gear transportation

[40hertz]

hello every one...

carring gear to venues,rehersals and so on is probably the least favourite routine of a musician.

so,how do you keep up with it?

[bc_dup1]

I carry my own gear but now consider myself too long in the tooth to be interested in helping transport/set-up/dismantle a PA system. This is different from my youth when bands would typically own their own PA and everyone would pitch in to carry everyone else's gear. Even if a PA was hired we'd usually negotiate a reduced deal for helping to unload/load and set up.

 

Nowadays it's strictly every man for himself, unless someone has a piece of equipment that's a two-man lift. I'd pretty much refuse to play in a band that wasn't earning enough money to at least pay for professional pa hire.

[getz out]

I do not own a car. I take a subway to get where I need to go. Most of the places I play are backlined, so I just show up with my bass and pedalboard and I'm ready to rock.

 

In the scenario where a venue is NOT backlined: I can either bring my combo amp or bum/rent a car for my "big rig."

[alexclaber]

Hmmm... This is the biggest pain in the neck of being a bass player, and I don't make things any easier for myself by preferring a rather hi-fi sounding rig and using lots of effect pedals.

 

I used to have a 6U wooden rack case containing a Korg DTR-2 tuner, SWR Grand Prix and Mackie M1400 which weighed about 75lbs. I also have two Acme Low-B2 cabs and I always planned to get another two cabs and another amp when I could afford them - those days have long gone ever since I've had to move all my stuff myself rather than enlisting my bandmate's help.

 

The Mackie has gone, a remarkably light and much more powerful QSC PLX 3002 is on the way from the US, and the 6U case has been replaced by a lightweight Gator 4U shallow case. I'm adding strap handles to each of my Acmes because they're pretty light and could be carried with one hand if you could grip them (impossible with the exisiting comedy recessed cup handles). I've also just got a new gig bag, to replace my dying original Warwick bag, which has lots of big useful pockets and shoulder straps. With this new setup I should be able to walk into most gigs with my bass on my back, rack in one hand and one cab in the other. If I'm using FX I'll need to make another trip to carry an extra cab (to give me more headroom) and the evily heavy but great sounding pedalboard (in its own gigbag).

 

I'm also debating getting an Acoustic Image Clarus to power one of my Acmes for jazz gigs and rehearsals or maybe a GK MB150 Microbass combo - still undecided. If the rack feels light enough I may stick with that because the tone is awesome, there's loads of headroom and it's nice to have a tuner that's tethered and thus harder to leave behind (has anyone seen my little Boss tuner, god knows where I've put it?).

 

I've been thinking about getting a cart of some sort but I suspect that with all the stairs that always turn up at just the wrong moment it may be more trouble than it's worth.

 

For gigs in London I travel by train and folding bike rather than car so I just bring my bass in my gigbag on my back and use whatever amp is there. I've found I can get a workable tone that still sounds like me out of even the crappest amps.

 

Alex

[jeremy c]

In my freelance world, it's every man for himself.

 

I bring a bass, an amp of an appropriate size, bags, suitcases, mike stand, whatever I need.

 

It all goes in my car (which is currently a Rav4) and then onto a rock and roller cart into wherever it is I am playing.

 

No one in the band ever helps anyone else.

 

The leader brings the PA.

 

Sometimes that's me.

 

I still can get everything from the car into the room in one trip.

 

Public transportation is out of the question. It's basically non-existent to the places I go.

[SteveC]

I have to carry my own stuff. We also hump a PA to gigs. There are usually enough people around to help - except the lead singer. Surprise.

 

Anyway, I now have an SWR WM10 combo, a SWR WM 1X15 cab, and a 4 space power/effects/wireless/preamp rack. I plan to take what I need for whateve the gig is. No more "big and powerful" for me. My back is happier, and if I really need power, I'll go through the PA. If that's not enough, I'll borrow a "big rig" from one of my friends.

 

Back to the topic - I have a Blazer that works great. I also have one of those little luggage carts, but I find if I put wheels on the 1X15, that is my "cart" for gigs with lots of stuff. For little gigs, I can take the WM10 in one hand, the rack in the other and sling my bass in my gig ba over my shoulder.

 

The band PA is in the van. It's big an dheavey, but lately we have been using a smaller version, so it isn't so bad.

[Pernax]

It seems that I'm in a lucky minority here, in our band everyone helps everyone else with loading/unloading, which enables me to use my two 410's when needed.

 

As for practice, we have our own studio (it really was a recording studio in the past) for that, so there is no need to move stuff around. For practicing at home I have a small and old 40W Roland Bass Cube, it does the job quite nicely .

 

If we were to gig regularly I think I'd try to downsize a bit - I completely understand why people have moved from the big rigs to smaller ones - but for now I'm more than happy to shed some elbowgrease in order to get my stuff on the stage.

 

-P

[Dave Martin]

Every man for himself here, though typically if someone else shows up while you're unloading, you'll help each other. Most gigs I do, everybody stays to help the leader tear down, too. But it's his responsibility to get the lights and sound set up...

[Tom Capasso]

I have a car and a handtruck (small foldup handtruck usually).

 

I can't physically lift everything by myself on stairs, but I'm always working. I usually bring the PA, so I'm involved with that (and the setup). My band is good, and everybody pitches in no matter who needs the help (except our new singer - some "training" is coming). We have a percussionist with congas, timbales, bongos, and assorted "stuff". Those with less help those with more.

