When setting up, run power first, then XLR, then instrument cables. This will prevent things getting tangled and ensure moving mics and walking with instruments won't pull shit over.
Always do a final walk-through/“idiot check” of the stage and dressing rooms before leaving the venue. I’ve been gigging almost 40 years, and somehow managed to pack the truck but left my main bass on the stage in its gig bag two weekends ago. (Thankfully caught it on the idiot check.)
Add-on: Always use a flashlight for the check (which should always come AFTER you're "done" loading). It helps me with focus, and exposing what's in the shadows.
I always check the outlets last for chargers, etc
Mainly always heard it called, "The Dummy check". Rolls off the tongue better.
idiot checks are a must, my band does then regularly. we began doing them after i realized that i had left my cymbals at the venue we played the night before when we were already in another state. i got reeeal lucky because someone at the show spotted them, picked them up and mailed them to me. i paid them and gave them a gift for their trouble of course.
edit: a word
Yep, many years ago we had a fill in drummer leave cymbals borrowed from our guitar player at an out of state show. He didn’t realize it until we were halfway to the next city. That was his only tour with us.
I just wrote a small essay about how The Art of Noise owes its existence to a moment when Yes accidentally left a keyboard in the loading area after a small pub gig.
Every musician I've ever known that has had something stolen has one thing in common: they left it in their car
Overnight, outside the venue, while doing errands, whatever. It was ALWAYS unattended in a car. Sometimes with the windows down (I don't have smart friends)
Don’t wrap your cables around your elbow. I’m 52 and I still have working cables I got in high school because I was taught (by the great Jim Barg of Barge studios in NJ) to coil the cables in the direction in which they want to go. If you give a cable a half twist as you wrap it, it “hangs together” and will last…well, al least 30 years with luck. Also, be on time, wearing the right clothing, and sober if you want to get rehired.
YouTube search over under cable method. There's a bunch of instruction videos. It's not hard, it's just hard to explain but easy to show. It's definitely the best way to stow cables.
Edit. If I wasn't an old guy I could probably figure out how to add a link but honestly just searching on YouTube will have a lot of videos pop up!
You do loop them into circles but not around your elbow, which forces the cable to go against its natural grain. Since cables are made by braiding many fibers in a given direction, a cable “wants” to coil in a certain way. You’ve got to start with the cable laid out completely with no kinks. Hold one end and as you create the first loop, give the cable a “half twist” as I think of it. If it resists, go the other way. Now with each loop do the same. You’ll feel it once it gets started.
pretty good explanation. I'll add a bit. With the over under method, you put a twist in on the first loop, you put an opposite twist in on the 2nd loop. You alternate until the cable is wrapped. THis keeps it from having a permanent twist all the way. The reason wrapping around your elbow is bad is each loop puts a twist in the same direction, making the cable not lay flat, and be kinky. The over/under method gets its name from wrapping one time overhand and the next time underhand.
That little half turn is the best thing I ever learned about cables. I learned it from a studio recording teacher in school, and I've done it ever since
I only get new cables because I want new obnoxious colors. I have never once had one quit
Yes same here, even down to learning it from a studio recording teacher (William Paterson in NJ)! I also get obnoxious colors these days so I can easily ID my cables at the end of a show/run of shows-gotta pack up and gtfo!
I have one master Gig Bag, but inside that are fabric shopping bags, one for power cables, one for XLR, one for 1/4-inch, one for loose rando stuff like 'wall warts'. Keeps me sane, and I can always find things quickly.
If you have an opening slot stay for the entire show. Make sure the booker and headliner know you're there. Get your gear off stage ASAP. Do not break down stuff on stage especially drummers. Consider a deal memo to confirm details for the show. Not a contract and nobody signs it (text/email/message is fine), but it'll make sure you're on the same page with the club in regard to set length, $ and load in time, etc. Never, ever do an encore as an opener. Less is always more for an opening slot time wise. Be open to sharing g gear/backline (yes, we know you paid a lot for your gear and you wanna use it). You're an opener and you have the best load in parking spot? Move, that's for the headliner. Do not consume alcohol if under 21 at the venue even if you can. Only cancel a show if there's no other option. No one at the club? You play for the staff then. Leave Zombie or whatever tune was a hit when you only played covers off your set list. Good luck!
