Organising a Gig - Adivce needed

qt9ukbg60ivjrn

Hi guys,

I'm organising a gig and am looking for advice about bands.

Say I've got a few bands playing. Do the headliners bring their drums and everyone shares? Is there any other equipment that is shared between the bands apart aside from what the venue provides

Thanks for the help

monthehoops

It's up to the support acts to fit to the production spec of the headliner. Some things will differ i.e. drummers will want their own symbals, snares & hi-hats normally. A bass player will want his own bass & pedals, same goes for guitarists. Main thing you need to sort really is your PA. Has the venue a PA already? Does the headliner need a different PA? Lots to consider!

FewFew

It really depends what type of gig you're running.

Few ways to look at it really. The most common setup is the headline band brings most of the backline, especially the drums and the other bands just bring their instruments (the drummer bringing his cymbals, snare and foot pedal.) Some bands will be precious about their guitar amps so the support band will have to bring one. Generally if anything is precious and easily destroyed (nice snare, vintage guitar amp etc) you'll normally find people bringing their own.
A lot of the time you'll be able to arrange for the bands to share the backline amongst themselves, this is usually the setup for a lower level gig. Each band brings an amp, maybe the headliners bring the drumkit, but it's not a set thing.

It kinda depends on how you gauge the level of your headliners... big professional bands will often not allow the support to use their stuff. Mid level you're looking at the headliners providing gear and letting support use most of it. Low level you're looking at more of a community effort where the load is shared.

Just be aware that relying on different bands to bring the gear also ends up in an organisers nightmare, even when you tell all the bands to get there for 5pm so the headliners can sound check, often you'll find people turning up late with various bits of gear, plus it's painful to be a support band and have to wait around for hours while the headliners soundcheck etc.

Bren Jacob

Some very good advice there if the bands are are all pitching in to bring the backline.
Make sure you have a 100% yes from each band in terms of whos bring what and at what time or it can get very messy!

Fewcifur wrote: »

Just be aware that relying on different bands to bring the gear also ends up in an organisers nightmare, even when you tell all the bands to get there for 5pm so the headliners can sound check, often you'll find people turning up late with various bits of gear, plus it's painful to be a support band and have to wait around for hours while the headliners soundcheck etc.

qt9ukbg60ivjrn

monthehoops wrote: »

It's up to the support acts to fit to the production spec of the headliner. Some things will differ i.e. drummers will want their own symbals, snares & hi-hats normally. A bass player will want his own bass & pedals, same goes for guitarists. Main thing you need to sort really is your PA. Has the venue a PA already? Does the headliner need a different PA? Lots to consider!

what's a PA?

thanks for all the advice people.

SinisterDexter

Personal Address system - Speakers built in / on hand, with a sound mixer/desk setup.