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What do you take to a performance ?
- Thread starter johnvice
- Start date
Bass
Amp head & cables in an old diaper bag
Speaker
Earplugs
Folding music stand
I keep a bunch of extra stuff in the spare tire compartment of my car, including extra cables, a microphone, parking meter change, and some cash
Always a few single dollars to tip the bar staff.
Amp head & cables in an old diaper bag
Speaker
Earplugs
Folding music stand
I keep a bunch of extra stuff in the spare tire compartment of my car, including extra cables, a microphone, parking meter change, and some cash
Always a few single dollars to tip the bar staff.
Extra strings (you just never know), my tuner and my compression box, two extra instrument cables, and extra mic cable, and extra mic, and an extra power cable, a hex wrench, two screwdrivers (one flat, one Phillips), an extra 9v battery, my Buck pocket knife, colored electrical tape for marking property and cables, a pen and a sticky pad, some Singer's Saving Grace, a bottle of water, and a sandwich or a Snicker bar.
The "why" of the extra strings, cables, and tools is, of course, obvious. I bring my knife because it is a handy tool. ("I can't get this danged plastic zip tie off my new cable that I picked up on the way here. Cherie, do you have your knife?") I mark all my stuff with red tape, and our PA connections are color-coded -- blue for bottom, red for highs, green for monitors, etc. Sometimes they need re-taped. Pen and sticky is to give our contact info out for potential gigs and (when we've got one) our MySpace to fans, should we run out of cards, or to make notes. Singer's Saving Grace for when the mold count is real high, or for ragweed season, or spring grass pollen, so I can keep singing. The sandwich/Snickers is so that, if I didn't get supper, I won't let my blood sugar drop and have me pass out under the hot lights.
I nearly forgot the flashlight! Gotta have a flashlight.
Cherie
The "why" of the extra strings, cables, and tools is, of course, obvious. I bring my knife because it is a handy tool. ("I can't get this danged plastic zip tie off my new cable that I picked up on the way here. Cherie, do you have your knife?") I mark all my stuff with red tape, and our PA connections are color-coded -- blue for bottom, red for highs, green for monitors, etc. Sometimes they need re-taped. Pen and sticky is to give our contact info out for potential gigs and (when we've got one) our MySpace to fans, should we run out of cards, or to make notes. Singer's Saving Grace for when the mold count is real high, or for ragweed season, or spring grass pollen, so I can keep singing. The sandwich/Snickers is so that, if I didn't get supper, I won't let my blood sugar drop and have me pass out under the hot lights.
I nearly forgot the flashlight! Gotta have a flashlight.
Cherie
2 Basses (one as backup)
2 Amps (one as backup)
Speaker cabs
Tuner
Guitar stand
Various cables
Spare strings
Power adapter & extension cable
Spare batteries
Allen key multitool
Screwdrivers
2 litres of water
2 cans of Red Bull
Towel
Diary (I'm the manager)
Band business cards
Not including cases...
I also carry the backdrop & stands, lighting rig & stands.
...oh torch & gaffer tape too!
2 Amps (one as backup)
Speaker cabs
Tuner
Guitar stand
Various cables
Spare strings
Power adapter & extension cable
Spare batteries
Allen key multitool
Screwdrivers
2 litres of water
2 cans of Red Bull
Towel
Diary (I'm the manager)
Band business cards
Not including cases...
I also carry the backdrop & stands, lighting rig & stands.
...oh torch & gaffer tape too!
I have a suitcase (like, an office suitcase) with the following:
- Moogerfooger pedal (sometimes I use it, sometimes not)
- tuner
- two extra sets of string
- rags
- extra cords
- picks
-
- Moogerfooger pedal (sometimes I use it, sometimes not)
- tuner
- two extra sets of string
- rags
- extra cords
- picks
-
I am REALLY impressed - I am not the only well-prepared bass player. It seems that we are much better prepared than most other band members.
Those of you that only bring the minimum - it is only a matter of time until you wish you had listened! Guaranteed!
One note - the BEST type of flashlight (a must have) are the little ones with 10-20 white LEDs. The light is very broad and even and clear - much better for finding a loose connection or something that was dropped than a conventional bulb light. They also STAY bright right up to battery failure.
Those of you that only bring the minimum - it is only a matter of time until you wish you had listened! Guaranteed!
One note - the BEST type of flashlight (a must have) are the little ones with 10-20 white LEDs. The light is very broad and even and clear - much better for finding a loose connection or something that was dropped than a conventional bulb light. They also STAY bright right up to battery failure.
The Container Store had a high-impact plastic storage locker with wheels for $30.00 a few weeks ago--Contico is the brand, IIRC.
I got one so I could toss in my mike stand, my bass stand, my music stand, my lyrics binder and the gig bag with all the cables, strings, flashlight, picks, etc. It all fits, so my load-in is three pieces: amp, bass, footlocker.
I need to add some tools so I'm not always having to run out to my truck for a screwdriver, though.
I got one so I could toss in my mike stand, my bass stand, my music stand, my lyrics binder and the gig bag with all the cables, strings, flashlight, picks, etc. It all fits, so my load-in is three pieces: amp, bass, footlocker.
I need to add some tools so I'm not always having to run out to my truck for a screwdriver, though.
I tend to bring the stuff to make or repair vs whole replacements.
