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What's in your "Save the Day" bag?

rocu

rocu

Jan 28, 2015
796
2,439
Missoula, MT
#1
I bring a little tool bag to every gig. It usually stays in the car but it's there if I need it to save the day. I keep extra things in it.

Tape
Multi tool
Cables
Tuner
DI
Flashlight
Batteries
Strings
Multi outlet
Knife
Battery tester
Cable tester
Outlet tester
Old SM58
Old SM57
Mic clips
A Bunch of cable adapters
$20
Cough drops
Church Key with corkscrew (there's another on the multi tool, you can't be too careful)

What's in your bag of tricks?
 
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#2
I was a lighting roadie for some of Australia's top acts in the late '80's and learned to have a plan B.
Even if it's a festival gig where we just have to rock up with our instruments i'll have a bag full of leads, adapters, a couple of DI's, batteries, gaff tape and more. Sometimes I wonder why I take so much when I don't have to, but then again, virtually every second gig I go to something out of that bag comes in handy.
 
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#5
Many of the tools that have been listed PLUS:

I've recently added an AC adapter to go from IEC320 female to NEMA 5-15.
Takes up less room than a whole spare cord ( which I also carry).

And I carry a spare amp when PA support isn't part of the gig---
My GK200 fits in my toy bag.
 
#8
I carry a tote that has all my cables, gaffing tape, etc.

But it also has:

AA batteries
AAA batteries
9V batteries

Allen keys to adjust action

Micro screwdriver sets for pickups, intonation, etc.

A pickholder for my mic stand (my picks are along the bottom of it in the usual spots, but along the top, it carries thin ones for the guitarist/BL who is in front of me on stage).

Strings

Extra power cords for pedals

Extra cables for EVERYTHING

A capo that gets put on my mic stand for the same guitarist, just in case

Extra iPad holder for mic stand

A power cable for an iPad

A clip on tuner

Extra microphone

Extra wireless unit

Extra extension cords and power bars

My backup amp (Ampeg PF500) travels in there as well.

I like to think that I'm prepared for pretty much any emergency that might pop up. In a 15 minute set break, I can repair or replace anything that might fail.
 
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#12
farace said:
Many of what has already been listed, but also a soldering pencil and some solder. Saved us once when our guitarist's output jack somehow got a broken wire.

And because I knew my band mates, I also carried some of our guitarist's picks and a drum key. :D
Click to expand...
Never thought of that. Adding a soldering iron and solder to my tote.

Thanks.
 
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#13
I carry pretty much every item mentioned above. I also carry a bottle of super glue. The main reason ( I know I'm gonna catch hell for this) is because I put a little bit on my index finger of my plucking hand. (yeah I know, play more and develop some callouses, but I play really hard!) I started this after I almost couldnt finish a show on a hot sweaty humid night because of a huge blister. But it has come in handy for a few other things from time to time.

Also, Im diabetic. I ALWAYS carry a couple of candy bars in my bag now. I had a show about a month ago where I had to stop twice because of low blood sugar episodes.

BnB
 
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#14
Most of the above, plus:

- guitar strings (saved more than one guitarist)
- DI box
- Zantac (nothing worse than acid reflux hitting in set 1)
- extension cord
- protein and/or granola bars if I want to avoid suspect food
- around $40 in small bills (to help evenly split end of night pay)
 
#15
Great suggestions!

Being a Type 2 diabetic, I carry low-sodium peanuts, turkey jerky, bottled water, and Powerade Zero. I don't eat a big meal at lunch and dinner, I Just snack when I get the urge. And with the water and Powerade, I don't have to bug a grouchy or bitchy bartender for a (always non-alcoholic) drink. (yes, I know they usually have a good reason for being grouchy or bitchy, I'd rather not contribute or otherwise be part of the situation).
 
#17
Geri O said:
Great suggestions!

Being a Type 2 diabetic, I carry low-sodium peanuts, turkey jerky, bottled water, and Powerade Zero. I don't eat a big meal at lunch and dinner, I Just snack when I get the urge. And with the water and Powerade, I don't have to bug a grouchy or bitchy bartender for a (always non-alcoholic) drink. (yes, I know they usually have a good reason for being grouchy or bitchy, I'd rather not contribute or otherwise be part of the situation).
Click to expand...
Yeah, good point on the food. We played a wedding this past weekend. It was in our agreement to provide background dinner music (ipad) and pa for toasts. I left my house for this gig at 2:40. I was the person in charge of the dinner music. I was certain id get wedding food. Then i seen waitesses taking orders from each table. No buffet. Dang. Dinner serving took forever and when everyone was served i ducked into the kitchen but there were no extras sitting around. So i played 4 hours on a cupcake, and a virgin bloody mary. For now on Im gonna have granola bars or clif bars in my gig box.
 
#18
rocu said:
I bring a little tool bag to every gig. It usually stays in the car but it's there if I need it to save the day. I keep extra things in it.

Tape
Multi tool
Cables
Tuner
DI
Flashlight
Batteries
Strings
Multi outlet
Knife
Battery tester
Cable tester
Outlet tester
Old SM58
Old SM57
Mic clips
A Bunch of cable adapters
$20
Cough drops
Church Key with corkscrew (there's another on the multi tool, you can't be too careful)

What's in your bag of tricks?
Click to expand...


All of this and....
Active DI
Passive DI
Way too many cables (about 15 pounds worth)
Two sets of bass strings
Two sets of guitar strings...one acoustic and one electric....and I don't play guitar
In line XLR isolation transformer
Allen wrenches
Klein 10-in-1
Multiple pens and markers
Two extra straps (one black and one brown)
Extra Polar Ice gum (can't play without it)
Used to keep condoms and a toothbrush/paste....but I'm married now. :D
There's more stuff in there but I can't remember it all right now.

Mine is a big ugly black box known as "The Box of Doom". It weighs more than my Mesa Walkabout 15" combo (52 pounds). I know because I constantly carry the combo in one hand and the box in the other.
 
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#19
All of the things mentioned above, cables, mics etc. I don't carry spare strings because I bring a small and extremely light Jay Turser mini P-bass as an emergency backup in case either my bass or back konks out. I also always bring a Kustom PA50 powered speaker. In a pinch it can serve as a vocal monitor or even fill in if my bass amp or someone else's amp suffers some sort of malfunction. Most of the time neither leaves the trunk of the car, but each has been used enough that I always bring them.
 

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