Gear

[ericcoleman]

mai_ling was talking in her LJ about what she takes with her to play a gig. It totals about 130 lbs. Ouch.

Then I started thinking ... which always goes badly for everyone around me

In theory, to play a show I need one guitar, a cord and a DI box, and maybe, if I am smart, a box of CDs to sell. I have used my PA twice in the last year (maybe three).

Do I stick to this? No ... I don't. Friggin wormquartet shows up with a Discman and he's ready to go. What do I do now ???

I take at least two guitars, for different tunings. Now that there are songs on the new CD that are on the 12 string, I feel that I need to take that occasionally. I'm working with my PODxt so I can control my stage sound better, which means another bag of gear. So, to play a show in an optimum way ...

Three guitars, in cases (well yeah)
Two boxes of CDs, just cause they look good in the boxes.
A bag with the PODxt, the pedal board for it, a small mike stand to put it on.
And, if I need it, my little, although not terribly portable, PA.

What is wrong with me?

Comments

[druidsfire.livejournal.com]

You're a musician. :D

whine, whine...

[mofilker.livejournal.com]

let me see...at a typical gig (either convention or muggle-based), I typically take:
1 6-string
1 12-string
1 76 note keyboard
1 Mackie 14x2 mixer
2 guitar stands
1 piano stand
1 music stand
1 bag o' crap (music, strings, business cards)
1 anvil case of mics, cables, tools
1 California Blonde amp
1 accordion

For larger venues, I have another suitcase for cables (mic, speaker, and power), a small 19" rack with effects boxes, another rack with a QSC power amp, a pair of monitors, and a single Bose 802 speaker.

And if I decide to go midi backup, I'll need a second keyboard (as a sound module) and the MC 50 sequencer.

And, of course, some sort of carrier for CDs, though that can be pretty small...

Excuse me--were you complaining about something?

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Depends on the gig.
Wedding band:
Two Strats
1 Fender Blues Deluxe 40w combo
1 Digitech GNX3 pedal thingy
Leads, power supplies, music stands etc.

[jcw-da-dmg.livejournal.com]

Nothing I can think of. Maybe you need a roadie.

[beige-alert.livejournal.com]

You need a flute. Flutes are small. Granted, when I'm staying inside the country I take my own guitar, which is much bigger. And the music stand. And guitar stand. And music.... But nothing's a folk song unless it's acoustical! Plastic and wires and amps aren’t musical!

[ericcoleman]

Plastic and wires and amps aren’t musical!

Boy are you going to love Toyboat ...

Re: whine, whine...

[ericcoleman]

Maybe I should type slower ...

I need one guitar, a cord and a DI (and sometimes not the latter two) to do a show. That is what is necessary ... what wasn't clear ???

geeze, these filkers ...

[mofilker.livejournal.com]

Amps don't kill folk music. People kill folk music...to coin a phrase...

But unless you're willing to haul around an upright bass or baby grand (which I've seen some insane people actually do), you're going to need some wires and amps to allow your plastic keyboard or bass guitar to at least be heard.

And, as age doth advance and the physical doth wither, I find that, even with a moderate crowd, sound reinforcement is so much easier on the vocal cords, especially the next day...

Yeah, you're gonna love Toyboat...

Re: whine, whine...

[mofilker.livejournal.com]

Excuse me, but I quote:
********
I take at least two guitars, for different tunings. Now that there are songs on the new CD that are on the 12 string, I feel that I need to take that occasionally. I'm working with my PODxt so I can control my stage sound better, which means another bag of gear. So, to play a show in an optimum way ...

Three guitars, in cases (well yeah)
Two boxes of CDs, just cause they look good in the boxes.
A bag with the PODxt, the pedal board for it, a small mike stand to put it on.
And, if I need it, my little, although not terribly portable, PA.

********
I thought that was clear enough. :)

I could also pare things to the minimum with a single guitar. It's just that I like variety. Besides, when my hand cramps up it's good to have alternative instruments.

[beige-alert.livejournal.com]

I already love Toyboat and I've only heard them once.

I'm quoting Kanef's Song of the Folk Nazi, of course. Amps don't kill, people who set the guitar to "11" and the voice to "1.1" so listening to them sing in your native tongue is like listening to a foreign language you hardly know (Oh! There was one word I understood!) kill music :)

[ericcoleman]

I already love Toyboat and I've only heard them once.

Don't worry, we can change that ...

[mofilker.livejournal.com]

Hadn't heard the song before. (Actually, haven't heard it yet--just read your lyrics link!)

I've only heard Toyboat once, at Duckon, when they were just getting started. Eric and Gundo have talked me into giving them a concert spot at Archon32. Hopefully I won't be burned in effigy by the masses...

[ericcoleman]

EFFIGY ???

They won't bother with an effigy

[mofilker.livejournal.com]

You are NOT helping your cause...