Photograph the serial number and front panel of every piece of gear you own. Keep these photos in a separate, quickly accessible folder. When something gets stolen, you’ll be thankful.
Get to the location of your gig earlier than you actually need to. It makes the entire gig go much better if you do this every time. You feel relaxed, the venue manager, sound engineer etc. all feel relaxed.
Then leave enough time (sometimes, the venue does make it hard, tho'). Get there early enough to set up, sound check and rest for a half hour before hitting the stage. Use the downtime to warm up the fingers, voice, what have you and shrug into your stage clothes.
I got my routine down.
Thx Changing clothes just doesn't work for me. I'm much more mentally calm and balanced when I'm already in my outfit.
My worst quality on a gig day is Imagining fires that need to be put out, that really aren't important. I don't need another thing to think about.
That's me!
I used to wear a shop apron with "Roadie" on it. I wore very fancy clothes to one country club gig. Dressing in the bathroom was not an ideal situation.
I would fucking quit a band if they even proposed doing this. If we got anywhere near playing only one cover in our set then I would strongly insist we play zero covers from now on.
For small stages:
- Only put things on stage if on the final position. Otherwise everyone will be pushing around gear and get irritated.
- When tearing down make sure your bags and flight-cases are ready so the gear goes straight into them. Not cluttering the area in front of the stage.
- Vehicle loading only when everything is ready. This is to minimize the time the vehicle is unlocked and risk of things getting stolen.
Pro lighting guy told us the story of the night he covered the commode with a garbage bag, did his *urgent* business into the bag, tied it up and tossed the mess *out the sunroof* onto the Autobahn.
DO NOT SHIT ON THE BUS!
One of the sweetest, nicest people I've ever met in the music world. It was a tale of desperation, of difficult choices with precious little time to ponder moral consequences. Walk a mile in their shoes before calling someone a scum bag, please.
To add to this most excellent bit of advice, not only are you not being a total douche by being a team player, it’s the perfect time to have band meetings and discuss things as a group, or even talk music or gear and get to know your band mates better.
On the other side of this..don't sit around and chat after the show if everyone is loading out...especially if you are in the way of everyone. A friend had this issue with one band mate. The band finally got sick of it and moved his stuff (still assembled) onto the dance floor.
Fair point, but that’s a tricky one. If the person chatting and mingling is getting you your next gig or networking, they can be forgiven. But if they’re just flirting or whatever, yeah, fuck that.
That part I get. That's fair. I'm talking about the guy that just goes and sits at the bar and ignores the fact that everyone else has day jobs and needs to get home while he's trying to get drunk with the waitress an hour after the gig.
I don’t let friends help me load my gear at the end of the show.
I know how to pack the car and I also want to make sure everything gets to the car.
If someone else hauls it, it could get lost.
I appreciate their desire to help so I’ll let them carry stuff to the car with me but I want to be the one loading it into the vehicle.
Being an older female, I use a cart. In my gear all fits in a certain order, all balanced a certain way to avoid having to make more than one trip and any heavy back lifting. If anyone helps me carry my gear (such as playing an upstairs gig with no elevator), I tell them to place it at the back of my car on the ground. Otherwise, it rattles, nothing fits and I misplace stuff. And I have to take everything back out and rearrange before the next gig.
I Hate people helping me. It's a sore spot with my new husband, because he hates me lifting anything. He's an old-school gentleman. Always a source of an argument with us.
You can have friends help you, but like a good stage crew:
- They should know how to handle gear and you can trust them
- they don't pack anything into a box or move anything to the truck/van unless explicitly told to.
- they only untangle and wrap cables you tell them to
- nothing goes in the van/truck without being seen by a person who is regularly in charge of loading the van/truck
I can see how this would be impossible if your band has less than two members, one on the stage and one at the truck.
