not properly deploying. The company tried everything to lower the failure rate and increase reliability. Finally they decided on surprise inspections in the form of having the parachute packers use a chute that they had just packed. Quality control shot through the roof with practically zero failures. The reason was that people were a lot more conscientious when their own lives were on the line. Those that did not care about quality were buried.
