Where's your gigs?

[rbonner]

I'm scratching my head here and wondering why everybody is so critical about "Heavy Gear".

A very heavy portion of the gigs I've done allowed me to back up either to a loading dock or roll into a garage type dock and wheel my gear right onto the back of a stage.

While I've been in coffee houses or large nightclubs that have UPSTAIRS venues, most multiple venues were one floor. One place was downstairs with a 10 foot wide staircase to whomp down.

All were fairly easy roll ins.

Now I realize active gigging musicians will play a number of different venus and thats where you can tell us about it in the forum space and discuss the gear you are loading in.

Where's your gigs?

Any of you house band musicians?

BOB

 

[tom once dead]

The majoity of our gigs are in a big skate rink, although it it gets closed in to about 1/3 the size, to push everyone in tighter. Usually get between 150-300+ at a gig.

 

[SwamiRob]

This should be multiple choice really but nevermind, anyway I have to agree. Even in the few occasions when there's a gig where stuff needs hauling upstairs the spring loaded handles on my NV215 are so comfortable to use the thing feels like it's only half it's weight, if anything I prefer being the one carrying it from underneath cos you can get into a really nice arm wrestling like position and your barely using any effort to lift it. Some cabs are horribly designed though when it comes to transportation though, our guitarist has a mode 4 setup and the 4x12 has such bloody uncomfortable handles, the wheels on it are awesome but given the cab is only about 2/3rds of the weight of my NV it feels like almost twice the weight when you carry it.

 

[Sundogue]

This goes right along with the thread I started on "It's all Relative".

I can understand the tiny, lightweight gear but it needs to be put in the context of the typical gigs it's being used on.

And yeah, this should be multiple choice. Right now I'm playing more festivals where they are outdoors, but otherwise most of my gigs are in clubs with between 200 to more than 500 in attendance. We also run our own PA and it's not one of those "For the vocals only" ones. It's a full brute of a PA to haul, so not only am I hauling my own gear, I'm hauling massive dual 18" cabs, heavy amp racks, etc. Hauling my bass gear is the least of my concerns.

The only reason my gear was made to be lightweight is just for convenience of hauling it home after a gig (because I do have some side projects to haul it around to). But it isn't a tiny "110 that handles outdoor gigs" rolleyes type rig either.

 

[Wes Whitmore]

Same PA issues as Sundogue. Everything just barely fits in a Caravan and a Yukon. My main concern with transportation now is getting my amp back down into the practice basement weekly. Low ceilings going down the narrow steps through a narrow doorway, weaving past mic stands and a sea of cables and monitors just to get to my location. I do this sometimes twice a week, depending on if I had gigs or not and needed the amp. Usually gigs are much easier. It's all lighter than our power amp rack, so I don't complain much and I usually get help from other band members. They are some good guys.
Wes

 

[T. B. Player]

Even though I do. I come in with a small amp to a rehearsal, and I'll get, "That's it? I guess you don't want to be heard over the rest of us." So the next time I'll go in with a head and 15" cab and get, "What the hell is that? This is only a rehearsal."

There's enough flack out there when people want to see you bring a Fender, and I show up with a fretted and fretless 6 since most of my gigs are fill-in (I want to be prepared for whatever gets thrown at me). When groups that asked me to come and play with them because someone recommended me criticize the rig I use - they don't really want "me." They just want a bass player - with a Fender and an Ampeg.

Z

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

The poll is useless - every gig is different and at different types of venues. I'm not going to limit myself and say - no I can't play that outdoor festival, as I don't like driving out of town...

It would seem strange to me if I played every gig at the same place ...

 

[Sundogue]

The poll is useless - every gig is different and at different types of venues. I'm not going to limit myself and say - no I can't play that outdoor festival, as I don't like driving out of town...

It would seem strange to me if I played every gig at the same place ...

Even stranger is thinking that every gig with over 150 people in attendance is at the same place.

Though I agree, that unless the poll is multiple choice, it is impossible to answer correctly, and even then with most probably choosing multiple venues it would be hard to draw conclusions...other than perhaps the majority of gigs were at small venues and therefore these tiny rigs make more sense overall.

Or...the majority were at large outdoor festivals and these tiny rigs actually do cover gigs that only multiple Ampeg 810's used to. Ah...the wonder of technology!

 

[corradoc]

I'll chime in - I used to live in the ATL, played in bands there, and when I did I used an swr 4x10 + 1x18. I could roll the stuff out of my garage, into my truck, then to the venue. Ans yeah, they usually had loading docks, or elevators - no big deal.

Fast forward to now - I live and play in NYC. Not only is it a PITA to get gear into some of the venues here, but very often you can;t park right out front, or if you do you gotta hurry so you don;t get a ticket. Add to that now apartment living with a long walkway and stairs....well you get the idea. I now ply most of my shows with a neo-212T and shuttle 6.0. I can;t speak for anyone else, but it has made my life a lot easier, and I now don;t dread loading my gear and heading down town.

