- Mar 19, 2013
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- If only I were that good....
+1000
That's how it is for me in my band I sing in and my band I play bass...being on both sides of amount of gear needed is humbling
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Who helps set up and break down?
- Thread starter Doley50
- Start date
That's how it is for me in my band I sing in and my band I play bass...being on both sides of amount of gear needed is humbling
Here's what I've learned over the years. Anybody who mentions "the industry" as a source of authority is BS'ing you.
I was in a band with a girl keyboard player once, she didn't even want to carry her own stuff!! All she wanted to do was talk to guys after we were finished. And she was not all that good. In my current band I always try to be early and get my stuff set up and then help with PA.
Currently I regularly play in a worship band at church. Though we have our spot on the floor we still have to move equipment out of 2 closets. The lead singer/worship leader is very good about coming early and setting up everyone's mikes/music stands then tearing down and putting equipment away. I have told her many times to let others set up their equipment. She has enough other things to do (music arrangement, leading the service, emailing everyone, etc.) She has had a few talks with the group about everyone pitching in and helping her. A while ago she fired a singer for various reasons, one being talent but the other being attitude. This singer would show up late after everything was set up and then talk to people after service instead of helping to tear down. The odd thing is that the former singer still comes to church and helps with tear down/put away! If she had only done that when she was with the group!
First and foremost.
Is this a PAID worship team
OR
un paid volunteers from the congregation?
I've been in three relatively successful cover bands that were fronted by female vocalists. In every case, during packup they might wrap up a few cords, but generally would go see the owner/manager and get the paycheck, chat them up about upcoming bookings, etc. Most would emerge as things were getting loaded out and might help carry a few mike stands or guitars. Honestly I never really cared all that much, as it was pretty clear that they were the main attraction and reason for the success of the band. Had they pitched in, maybe packup/load out would have taken what, 15 minutes less? That hardly makes it worth the effort to complain about if they are delivering consistent paydays to me.
How about load up{that stuff rarely just appears in the vehicle}, load IN, set up, and sound check ?
Schmoozing then too?
That has been my personal experience with singers. Last to arrive, ALWAYS after everything has been offloaded, hauled in and set up.
Well, I've actually never been in a band where the whole band routinely got together for loading equipment into a truck. When all members of the band live about an hour apart from one another (the case in almost all of the pro bands I have been in), that would just be ridiculous. But as to your other point, load in and set up, you got me. So instead of the 15 minutes I was estimating, lets make it 30. Still not worth making a big deal about it to me. However, in all three of the bands I am talking about the female front was the main attraction and unquestionably the main reason for our strong bookings and my resultant paycheck, so my attitude is strongly molded by that experience.
Unless you're a singer with the clout of Katy Perry or Prince, you help with setup and teardown. Period.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Simple. People get their share at the car/truck/trailer after the load out. If they don't want to help out, they don't get paid. That's as much a responsibility as the music.
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i pretty much only set up my own gear, as does everyone else.
part of the fun of being a drummer includes the annoying part of having to set up all that junk.
i've always worked with singers who setup PA gear if they need to, since that is "their rig" in a way.
part of the fun of being a drummer includes the annoying part of having to set up all that junk.
i've always worked with singers who setup PA gear if they need to, since that is "their rig" in a way.
I've been in groups which have done both ways. Generally though, if everybody's getting paid the same, and a few gigs go by where somebody in particular isn't helping out, they're informed, and then their pay starts to get redistributed.
I've also been in bands as a complete mercenary, and I've actually usually been one of the first out - I've got my lug down to a fine science
I've also been in bands as a complete mercenary, and I've actually usually been one of the first out - I've got my lug down to a fine science
I had a dream of a singer that actually understood that.
And in the dream she was hot to boot.
In my current bands, the lead singers both help with the loading process. BUT, I encourage them to schmooze as much as they want since I hate doing that. It is what they are both good at...and I am good at loading. So I would rather take a few extra trips with gear than sit and listen to "drunk "promoter" guy who can get us tons of good shows in X city...."
Like some have said...it is a "cultural" thing, and if your bands "culture" is to encourage someone to not help by not confronting them, OR by not establishing the desired behavior from the start (thus avoiding the confrontation), there is really nothing to complain about. When we auditioned singers, that was usually the second issue discussed after substance abuse.
Like some have said...it is a "cultural" thing, and if your bands "culture" is to encourage someone to not help by not confronting them, OR by not establishing the desired behavior from the start (thus avoiding the confrontation), there is really nothing to complain about. When we auditioned singers, that was usually the second issue discussed after substance abuse.
I don't mind setting up my own gear, but if you want me to setup more you need to pay me more. If lighting and PA isn't supplied by the promoter/venue the band should share the load, hire roadies or pay whoever does the extra work more money, and the promoter/venue should be charged more to cover the extra work.
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