Stylon Pilson Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 For those who are in gigging bands, what are your personal strategies that you use when setting up for a gig, to make sure that the whole process is efficient and smooth, and the end result is tidy and correct? Do you set up the band's equipment in a certain sequence? Do you have any other non-obvious tips? S.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 Leave enough room for everyone. Sounds simple and obvious but I turned up late one night and the guys had already set up. . . and left no space for the bass at all! They just looked blankly at me when I asked where they expected me to go, and then got a bit ratty when I told them all to move up to make room. What a bunch of idiots!! 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 4 minutes ago, chris_b said: Leave enough room for everyone. Sounds simple and obvious but I turned up late one night and the guys had already set up. . . and left no space for the bass at all! They just looked blankly at me when I asked where they expected me to go, and then got a bit ratty when I told them all to move up to make room. What a bunch of idiots!! For some reason the rest of my band like to turn up about 3 hours before the gig. I have better things to do so they're always set up when I get there. I just shout at them. They probably think I'm an derrière! If the hat fits etc. 😄 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 If it’s a pub gig we like to arrive early and set up while it’s quiet. Drums first, then amps (we’re a three piece), then lights if we’re using them, then PA before mics and cables. This works well in reverse for tear down too. The disadvantage of arriving early is that there’s a lot of time to kill. I don’t drink before or during a gig (I’m often driving anyway), and I don’t like hanging around pubs without a beer in my hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricksterphil Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 Drums first, the rest of us set up the PA while the drummer is farting about. Then the amps etc and the last thing is the lights. We always forget to put our banner up first and so end up clambering over stuff at the end of set up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japhet Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 I've eventually got through to our drummer that I need some space. Previously, I'd arrive to find a postage stamp sized space for me, and an area the guitarist could do cartwheels in on the other side of the kit. The turning point seemed to be when he accepted that the kick drum wasn't in the middle of the kit and needed to be moved across. Other than that, we all set up and then wait for the singer to look blankly at us whilst holding various cables to be plugged into the PA. He's only been doing it for 8 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinny Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 Stand around scratching various body parts as the pot banger takes a full f****** HOUR to set up, usually finishing about 5 mins before kick-off. Then begin mad scramble. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scalpy Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 I'm quite fussy. We sort where the PA is going first, then POWER! Got fed up of everyone acting as individuals, everything being in place and nowhere to plug in. Now we operate a factory line approach. The singer and I sort the PA and power, the drummer puts his mat in place, lights/amps/ monitors go in. Cases are not allowed in the performance space, drives me nuts moving everything three times because the stage is cluttered. I've trained the drummer to assemble his kit off stage, we run the mic cables to him and the bass/guitar mics with the kit out of the way. He then slots his stuff into place whilst we do the last of the lights and we're ready. It's an 8 piece band and too many people helping actually slows us down. If I'm playing with another band that's got pro level players I always astonished at how quiet and fuss free the process is. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 Run the power in first, then cabs and drums for spacing, monitors and mic stands to demarcate the front area. Then cabling. Effects last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassist_lewis Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 If there's a PA needing set-up then I do my gear first - for the reason mentioned above, though this often results in PA cables being trailed all over my cables meaning I have to unplug and replug them, but them's the breaks - then I do PA stuff. I work quicker if I know the band and their set-up (or if, regrettably, I happen to know more about plugging in PAs than they do!). I avoid doing lights because I don't know what I'm doing and I have the arrogant opinion that I'm a musician not a stage hand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 The important stuff first, of course, so... The drum rug. Then (if it's not provided...) the mains cables and speaker runs for backline, lights and PA along back of stage. Our Youngest (the bassist...) and the singster take the drums out of their cases whilst I prepare the pedals and stands; the kit is quickly put in place (the stands and booms are preset...), so the cases are stashed, then the cabs rolled in and amps perched. I'll install cymbals, singer lays out mic stands and cables, PA stands and foldback installed (if not already there...), guitars and bass prepare their quarters with stands, pedal boards, leads and stuff and we're ready for a sound check. Typically drums, then bass, then drum'n'bass, guitar 2 then 1, mics, a short 'all together now, please' and relax. Tear-down is roughly the reverse order, not forgetting the drum rug at the end. Once all is safely back in the truck, a mandatory look-around to spot whatever has been left behind (my drumming shoes, the E-Bow, a set list or two...). There's always something... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 We're generally playing multi-band gigs so as the drummer it generally depends on what the soundman/promoter are forcing me to use, and how long it takes the previous guy to get off. If we're on our own I try to set up my kit while the front man clambers over me trying to put the backdrop up 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 Yet another thread that makes me realise how special our band are. Everyone turns up about the same time, we have a quick drink, unload all the gear from our respective cars and just get on with it. Very quickly the stuff is setup and seems to be in a good enough place for people to be ok. At the end of the night we take it all apart, put it in cars and go home. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 +1 ^^ Yes, in short, that's about the size of it, with the exception of having a truck for the gear. I can't see why one would do things any other way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza14 Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 1 hour ago, chris_b said: Leave enough room for everyone. Sounds simple and obvious but I turned up late one night and the guys had already set up. . . and left no space for the bass at all! They just looked blankly at me when I asked where they expected me to go, and then got a bit ratty when I told them all to move up to make room. What a bunch of idiots!! I don't like to be early to a gig, if we're starting at 9pm I like to arrive at 8pm but in a previous band people arrived at 6:30pm and would setup leaving me no rom at all and my setup is small. Had years of it... now I'm in a smaller band so I get more space to move into but my 'tardiness' remains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 (edited) We arrive about 2 hours before 'showtime' unless it's a WMC where they dictate the time the band has to be set up by and when the first spot is to start. Van with drums and PA is emptied into the venue first then each guy sorts their own stuff. Drum placement first then respective sides for Guitar and Bass with Singist out front/central. PA set up by singist, lights sorted by Bass and Guitar. Aim for sound check within 45 minutes of first fill then 15 minutes for sound check which gives plenty of contingency time if there's a problem. Pack down is finely honed to try and get everything out and in the transport in less than 45 minutes. Each member sorts their own stuff first, Guitar, Bass and Singist get their respective stuff out and in their transport. Then all muck in to pack down PA, lights and help drummer get these and his kit back in the van. Designated guy picks up payment and we're off.. Edited July 19, 2018 by martthebass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikel Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 Drum rug first. All the kit fits on the rug so we position it first, giving the other gear the room it needs, then we go with the amps and cabs whil the drummer sets up his kit. PA and monitors, if needed, last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christhammer666 Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 we dont have a lot, no pa,lights so we set our own individual gear up. I am more or less on hold though until drummist has set his cymbals up otherwise I have nicks and digs in the tolex of my cabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 We always get the drums set up first, with my amp on drummer's left and geetar on his right. Then we all drop 3 tabs of acid each and start on the Buckfast to prepare ourselves... 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 (edited) Thinking about it, the only problems I've ever had during set up have been with week-end warrior types. Most of guys I play with turn up with small gear, set it up then move it into place when the drummer has finished. If someone mentions a problem the reply is usually, "OK, what do you need me to do?" Edited July 19, 2018 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottastopbuyinggear Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 I set up our PA and was getting fed up with the amount of cables, more from a post-gig packing up perspective where I invariably found everyone's cases and bags being dumped at the back over cables I wanted to pack away (because if anyone else packs them away then I'll be taking the knots out and finding out which ones have been damaged for hours the following morning). I looked for small stage boxes/snakes but didn't find anything with returns, so I bought a 6 way snake and box from Thomann and swapped out two of the male box mounted sockets for females, and vice versa with the plugs at the other end (Backing vocals 1 and 2, keys and occasional guitar mic coming to the mixer, one main and one monitor going back). I also bought some multicore cable and made a mini snake with one male and one female XLR on each end, for the singer's mic and monitor. Now I can lay these out at the start of setting up, use short XLRs at the stage box end of the snake which are quicker and easier to coil up afterwards and don't get as tangled up if I get "help" packing up, and then just have the two snakes to pack up towards the end when most of the other packing up is done, rather than having up to 8 individual long cables to do. Keeps it all much neater as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 We have the PA set up at around two hours before we arrive and set up in the classic three across the back - Bass; Drums; Keys - three across the front - Vocal / Violin; Vocal Keys; Vocal Guitar each interacting with the engineer until sound check where we unleash fury. Same for Pub gigs.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicko Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 Most of the band arrive, erect back drop with lights ,the PA, drum mat and drums, free for all on guitar amps, them mics. Then stand and watch in amazement as the guitarist arrrives after all this is done and proceeds to widdle endless hard rock solos that have nothing to do with the band's normal set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 7 hours ago, AntLockyer said: Yet another thread that makes me realise how special our band are. Everyone turns up about the same time, we have a quick drink, unload all the gear from our respective cars and just get on with it. Very quickly the stuff is setup and seems to be in a good enough place for people to be ok. At the end of the night we take it all apart, put it in cars and go home. Yep, pretty much in the same boat, and with a very considerate drummer (no, back off, nothing to see here...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 We always play on multi-band bills so usually it`s a case of plugging in amp-heads to existing cabs, then connecting instruments/pedals etc, drummer usually swapping snare, kick-pedal, cymbals, sometimes stands. You`d be amazed at how many people aren`t efficient at this, but then the copious amounts of lager that they`ve drunk may have something to do with it. We can do all of the setting up and level check everything in 15mins or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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