 

[dougjwray]

This really should be multiple choice. I voted "outdoor festivals", even though I also play theaters, small and medium bars, coffee houses and yard parties.
The type of music and number of people onstage also affects which gear I bring.
The only times when I have to get my sound out there without the help of a PA are when I play with a particular classic rock band. The leader brings his own PA which has only vocals and (sometimes) a little kick drum put through it. We play yard parties and small bars, so I can get away with a GK 1001RBII and a Mesa Boogie 1x15.
When I am going through a PA, I can get away with an Ampeg 100-watt "Rocket" combo, or a GK head (the 1001RBII or a 400 RB) with a 2x10 cab. It helps that most of the large gigs are with acoustic singer-songwriter types without drums, or at least without loud drums. Or it's a jazz group.

 

[Sundogue]

I'll chime in - I used to live in the ATL, played in bands there, and when I did I used an swr 4x10 + 1x18. I could roll the stuff out of my garage, into my truck, then to the venue. Ans yeah, they usually had loading docks, or elevators - no big deal.

Fast forward to now - I live and play in NYC. Not only is it a PITA to get gear into some of the venues here, but very often you can;t park right out front, or if you do you gotta hurry so you don;t get a ticket. Add to that now apartment living with a long walkway and stairs....well you get the idea. I now ply most of my shows with a neo-212T and shuttle 6.0. I can;t speak for anyone else, but it has made my life a lot easier, and I now don;t dread loading my gear and heading down town.

I think where you live has more to do with gear choice than where you play. You give the perfect example of why lightweight gear is so important to many.

Living in a large metropolis and not hauling your own PA would make using small, lightweight gear a necessity, not a choice.

And typically if you are playing large arena type gigs, you wouldn't be hauling your own stuff anyway, making gear choice relatively moot.

Still, I think the majority of musicians that haul their own gear would prefer it not be as heavy as PA gear, even if you do like it loud.

 

[dougjwray]

I'll chime in - I used to live in the ATL, played in bands there, and when I did I used an swr 4x10 + 1x18. I could roll the stuff out of my garage, into my truck, then to the venue. Ans yeah, they usually had loading docks, or elevators - no big deal.

Fast forward to now - I live and play in NYC. Not only is it a PITA to get gear into some of the venues here, but very often you can;t park right out front, or if you do you gotta hurry so you don;t get a ticket. Add to that now apartment living with a long walkway and stairs....well you get the idea. I now ply most of my shows with a neo-212T and shuttle 6.0. I can;t speak for anyone else, but it has made my life a lot easier, and I now don;t dread loading my gear and heading down town.

Fortunately, a lot of the NYC clubs, like the Bitter End, the Knitting Factory, the Cornelia St. Cafe, etc., have backlines. I ALWAYS call on the day of the show to make sure everything's working, though.

 

[corradoc]

Fortunately, a lot of the NYC clubs, like the Bitter End, the Knitting Factory, etc., have backlines. I ALWAYS call on the day of the show to make sure everything's working, though.

Yup, very true - but Ive been burned enough times now by bad info that I almost always bring my lightweight rig - it's so easy to move, there's really no reason not to - for me anyhow.

 

[dougjwray]

Yup, very true - but Ive been burned enough times now by bad info that I almost always bring my lightweight rig - it's so easy to move, there's really no reason not to - for me anyhow.

I know what you mean. I remember playing at the old Folk City on 4th Street around 1981 or so. They said they had a drum kit, and they did... but it was held together by duct tape.

 

[jwbassman]

My gigs tend to vary widely. I've played everywhere from Gillette Stadium in Foxboro to more medium/large venues like Meadowbrook in Gilford NH, holds about 8,000, to Theaters that hold anywhere from 500 to 1,000. Also outdoor festivals and small bars, and everywhere in between. I also play in church every weekend. My main rig is a Eden WT800 and an SWR 4x10 Golliath. I've found that this works for everything. The lager venues always have massive PA support so your amp size doesn't even matter. In small bars with or without PA support, my amp is plenty loud. It's plenty mobile with the casters on the 4x10. I'm young enough that I can lift it no problem. At the large places I've played at, there always plenty of roadies, so I don't even en up touching my gear

 

[bassplayer7770]

I voted Medium Bar Gigs, but my band also plays some smaller bars as well as outdoor festivals and such. A good variety of gigs I'd say.

As for heavy gear, I just downsized my rig and it's actually louder than my previous rig. My LDS combo probably weighs around 65 pounds with the current head I'm using, and the removeable casters make moving it quite easy.

 

[tonester]

most of my gigs in the past were larger arenas and theater sized gigs.my band was signed to roarunner records in the 90s.the band i am with now will be going on tour
in the fall which will also be larger venues.i was just hired to be the bass player for
a metal,punk band also signed to a major label.

 

[jnewmark]

After 15 years in a wedding/party band, playing all kinds of venues, for the last two years my gig has been a house band gig at a small restaurant. I went to a combo rig that is plenty for the room, and also my back thanks me.

 

[rbonner]

Interesting results so far. Yes the thing should have been multiple choice, but I did it at 4-5 am I'm suprised I came up with as many selections as I did.

The real discussion is in the FORUM not the poll anyway. We've gotten results from guys who haven't posted in a while also, this is good.

The comment on the basement practice space. Oh yeah that would definately be a major nightmare to get gear up and down in there.

BOB

 

[scottbass]

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