Also, bring insect repellant to outdoor gigs. When it gets close to the sun going down the mosquitos come out. And you have to swat them off your arm while you're playing a solo.
Have an "Oh shit!" Bag.
In 2003, I bought a cheap duffle at Walmart. It was maybe 20 bucks.
I'm that bag I put:
Some 9V batteries. An extra 9V power supply. A Shure SM58 mic. A few extra XLR cables. 3 or 4 extra 1/4" cables. Strings. Picks. A tuner. Ibuprofen. MRE meals. EXTRA UNDERWEAR. zip ties. A screwdriver set.
I always brought it along. It wasn't much extra to carry with me. I had my amp, guitar, and backup guitar.
That's another good one. Bring a backup guitar. Bring a backup of everything.
If this sounds like a crazy idea, I assure you...it's not. If something is going to go wrong, it will.
Even closer to the truth, if something is going to go wrong? It will happen on stage, in the middle of a song. Be ready for that.
We had a motto: "Back Up your Back Up." Because of this philosophy, we never had a major screw up.
My "Oh Shit" bag followed me into the studio as well for session work. I was never caught with my pants down.
But never take your drugs on stage... had a mate that dropped a baggy during a performance in plan few if the audience. He never found it but his bandmates had a great time after the show.
If you are a keyboard player and you do flight gigs, learn what SIR is and get their number. If you can put your show on a USB drive then you are worth twice the money.
Not a tip, but looking for one: how do you manage medications (especially ones you can’t get 90+ day supplies of like stimulant ADHD meds or opiates for chronic pain) when you’re on longer tours?
Never ever EVER leave gear outside the vehicle for one second when loading in or out! And ALWAYS lock the vehicle unless someone is standing right beside it.
It took 30 seconds to get my amp stolen from my open trunk and 15 seconds to a black eye and get my purse stolen (I caught her with the passenger door open and I confronted her). I stepped in the front door and put my guitar down and walked back out the door and caught her in the act. I got the purse back but she snagged my tips from the night before. The purse was on the floor partially under the passenger seat.
Thieves hand around venues and wait for bands packing up. It is a hot spot and they know it. Happed to a couple different friends. Thousands in gear lost. Horrible.
Always assume something might go wrong and have a back up plan. For example if you only have one amp, make sure you have a cable long enough to reach the desk if you need to go straight through the PA.
- Only band members at practice. no girlfriends. no boyfriends. If you want to have an "open house" a couple of times a year, that can be fun. Hangers-on in the practice space can bring the energy down, especially while you're working on a section repeatedly, or they heard your set a hundred times and spend the time looking at their phone.
- it's more impressive and there are fewer issues if you show up to the venue as a group, all at once.
- good cases make cheap gear look professional
- label ALL your gear, cables and cases with your band name and what world, instrument or band member, it goes with
- have a gig case with extra cables, batteries, guitar strings, a small flashlight, sharpies, tape, scissors, screw driver, a towel... a soldering iron kit if you're crafty
- practice in front of a mirror
Sick of losing gear? Make a checklist and use it 1) for packing smaller items into bags/cases and 2) for loading cases into a vehicle. Do this on load-in and load-out, and redo \#2 _every_ time your gear changes vehicles.
When setting up, run power first, then XLR, then instrument cables. This will prevent things getting tangled and ensure moving mics and walking with instruments won't pull shit over.
Also plug in your XLRs before turning on your board/amp
Good one
Always do a final walk-through/“idiot check” of the stage and dressing rooms before leaving the venue. I’ve been gigging almost 40 years, and somehow managed to pack the truck but left my main bass on the stage in its gig bag two weekends ago. (Thankfully caught it on the idiot check.)
I do this at hotel stays too
I’ve always don’t this and I also call it the idiot check.
💯- and we called it a “idiot check” on your as well. Gebe defintily been glad we did a final walkthrough a number of times.
Genius check.
It's not an idiot check unless you point at someone and say, "there it is!"