 

That's in my band - beyond that I'm insane. I pick up equipment everywhere. If I come see your band, I'll be there early enough to help you load in. I've been at a jam when it ends, and I just start breaking down the PA (no - I don't touch guitars and stuff unless I really know you). When I'm eating dinner at a jam club and somebody walks in with gear (drummer is most common), I'll go see if they need help. Why?

 

Every trip that the musician avoids helps to make it an easier night, and maybe a more musical one. An if I'm just hanging around anyway, why not help out? We're all faced with the same problems (gear lifting, etc.), so by working together we can help each other. And lifting helps create a more friendly environment, generates camaraderie, and is just the way I was brought up. It's like when my wife and I are at someone's house for dinner - we offer to help cleanup.

 

Kind of a "what comes around, goes around" thing as well. People have helped out at gigs and saved me some work, so why not carry it along?

 

Some guys don't know how to take it - I helped a keyboard guy leave a jam early because he had to get home. In the parking lot he says "I don't have to give you $2 or anything do I?". I told him "this is what I do".

 

Of course, when I come across someone with a bad attitude, or somebody who thinks they deserve a roadie, my back acts up and I just can't help at all

 

So to all you people out there - pick it up !!

 

Tom

[The Bear Jew]

We carry our own stuff in our van.

 

Everyone helps carry everything or they get reamed out later. But we're a traveling band, ya know... that's part of the way things work for us.

 

We usually don't have to sweat the PA, since almost every place we play already has one.

 

BTW, Tom is an AWESOME roadie. And he sings, too.

[Jezza]

Buy a trolley! it will save your back.

 

Also if your a serious band consider leasing a van, it's a 100% tax deduction to the band, and your've got a good clean reliable vehicle that costs 4 people say $25 dollars a week.

 

My band leases a van and secure parking so there's not loading/unloading twice at each end and I know my gear is secure and is going to be at the gig everytime. When we tour interstate we save heaps of money on vehicle hire and have driven our van onto a train to transport our gear from coast to coast.

 

Once you pay tax on your $25 dollars a week in your hand it doesn't amount to much more than a couple of drinks anyway, and you can always borrow the band van to help your girlfreind move house (Doh!)

[Helge Lund]

In the band I am playing, and all other bands I know here in Norway, we help each other with the big and heavy stuff! That's a sort of a rule in most of the bands!

But, when you are hired in for one gig or in the theatre, you are supposed to go "no help needed, or given!".

 

Thats why I have choosen to buildt down my rig!

I'm waiting (with pain) for my Ashdown ABM 500 EVO 2 head from UK, to go together with my Eden D-210XLT. With this setup I can carry all I need by myself! For larger stages, I borrow a 1x15 cab.

(I will return a review of this rig!)

Helge

[tnb]

I always use as little gear as possible. My 2 electrics are in my gig bag that I wear like a backpack. My Walter Woods head is in the same gymbag as my fakebook, cables, tools and stand. I can carry my Acme Low B with one hand if I have to (sorry Alex).

 

I always help the drummer load in, it keeps them fresher longer.

[coyote]

We do the same. I went through the whole "strip it down" phase when I made my living as a musician. But now, it's different. I supply all the equipment for rehearsal. The guitarist & bassist choose to bring their instruments but they use my amps. The drummer brings cymbals & sticks. When we play out, we all (including the singer) move stuff til the band is set - Hammond & Marshalls & double-kick drums.... this is just fun for us now, so we do it up! And it's worth every bit of the effort.

 

Originally posted by Pernax:

It seems that I'm in a lucky minority here, in our band everyone helps everyone else with loading/unloading, which enables me to use my two 410's when needed.

-P

[alexclaber]

Originally posted by tnb:

I can carry my Acme Low B with one hand if I have to (sorry Alex).

Confused... How?

 

Alex

[tnb]

By the recessed cup handle. It is not comfortable, but if you don't feel like making 2 trips...

 

Seriously, I'm a big guy. Before my daughter was born you could usually find me in a gym.

[_Sweet Willie_]

tnb,

 

Check your private messages.

 

Peace,

--Willie

[tnb]

Sweet Willie, did you get it?

[...]

I have a handtruck that I use to transport stuff from my truck to the gig location. I make one trip from my truck to the gig location (for my stuff anyways). Then I will generally help out the poor bastard we all like to call the drummer. Those guys have lots of stuff.

[groovyjazzyfunky]

In one of my bands I play an 88-key Fender Rhodes, a slew of other keyboards, amps, 10 or more effects pedals, theremin, sax, and guitar. The Rhodes itself weighs 150+ lbs, so I pretty much *have* to have help with that (like that time we had to lug it up 5 flights of stairs to play a 20-minute set). But I get to set everything up myself, which takes a good 1/2 hr. if I'm fast. And that's *after* all my gear is inside the venue.

 

And MAN, does it piss me off when the bass player whines that I'm being too slow.

[Mr. Phil]

Me and the guitarist carry our own stuff, mainly cuz we dont trust anyone else with it.

 

We always help the drummer unload cuz he has too much goddamn stuff!

 

I dont really use a hand truck anymore cuz my stack has wheels, so I stack the cabs and amp all together and roll it to whereever I need it.

[prophetgtree]

We travel by a car and truck actually, which can be scary sometimes when dark clouds form, but luckily we have not been caught by rain yet. Then when we get there, we carry all of our stuff. We are spending all of our money on recording, but then next buy after that is a cart to roll our stuff, because even being "young and able," it still sucks and can cause permanent damage to ourselves.