Your "top tip" please.......

midlifecrisis

turn up as late as you can, so hopefully everyone else will be set up and avoid having to help lift or help move speakers, drums, amps etc, (thats just the kind of person i am)

Phil_aka_Pip

Devise a system for load-in/load-out, such that there is always one band member with the vehicle(s) and one on the stage, while you all take it in turns to do the carrying. It minimises the risk of gear going walkies.

EricTheWeary

midlifecrisis;929666" said:

turn up as late as you can, so hopefully everyone else will be set up and avoid having to help lift or help move speakers, drums, amps etc, (thats just the kind of person i am)

And at the end of the gig explain that you have an early start the next day (wether you have or wether anyone else has being irrelevant) so once you've been paid and collected your own gear you're off.

close2u

digitalscream said:

If you're going to be gigging regularly, keep a £20 note in your toolkit 

I read that as ....

If you're going to be 'giggling' regularly.

ha ha

Danny1969

If the pubs  \ clubs not empty do a line check only and then play an actual song to set drums, guitars etc. Listening to a song is a lot less intrusive to punters then banging on a snare drum for 15 mins ... 

Run out of songs and still got some time to fill - pretend you've had a special request for one you've already done in the first set.

For wedding gigs memorize the bride and grooms names or put their names on the wedge monitor

Get asked to turn it down ? tell em you don't do requests

To avoid paying venue beer prices take cans and a glass. Then pull the ringpull  on the can and place the glass over the can. Then turn the whole thing over and the pint will fill in seconds without foaming all over the show. An open back cab is the ideal personal bar

Clean your strings immediately after the gig, with care you can get 25 gigs out of one set

Never use any leads for anything that don't have neutrik chuck type cable relief, they will break

Don't daisy chain every mains extension lead from one socket, otherwise the one plugged into the socket will be carry the current for everything. 

Look after your van - if that doesn't make it to the gig none of your gear does either

HAL9000

Danny1969;930083" said:

Get asked to turn it down ? tell em you don't do requests

Brilliant! Have a LOL. (Could just as easily have been a Wis.)

ChrisMusic

Phil_aka_Pip said:

Devise a system for load-in/load-out, such that there is always one band member with the vehicle(s) and one on the stage, while you all take it in turns to do the carrying. It minimises the risk of gear going walkies.

At the risk of reposting this ~ I do have a small dog for hire, friendly and cheaper to run than an extra band member, yet to master the guitar though  :o3

ICBM

Phil_aka_Pip said:

Devise a system for load-in/load-out, such that there is always one band member with the vehicle(s) and one on the stage, while you all take it in turns to do the carrying. It minimises the risk of gear going walkies.

This, absolutely and with no exceptions. Never leave anything unattended in a car, even locked, outside a venue - all the low-lifes in town know there are instruments inside. Even venues can be dodgy if there isn't a secure area to put stuff.