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What do you always forget to bring to a gig?

#6
Been great for about thirty years - then a month ago I forgot my pedalboard (had to plug bass straight into the desk). Then for a sub gig a couple of weeks ago I left the house without my bass - was only about 10mins away from home when I realised so turned around and went back and got it - but, seriously??!! I’m a bass player, going to play bass on a sub gig - you’d think I’d know that taking a bass is kinda a prerequisite - sheesh!
 
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#14
Almost always forget to check for extra batteries for the wireless pack.

on the other end, when finishing up and getting off stage for the other band to setup after us, I have admittedly forgotten my pick holder on MANY occasions as it’s the venues mic stand and there’s only a 25-30 minute turnover.
 
#16
I usually forget to bring the note sheets. But only the hardest pieces, which I was practising at home and hence forgot them on the stand.

Sometimes I forget the strap of course. This doesn't trouble me on double bass gigs. On these, I tend to forget the bow; but this is more intentional than not and clearly proves my high humanity standards.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot: I was often forgetting to bring a stomp box or two, which I solved by pedalboard, and later, much more satisfactory, with not using more than one pedal at a time.

I underdstand that compared to trumpet players forgetting their mouthpieces, or drummers forgetting their sticks, my problems are really mediocre.
 
#18
dartagnan said:
I have a gig tomorrow night - first one since before the quarantine - and I am CERTAIN I'm going to forget something. It's usually the band's tip bucket, but I'm digging that out right now and putting it in my car.

What do you usually forget to bring?
Click to expand...

If you usually forget something, you need to change your mode of operation and find a way to remember ;)

I always run a mental check list before I set off, and double check when in doubt. Other people may need a written check list.
Once, years ago, I was storing the snare and cymbals for our drummer but when packing I only remembered the cymbals. Gig was 4 hours away. We found out when setting up. Oh, that was fun!
Fortunately, sound guy knew someone at the bar downstairs was a drummer. He kindly offered his snare, but we needed to drive him to get it. It was awesome, he was staying right at Loch Ness, he had this little cabin kind of thing (he was working there doing some conservation work) and he'd set up his drums on a small pier facing the water and just practice there. So at least that was nice. But it took us just over an hour for the round trip and it was pretty stressful.
That's the day I started doing check lists. If it's just my stuff, mental is enough. If I have to take care of unusual items or other people's stuff, written.
 
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#20
two fingers said:
Gum. Extra Polar Ice. In my 35 years of doing this, I have started two gigs a few minutes late because I had to run get the proper chewing gum. I can't sing without it. My mouth gets very dry on stage (no matter how much I hydrate before the gig).
Click to expand...
Years ago it was a new stick of Wrigley's Cinnamon to start every set. That eventually lead to jaw issues, & dat was dat.
 
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