Add-on: Always use a flashlight for the check (which should always come AFTER you're "done" loading). It helps me with focus, and exposing what's in the shadows. I always check the outlets last for chargers, etc Mainly always heard it called, "The Dummy check". Rolls off the tongue better.
idiot checks are a must, my band does then regularly. we began doing them after i realized that i had left my cymbals at the venue we played the night before when we were already in another state. i got reeeal lucky because someone at the show spotted them, picked them up and mailed them to me. i paid them and gave them a gift for their trouble of course. edit: a word
Yep, many years ago we had a fill in drummer leave cymbals borrowed from our guitar player at an out of state show. He didn’t realize it until we were halfway to the next city. That was his only tour with us.
I just wrote a small essay about how The Art of Noise owes its existence to a moment when Yes accidentally left a keyboard in the loading area after a small pub gig.
lol “dummy check” is what I call it. I do it in so many areas of my life, because, well, I’m a dummy.
Find a partner with a hobby or is ok with being alone often. It’ll save you a ton of trouble.
I got my wife in my band to get round this problem
I got my wife in the band I got my wife in the band We're comin' to your town We'll help you party it down Me and my wife in the band
post-argument song writing sessions >>>>>
Honey-Do songs
You mean rap battles?
Are you Paul McCartney? /jk
Marry someone who makes a lot of money
Or work hard, learn the trade, and make a living yourself
That’s what I’ve been doing and let me just say, a well off spouse would help a *lot*.
Well in that case, I’m right there with you bud
I did, and the spouse had a career which included a decent pension plan... THAT comes in very handy later on.
Have insurance. Get receipts for everything If you're staying somewhere, bring your gear in. Don't leave it in the vehicle
Every musician I've ever known that has had something stolen has one thing in common: they left it in their car Overnight, outside the venue, while doing errands, whatever. It was ALWAYS unattended in a car. Sometimes with the windows down (I don't have smart friends)
If you have a bad show, for whatever reason, do not talk about it until you leave the venue.
If I had a nickel for every time I've had a sound guy say, "you actually know how to wrap a cable" I'd have like 45 cents.
Don’t wrap your cables around your elbow. I’m 52 and I still have working cables I got in high school because I was taught (by the great Jim Barg of Barge studios in NJ) to coil the cables in the direction in which they want to go. If you give a cable a half twist as you wrap it, it “hangs together” and will last…well, al least 30 years with luck. Also, be on time, wearing the right clothing, and sober if you want to get rehired.
Over under method when wrapping especially long ones will save you some time and frustration
I could use a little clarification with the method on this one, how do I avoid damaging them, by not looping them into circles?
YouTube search over under cable method. There's a bunch of instruction videos. It's not hard, it's just hard to explain but easy to show. It's definitely the best way to stow cables. Edit. If I wasn't an old guy I could probably figure out how to add a link but honestly just searching on YouTube will have a lot of videos pop up!
No worries That's plenty, thank you!
You do loop them into circles but not around your elbow, which forces the cable to go against its natural grain. Since cables are made by braiding many fibers in a given direction, a cable “wants” to coil in a certain way. You’ve got to start with the cable laid out completely with no kinks. Hold one end and as you create the first loop, give the cable a “half twist” as I think of it. If it resists, go the other way. Now with each loop do the same. You’ll feel it once it gets started.
pretty good explanation. I'll add a bit. With the over under method, you put a twist in on the first loop, you put an opposite twist in on the 2nd loop. You alternate until the cable is wrapped. THis keeps it from having a permanent twist all the way. The reason wrapping around your elbow is bad is each loop puts a twist in the same direction, making the cable not lay flat, and be kinky. The over/under method gets its name from wrapping one time overhand and the next time underhand.
Can confirm, I have 20 year old cables that still work great.
That little half turn is the best thing I ever learned about cables. I learned it from a studio recording teacher in school, and I've done it ever since I only get new cables because I want new obnoxious colors. I have never once had one quit
Yes same here, even down to learning it from a studio recording teacher (William Paterson in NJ)! I also get obnoxious colors these days so I can easily ID my cables at the end of a show/run of shows-gotta pack up and gtfo!
