How you store/carry your gear to gigs?

ICBM

When I was young and fit, I had a massive rectangular flightcase which was built as a professional touring case for a dreadnought acoustic, but when I got it the foam cutout lining had rotted - that horrible crumbly sticky mess it turns into - so I stripped it all out and covered the insides with some thin carpet offcuts I had. It was big enough to take two speaker stands, five mic stands and all the cables... the only disadvantage was that the case weighed about 35lb empty, and over 100lb when loaded with all that - and only with one handle. But I was young and strong, and the convenience of being able to move everything all at once was more important. We used to put it flat on top of a wheeled flightcase and pile all the other cabinets and power amp racks etc on it, so it then became a big wheeled trolley.

I recently used it to ship a nice classical guitar, in the certain knowledge that it would survive whatever the couriers could do to it. I didn't want it back .

ESBlonde

In younger days we had a trailer and a 4x4. Trailer had a full width ramp and everything possible was on wheels or went on a big sack Barrow. 

In the intervening years digital power supplies, in box speaker processing and LED lighting has made things smaller and lighter. So now it can all pack into my Volvo. I do have a couple of folding sack barrows and a folding 4 wheel cart. Still everything is packed in boxes or typically bags for protection and convenience. 

The biggest problem is remembering to post someone with the vehicle(s) or lock them on every visit. Also have someone remain with the gear in the venue while stuff is ferried in or out. Working in a relay is good here, you arrive back at the vehicles to load your carry and relieve the sitter to go in for more while awaiting the next carrier. It’s efficient and as secure as can be.

ICBM

ESBlonde said:

The biggest problem is remembering to post someone with the vehicle(s) or lock them on every visit. Also have someone remain with the gear in the venue while stuff is ferried in or out. Working in a relay is good here, you arrive back at the vehicles to load your carry and relieve the sitter to go in for more while awaiting the next carrier. It’s efficient and as secure as can be.

This - with any more than a 3-piece band you can always have someone inside, someone with the vehicle and whoever is left moving the gear, in turn. Never leave the gear unattended even for a minute - even in a locked car, if it’s visible or someone saw you put it in.

Snags

Load out/in from home is usually:

• One bag (proper ones, via Thomann, not carriers) full of the PA cables, XLRs, DI and often a disco light thing
• Another bag with my cables, wah pedal, backup amp (Quilter Superblock) and various other odds and ends
• Small bag with pars and spots in for lights
• Small bag with a little monitor in it
• Mic stand bag
• Two guitars, usually in hard cases
• Alto wedge monitor
• Mixing desk
• 2x12 cab
• Pedalboard bag
• Plastic crate with extension leads

It's all on the level, so I just make multiple trips between garden room and car, but if it was further I'd get one of those big dump bins on wheels.

The rest of the PA comes with someone else, thank goodness.

Snags

Should have said, a mate uses a larger version of this for all his cables etc. https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9549407?utm_custom6=LIA&utm_source=google&utm_medium=free_listing&utm_campaign=merchant_center&deeplink=true

There are stackable versions too, with two or three squarer units in a tower and then a suitcase style drag handle that are pretty neat.

Another local duo have proper wheeled flight cases for their amps, with extra storage included, and then use them as amp stands on stage so they don't need to scavange beer crates etc.

stickyfiddle

Ta - I do like a wheeled solution! I reckon a couple of decent kit bags is probably my best bet at the moment, with a box or 2 to follow if I feel I need it. Will report back!

roundthebend

I was using a large 80s Head holdall for cables, which got mega heavy with power and audio but eventually needed to change because it wasn't big enough. 

A change of car also means I can't fit a huge bag in amongst the PA system, so I have to separate the cables out. And I also wanted an easier setup so I now give each band member a bag of cables for their needs - XLR for mic, XLR for IEM, XLR for DI. And another bag for the Front-of-House cables - 2x XLR into a sub, short XLR to the active top on the sun, and a long XLR for the other active top at the opposite side of the stage. 

That works for pubs and small venues.


For your needs it sounds like some large plastic, heavy duty, crates might be useful. You could slide them down stairs and then get a flat bed folding trolley to wheel them on flat sections. 

I need something similar so I can load the individual cable bags into the crate and then wheel it into the venue, or back to the car.

Roland

roundthebend said: …I now give each band member a bag of cables for their needs …

We tried that. The problem with musicians is they can be flaky. They lose, break, and forget cables faster than Trump posts texts.

midiman1962

roberty said:

Thomann dual gig bag - life changing

Good quality too

https://www.thomann.co.uk/thomann_doppel_gigbag_egitarre.htm

Great idea

NorthernStomps

A word in praise of the dual Mono backpack.

Went to rehearsal last night; one lift - two guitars in the Mono, amp in one hand, pedalboard in the other.

Slipped backwards on our drummer's drive and landed on the case. First thought was for my guitars, naturally. Relieved to find they were absolutely fine. 

Rock solid. Can't recommend them enough.

CountryDave

I have the dual Thomann.
Have pondered on more than one occasion the Mono and also the Reunion Blues which are a step up in quality and padding.