Set up and tear down... Am I the only one?

[Sixgunn]

So I've been playing just north of 30 years and have played countless number of gigs and continue to do so, so gear schlepping, set up, tear down, etc., is nothing new to me.

Here it is: I still love all of it!! The whole vibe, the schlepping, load in, load out, the duct tape, running cables, PA setup, sound check, ogling all the gear/instruments, the nasty "morning after" bar smell, ALL of it!! To me, it's the epitome of solidarity and unity. We're all on the same page, with a common goal and it's just all kinds of fun!!

Am I the only one?

 

[geeza]

Nope

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Thanks for reminding me of more of the reasons I'll never be in a band.

 

[Jimmy4string]

Sixxgunn, i am with you! I dont mind loading that stuff in and setting it up. Love the gear -even at practice i like watching everyone get ready. What i didnt like is this big ass 300 Watt keyboard amp i used to use as a makeshift PA back in the day. I had to lug this musical monstrosity down three flights of stairs and it weighed about 100 lbs. Thing almost killed me twice. I still got that monster -it sits in my room -most likely forever now

 

[bluesblaster]

Hmmmmmmmmmm............................................................................................No Sir ! I dont like it

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

I enjoy it so much that I not only schlep my gear but I help everyone else with theirs too! Good times!

Here's a picture of my typical load when I'm providing my little PA (Not pictured: my four 12" floor wedge monitors).

Here's a shot of when I bring my big PA. I never ask for any help.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[catcauphonic]

With ya! Though, I haven't been playing and hauling nearly half as long as you have ... it's the excitement build up, interacting with and checking out the other bands on the bill's gear, and talk a little shop at times.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I used to go on the road for trade shows. It was like being a celebrity. My subordinates would load up all our gear & set it up at the shows. I would just stand out front & talk to the customers & then take them out for entertainment afterwards.
That's how I like gigs.

 

[hondo4life]

All the loose the cables can be a nightmare for someone with certain obsessive disorders. Just having one unsecured cable underfoot could cause me to flip out. I used to do telecom installs, where dressing in cables is somewhat of an art form. The typical stage is a disaster to me. It takes a good number of beers before I can get over the mess and just play.

 

[Basshappi]

Been playing 40 years, still love it all.

 

[bluesblaster]

Hi,

I enjoy it so much that I not only schlep my gear but I help everyone else with theirs too! Good times!

Here's a picture of my typical load when I'm providing my little PA (Not pictured: my four 12" floor wedge monitors).

Here's a shot of when I bring my big PA. I never ask for any help.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

All that fits in the Family Truckster ?

 

[jive1]

My 3 herniated discs disagree with you.

 

[Marial]

Being in a band has been described as being a mover with bad hours and worse pay. I don't miss the bar/club life at all, but do miss playing with other people. Once in awhile.

 

[arbiterusa]

Love it now that I'm on the Micro/Neo bandwagon.

 

[BAG]

Whilst I don't actually like the lugging of the big heavy stuff, i'm more than happy to get to gigs early and potter around setting up the PA and stage gear. I've been doing it for over 25 years and still enjoy that part of it.
It's actually pretty rare that I get to load in early and potter around now as my two young girls know quite a bit and we can be loaded in a ready to go in around 45 mins in most cases.

Load out is even more fun these days. My girls (and even the wife) are so experienced in rolling leads properly that I quite often get told to have a beer and a chat while they break everything down.

 

[Ellery]

Yeah totally, it is like a game, setting up and tearing down all my stuff as quick as I can, I'm pretty good at it now, and I always dig checking out other people's gear, esp. now that I understand what most of it is.

 

[Rogatien022]

Still love it at 47. I might be bitchin' more, but I'm always ready to do it!

 

[Fat Freddy]

Isn't that what roadies are for?....

 

[Ellery]

Isn't that what roadies are for?....

Hey, whaddya get when you cross a drummer and a roadie?
A dumb roadie.

 

[Spent]

I never enjoyed load in/load out. I finally got to the point that I could load my gear in with one trip. I put 5" wheels on my Hartke HyDrive, placed my Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 (in case) and Pedaltrain mini (in case) and stand on top and wheeled it in with my bass in a gig bag on my back. I could go from pulling in the parking lot to sound check in 5 minutes. I was fortunate that the guitarist, drummer and keyboard player drove together and always arrived super early. They'd sound check before I got there. If we brought our own PA the guitarist always insisted on setting it up early. I always helped load out. Worked out great.