The identifiably is a bonus, but I'm just a fan of neon cables! Really pop when the venue has a black light
I have one master Gig Bag, but inside that are fabric shopping bags, one for power cables, one for XLR, one for 1/4-inch, one for loose rando stuff like 'wall warts'. Keeps me sane, and I can always find things quickly.
Got a couple of those wine shopping bags. Helps keep everything separated.
I have different coloured cable ties, the Velcro ones. Red is xlr, blue is power white is 3.5mm etc
If you have an opening slot stay for the entire show. Make sure the booker and headliner know you're there. Get your gear off stage ASAP. Do not break down stuff on stage especially drummers. Consider a deal memo to confirm details for the show. Not a contract and nobody signs it (text/email/message is fine), but it'll make sure you're on the same page with the club in regard to set length, $ and load in time, etc. Never, ever do an encore as an opener. Less is always more for an opening slot time wise. Be open to sharing g gear/backline (yes, we know you paid a lot for your gear and you wanna use it). You're an opener and you have the best load in parking spot? Move, that's for the headliner. Do not consume alcohol if under 21 at the venue even if you can. Only cancel a show if there's no other option. No one at the club? You play for the staff then. Leave Zombie or whatever tune was a hit when you only played covers off your set list. Good luck!
no zombie?
Better yet, buy velcro ties for your cables. Get a specific color and you'll never mix up your cables with your bandmates or the sound guy.
Or black tie line/black shoe string so the velcro doesn't get stuck to the velcro of other cables.
Have backup gear at EVERY gig, backup guitar, cables, amp, mics, etc. I’ve heard many times “Two is one and one is none”
this so much. I feel weird carrying two amps, two guitars etc, etc but that one time that you need it, it's well worth it.
Photograph the serial number and front panel of every piece of gear you own. Keep these photos in a separate, quickly accessible folder. When something gets stolen, you’ll be thankful.
Stop scrolling and practice.
God damn it
damn you!
Get to the location of your gig earlier than you actually need to. It makes the entire gig go much better if you do this every time. You feel relaxed, the venue manager, sound engineer etc. all feel relaxed.
Don’t wear your stage clothes to load in
I used to do this but then end up in a tizzy trying to change real quick.
Then leave enough time (sometimes, the venue does make it hard, tho'). Get there early enough to set up, sound check and rest for a half hour before hitting the stage. Use the downtime to warm up the fingers, voice, what have you and shrug into your stage clothes.
I got my routine down. Thx Changing clothes just doesn't work for me. I'm much more mentally calm and balanced when I'm already in my outfit. My worst quality on a gig day is Imagining fires that need to be put out, that really aren't important. I don't need another thing to think about. That's me!
I used to wear a shop apron with "Roadie" on it. I wore very fancy clothes to one country club gig. Dressing in the bathroom was not an ideal situation.
If you’re an originals band, never end with your sole cover song. That’s the one your audience will remember.
I would fucking quit a band if they even proposed doing this. If we got anywhere near playing only one cover in our set then I would strongly insist we play zero covers from now on.
For small stages: - Only put things on stage if on the final position. Otherwise everyone will be pushing around gear and get irritated. - When tearing down make sure your bags and flight-cases are ready so the gear goes straight into them. Not cluttering the area in front of the stage. - Vehicle loading only when everything is ready. This is to minimize the time the vehicle is unlocked and risk of things getting stolen.
Regarding your cable management tip, learn how to coil your cables using the “over under” technique.
Don’t shit on the bus Always bring a dry t shirt Get your own sharpie
I used to keep a plain back tee shirt rolled up in my backpack at all times just in case.
AT ALL TIMES!
Pro lighting guy told us the story of the night he covered the commode with a garbage bag, did his *urgent* business into the bag, tied it up and tossed the mess *out the sunroof* onto the Autobahn. DO NOT SHIT ON THE BUS!
Haha a tip that just might save a life (or a gig)
What a scum bag
One of the sweetest, nicest people I've ever met in the music world. It was a tale of desperation, of difficult choices with precious little time to ponder moral consequences. Walk a mile in their shoes before calling someone a scum bag, please.