Parts:
2 - 2 pole speakon
2 - 4 pole speakon
2ea - mono 1/4" & 1/8"
1 - megafoot 1/4"
2ea - stereo 1/4" & 1/8"
2 - xlr male
2 - xlr female
5 - 5.5mm DC power male connector
2 - 5.5mm DC power female
6' 12gax2 speaker wire
12' 22gax3 mic wire
5' silk covered 18ga wire (for inside instruments and amps)
2ea - 2a, 5a, 10a, 15a fuses
2 - 500kohm pots
2 - 25kohm pots
1 - long sleeve 1/4" stereo jack
1 - short standard 1/4" stereo jack
1 - 1' IEC to NEMA 5-15 (turns any IEC power cord (your computer has this normally) into an extension cord)
various washers, pot/jack nuts, screws, jack boots, solder, and heatshrink tubing.
Tools:
1 - customized 35w adjustable temp soldering iron (has two 35w elements in it with a thermal breaker set at 425F for one of them, heats up to temp in about 1 minute)
1 - plunger desolderer
1 - bic lighter
1 - diagonal cutters
1 - mini needle-nose
1 - 6in1 screwdriver
1ea - .5, .75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5mm hex wrenches
1ea - 1/8", 1/4", 1/2" drillbit
1 - chuck from a cordless drill that fits into the socket of the 6in1 screwdriver
1 - led flashlight
Fits in a 16"x10"x5" bag which is velcro'ed to the back lid of my rack.
I like to keep enough on hand to fix any broken cable, guitar, or amp the band I'm playing with might have. I leave it up to the guitarists to carry backup tubes.
I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron so most repairs take less than 2 minutes including warmup of the iron. Yes its much more intensive than just throwing a new cable at someone. But you end up just resoldering most of the time so its extremely cheap compared to any other method.
Bass only stuff:
2 sets of strings.. usually 1 new and the last whole set I took off. (I use the old strings to replace the broken single string during the set and replace all the strings next break).
2 monster bass cables
1 up machine head
1 down machine head
People stuff:
1 pack of baby wipes (for the hands before, during, and hands/cables after playing)
1 bottle of purex (for after coiling up cables)
yes thats nutty... but so is touching anything that fell or was placed onto a bar floor
Parts:
2 - 2 pole speakon
2 - 4 pole speakon
2ea - mono 1/4" & 1/8"
1 - megafoot 1/4"
2ea - stereo 1/4" & 1/8"
2 - xlr male
2 - xlr female
5 - 5.5mm DC power male connector
2 - 5.5mm DC power female
6' 12gax2 speaker wire
12' 22gax3 mic wire
5' silk covered 18ga wire (for inside instruments and amps)
2ea - 2a, 5a, 10a, 15a fuses
2 - 500kohm pots
2 - 25kohm pots
1 - long sleeve 1/4" stereo jack
1 - short standard 1/4" stereo jack
1 - 1' IEC to NEMA 5-15 (turns any IEC power cord (your computer has this normally) into an extension cord)
various washers, pot/jack nuts, screws, jack boots, solder, and heatshrink tubing.
Tools:
1 - customized 35w adjustable temp soldering iron (has two 35w elements in it with a thermal breaker set at 425F for one of them, heats up to temp in about 1 minute)
1 - plunger desolderer
1 - bic lighter
1 - diagonal cutters
1 - mini needle-nose
1 - 6in1 screwdriver
1ea - .5, .75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5mm hex wrenches
1ea - 1/8", 1/4", 1/2" drillbit
1 - chuck from a cordless drill that fits into the socket of the 6in1 screwdriver
1 - led flashlight
Fits in a 16"x10"x5" bag which is velcro'ed to the back lid of my rack.
I like to keep enough on hand to fix any broken cable, guitar, or amp the band I'm playing with might have. I leave it up to the guitarists to carry backup tubes.
I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron so most repairs take less than 2 minutes including warmup of the iron. Yes its much more intensive than just throwing a new cable at someone. But you end up just resoldering most of the time so its extremely cheap compared to any other method.
Bass only stuff:
2 sets of strings.. usually 1 new and the last whole set I took off. (I use the old strings to replace the broken single string during the set and replace all the strings next break).
2 monster bass cables
1 up machine head
1 down machine head
People stuff:
1 pack of baby wipes (for the hands before, during, and hands/cables after playing)
1 bottle of purex (for after coiling up cables)
yes thats nutty... but so is touching anything that fell or was placed onto a bar floor
The question is, how much is enough?
I play with a lot of classical and jazz musicians. They almost never bring spare instruments, and often don't even own a spare. Their approach is different, but it works. Their instruments have evolved to a high degree of reliability. Through training and experience, they get to know their instruments, how to perform minor preventive maintenance, and what parts can wear out or fail. Of course they carry spares, but typically only for a few selected parts, such as reeds and strings.
I used to carry a lot more stuff -- spare bass, copious cables, and even a full electronics technician tool kit. But I learned that carrying mountains of spares and tools is not the only approach to reliability. Other factors affect reliability as well. I keep my rig simple and compact. It simply doesn't get banged around. And of course I have spare cables, though they reside in my car.
Then there is the Leatherman. I forgot about that. My mom gave me one for my birthday. I took one look at it, said thanks, and threw it in my gig bag.
bass
case
head(cover)
cab(cover)
speaker cable
2-bass cables
couple of picks
Nothing major ever broke or needed repair. I put my bass in the case between sets.
Replaced a couple of cables along the way. I played with a medium touch. Just turned the amp up. I did my own LILO and took care of my stuff.
case
head(cover)
cab(cover)
speaker cable
2-bass cables
couple of picks
Nothing major ever broke or needed repair. I put my bass in the case between sets.
Replaced a couple of cables along the way. I played with a medium touch. Just turned the amp up. I did my own LILO and took care of my stuff.
