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lionmojo

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Posts: 3059

Aug 6 12 1:18 PM

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ORGANIZE? ME?

I'll volunteer to go first. It takes me too long to dress, pack, and set up, so I'm usually in a rush and nervous until I'm in tune, check my knobs and hear the amp warm up. I have: borrowed a cord; pick; mic; 9 volt. The only time I couldn't start was due to having a bass guitar when I should have had a six string. Of course it wasn't MY fault, I had help loading. A bass bag was sitting where I normally keep the six string in it's bag, so how was Judy going to know. At least she didn't have "company" when I made my surprise return. I did make it back in time for the second set. No I,m not a pro.

Perhaps I should leave my gear in the truck, but I thought you might have some tips/stories that might be interesting about how you handle your inventory. (this room looks like a music store nightmare)

G(ot) W(ords?)

All's Well That Ends Well - W. Shakespeare
Well, Well, Well - R.L. Burnsides
Hill Country Memphisssippi

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Madman Sam

#1

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1710

Aug 6 12 6:32 PM

I've been gigging for 27 years. I did once, when I was a kid, travel 4 hours to gig and realize I packed everything but a guitar and had to borrow one, but never missed one...yet.

But NOW, I can't drive (vertigo issues) so I pack VERY carefully to make sure I can carry everything. I actually make my purchase decisions based FIRST on portability, THEN on other unimportant stuff like quality

so I try to give myself at least 2 hours to pack for a gig, three if it's an out of town gig, to make sure I get everything I need and nothing I don't. It's still never enough. I end up running around like a chicken with it's ass cut off right up to the last minute trying to get my shit together.

With my new 2-man band: The Muddy Sons, since my drummer lives in Seattle, I do as many gigs in Seattle as I do Portland now - actually more because he's a much more motivated booker than I am. SO, I've actually doubled some of my gear and have it stored at his place! I have an amp, small pa, mic stands, etc. So while that makes travel easier, it's one more mind-baffling thing every time I pack always second guessing myself "Do I have that in Seattle already?!?!?!"

Oh well - it's all fun!

"I don't want the blues to tickle my fancy.
I want the blues to reach down my throat, grab me by the asshole, and pull me inside out." - Madman Sam

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chris olivarez

#2

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 10192

Aug 6 12 6:45 PM

I wouldn't leave the gear in a truck. There is always a possibility that you could be in an area where somebody will be just too happy to relieve you of it.

Everybody looks good at the starting line. Get on your mark,get ready but you better keep this in mind. You can hit the ground running like you're shot from a gun but going the distance is the hard part son. Everybody looks good at the starting line.

Paul Thorn

Chris Olivarez, Pagosa Springs,in most beautiful Colorado.

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lionmojo

#3

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Posts: 3059

Aug 6 12 9:18 PM

QUOTE (chris olivarez @ August 06, 2012 01:45 pm)

I wouldn't leave the gear in a truck. There is always a possibility that you could be in an area where somebody will be just too happy to relieve you of it.

....but if they break in my house....

All's Well That Ends Well - W. Shakespeare
Well, Well, Well - R.L. Burnsides
Hill Country Memphisssippi

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lionmojo

#4

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Posts: 3059

Aug 6 12 10:08 PM

QUOTE (Madman Sam @ August 06, 2012 01:32 pm)

I've been gigging for 27 years. I did once, when I was a kid, travel 4 hours to gig and realize I packed everything but a guitar and had to borrow one, but never missed one...yet.

But NOW, I can't drive (vertigo issues) so I pack VERY carefully to make sure I can carry everything. I actually make my purchase decisions based FIRST on portability, THEN on other unimportant stuff like quality

so I try to give myself at least 2 hours to pack for a gig, three if it's an out of town gig, to make sure I get everything I need and nothing I don't. It's still never enough. I end up running around like a chicken with it's ass cut off right up to the last minute trying to get my shit together.

With my new 2-man band: The Muddy Sons, since my drummer lives in Seattle, I do as many gigs in Seattle as I do Portland now - actually more because he's a much more motivated booker than I am. SO, I've actually doubled some of my gear and have it stored at his place! I have an amp, small pa, mic stands, etc. So while that makes travel easier, it's one more mind-baffling thing every time I pack always second guessing myself "Do I have that in Seattle already?!?!?!"

Oh well - it's all fun!

I'm having trouble when I practice, have a visit by a picker, and visiting. I do have one routine: If I remove anything from one of my gig bags, I leave it open, to remind me that it's missing something. Another: I carry an empty bag, so I or a volunteer can put stuff in it, so I don't have to dig through the other stuff looking for it. " I put it in your bag last week". (I carry an emergency- spare parts-tools bag. Pedal-cords-mic-use it all bag, and an on stage-flashlight-tape-paperwork- tube- fuse- strings- etc bag).

BTW: Lightnin Malcom, (name drop), needs a small PA Thursday in Clarksdale. I wonder if I should go too? He's probably nowhere near his home nearby me, and I'm 100 miles from Clarksdale. The PA isn't a problem, but should I ask to sit in? He hasn't called so he may have found one locally. He'd probably want me to deliver it. Road trip. I messaged him, after saying what and where I had it. We'll see.
Note to self: Test PA.

All's Well That Ends Well - W. Shakespeare
Well, Well, Well - R.L. Burnsides
Hill Country Memphisssippi

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chris olivarez

#5

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 10192

Aug 7 12 1:12 AM

QUOTE (lionmojo @ August 06, 2012 09:18 pm)

QUOTE (chris olivarez @ August 06, 2012 01:45 pm)

I wouldn't leave the gear in a truck. There is always a possibility that you could be in an area where somebody will be just too happy to relieve you of it.

....but if they break in my house....

True enough.

Everybody looks good at the starting line. Get on your mark,get ready but you better keep this in mind. You can hit the ground running like you're shot from a gun but going the distance is the hard part son. Everybody looks good at the starting line.

Paul Thorn

Chris Olivarez, Pagosa Springs,in most beautiful Colorado.

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lionmojo

#6

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Posts: 3059

Aug 13 12 8:09 PM

Well, ..., ...,

Lightnin' was very pleased with the PA. There were people listening for free, across the street from the old movie house.

He asked me if I wanted to sit in, when he was loading the speakers. I changed my plans and went. What to take? I took a Crate Powerblock, (5 lbs, 150 watts), guitar w/wireless rig, short cord for connecting the wireless rig to the Crate amp, and a low Z mic cord for connecting the tiny amp to the PA.

It turned out that two unknown guitarists showed up, each lugging their case and twin twelve amps, so rather than opening the jam floodgate, I played drums, thanks to J.J.and Lightnin. I think I'll get another opportunity, perhaps at my or his home.

GW

All's Well That Ends Well - W. Shakespeare
Well, Well, Well - R.L. Burnsides
Hill Country Memphisssippi

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