Gigs - Tips for reducing setup/changeover time

[the_man361]

Hi

My band have just increased the amount of gear we take to gigs. Playing a gig last week made me realise we have to think about ways to decrease the amount of time we spend setting up/down the gear live.

I'd like to share a few things from a band's point of view that I've found helps us set up quicker, and if anyone has any more to add I'd love to hear them These are intended for a band playing small to medium sized venues.

The band I play with are a rock type setup with a difference.. we have vocals, 2 guitars, drums, and a bass. We also have a rack which connects to a laptop to provide FOH synth and samples with a click track, and we have another laptop which listens to the first one and is used to play relevant videos on a few screens we have.

I am the guitarist and I use a rack based amp, something I think speeds up my setup for reasons explained later.. We are a small band, so no big budgets and we are playing because it's what we love to do.

I'm not going to mention really obvious points such as sharing guitar cabs etc. Here's my general philosophy and a few things I try and do:

• In any racks, we have mounted power splitters attached to the back panel of the rack unit. The IEC cables and other relevant power supplies are already plugged into these, so when the back is taken off, there is only a single plug to connect.
• In any racks, any other cables (audio/MIDI etc) that can be connected before setting up should be, and then coiled and left in the rack so they can be quickly connected. This also saves fumbling around in the dark at the back of a rack on the stage!
• Consolidate gear. I moved from using a number of foot guitar FX pedals to a rack mounted FX unit. Using a MIDI controller on the floor not only saves tap dancing when changing sounds, but means there is less to plug in, as I can have the MIDI cable already plugged into my amp at all times, and only need to connect the other side to my controller.
• Have a cable bag. I have a fair few jack cables (including many spares). Keeping these in a sports bag keeps them organised and using cable ties (velcro or otherwise) means they dont get tangled up. Untangling cables when setting up at gigs is a massive time waster.
• Carry a torch. Using a phone is okay, but if you keep a torch somewhere in your setup so it will be close to hand when you need it you avoid a lot of fuss (after a few goes setting up you begin to realise which bits of your gear require a torch!!).
• When you arrive at the venue, organise your bands gear in logical sections rather than putting it all randomly together. Not a massive help, but better than not.
• Try to keep cables connected in a tidy way. It's all fine when you're setting up, but if something doesn't work and all your cables are a mess, it will take twice as long to check. Same goes for setting down, tidier cables are quicker to pack up than twisted spaghetti.
• If you have extra gear that needs setting up that doesn't necessarily just get used by one person, make sure the other people know how it needs to be connected incase they are ready before you!
• Setting up your gear should be a part of your practice! If you usually leave all your stuff connected in your practice space and you have a complicated setup, there's a good chance you will take longer than you need to when it needs to go up on a stage.

If anyone has any more tips I'd love to hear

[Boschen]

Modular, modular, modular. You have to develop a system.

All band gear must break down into discrete parts, each with their own case, if possible. No single item should weigh more than 50lbs. Stackable is best. I put everything onto a rolling cart / dolly and strap it down.

Load into the gig in correct order---drums and PA first, the rest after--- and when you load gear, take the piece to the place onstage where it will actually sit, rather than dumping it in a load on the floor to sort through after.

Use good coiling practices with cables, and tie them with velcro / string, etc. Use good lifting practices when moving gear... and save your back. Wear a harness if you need one, and who cares what it looks like.

+for carrying a flashlight. I always have that, a sharpie, gaff tape, extra adaptors, etc, in a small kit I keep separate for fixes, emergencies, etc. There's a full on first aid kit in my work truck.

Keep essential connections and cables present with the gear they connect to, and ready to go. Use harnesses where you can, to save hook up time. Ditto for the power distro.

Most of the touring pro's I've worked with have small, modular rigs, especially the guitar players. I personally use a Strat plugged directly into a tube amp, with nothing in between. I get my sounds from my fingers and pickup settings... pedals and fx boards.... fagh! Hate em.

Above all, HAVE FUN!

[cortisol]

If the keyboards or guitars can be set up in a few minutes then help the drummer carry and assemble and strike down their kit.

Drummers carpet marked out for a consistent set up and memory locks on the drum hardware.

If you need more people to set up your show than are in the band then get them.

When leaving the stage with your equipment, only pack up essential connectors and thing that will get lost or damaged. Haul the rest off and break it down off stage.

Don't dally on stage and stop the next band loading on stage while you are carrying your equipment off as this makes it longer to get off! Don't accept help from the next band as they can damage your equipment. Communicate with them clearly - say that you can get off stage quickly if they don't get in the way.

The person in the band with the most people who have come to the gig because of them should socialize and greet people after the performance for 5 minutes and you should consider employing a roadie to make this possible. People that make the effort to come and see you are high priority so making them feel good is a priority.

If you can make a sound check before doors open then you will be accustomed to setting up in the venue even if you have to break it down again and even then there might be the possibility to leave some of your set up on stage, out of the way.