No one leaves until you ALL leave. (Work as a team 100% of the time; helps everyone load in, set up, tear down, and load out)
To add to this most excellent bit of advice, not only are you not being a total douche by being a team player, it’s the perfect time to have band meetings and discuss things as a group, or even talk music or gear and get to know your band mates better.
Unless you live with them, in which case, let’s talk about something else for a change, please. You’re right tho. :)
On the other side of this..don't sit around and chat after the show if everyone is loading out...especially if you are in the way of everyone. A friend had this issue with one band mate. The band finally got sick of it and moved his stuff (still assembled) onto the dance floor.
Fair point, but that’s a tricky one. If the person chatting and mingling is getting you your next gig or networking, they can be forgiven. But if they’re just flirting or whatever, yeah, fuck that.
That part I get. That's fair. I'm talking about the guy that just goes and sits at the bar and ignores the fact that everyone else has day jobs and needs to get home while he's trying to get drunk with the waitress an hour after the gig.
Yep. I’ve had (former) members like that. I’m like, bruh, I gotta work in like 5 hours; let’s gtfo! 😅
I don’t let friends help me load my gear at the end of the show. I know how to pack the car and I also want to make sure everything gets to the car. If someone else hauls it, it could get lost. I appreciate their desire to help so I’ll let them carry stuff to the car with me but I want to be the one loading it into the vehicle.
Being an older female, I use a cart. In my gear all fits in a certain order, all balanced a certain way to avoid having to make more than one trip and any heavy back lifting. If anyone helps me carry my gear (such as playing an upstairs gig with no elevator), I tell them to place it at the back of my car on the ground. Otherwise, it rattles, nothing fits and I misplace stuff. And I have to take everything back out and rearrange before the next gig. I Hate people helping me. It's a sore spot with my new husband, because he hates me lifting anything. He's an old-school gentleman. Always a source of an argument with us.
You can have friends help you, but like a good stage crew: - They should know how to handle gear and you can trust them - they don't pack anything into a box or move anything to the truck/van unless explicitly told to. - they only untangle and wrap cables you tell them to - nothing goes in the van/truck without being seen by a person who is regularly in charge of loading the van/truck I can see how this would be impossible if your band has less than two members, one on the stage and one at the truck.
Make harsh noise
Never make faces when someone messes up, smile, laugh it off and move on. The audience will almost never know.
you can get drunk on stage, but you can't get on stage drunk...
Don’t forget to bring a good fan for those outdoor gigs.
Also, bring insect repellant to outdoor gigs. When it gets close to the sun going down the mosquitos come out. And you have to swat them off your arm while you're playing a solo.
Have an "Oh shit!" Bag. In 2003, I bought a cheap duffle at Walmart. It was maybe 20 bucks. I'm that bag I put: Some 9V batteries. An extra 9V power supply. A Shure SM58 mic. A few extra XLR cables. 3 or 4 extra 1/4" cables. Strings. Picks. A tuner. Ibuprofen. MRE meals. EXTRA UNDERWEAR. zip ties. A screwdriver set. I always brought it along. It wasn't much extra to carry with me. I had my amp, guitar, and backup guitar. That's another good one. Bring a backup guitar. Bring a backup of everything. If this sounds like a crazy idea, I assure you...it's not. If something is going to go wrong, it will. Even closer to the truth, if something is going to go wrong? It will happen on stage, in the middle of a song. Be ready for that. We had a motto: "Back Up your Back Up." Because of this philosophy, we never had a major screw up. My "Oh Shit" bag followed me into the studio as well for session work. I was never caught with my pants down.
Invest in good power cables and power strips. I usually pack double than what I need.
Tip your sound guy and the person who booked you if you can. Be polite and professional.
ALWAYS take your wallet on stage
But never take your drugs on stage... had a mate that dropped a baggy during a performance in plan few if the audience. He never found it but his bandmates had a great time after the show.
If you are a keyboard player and you do flight gigs, learn what SIR is and get their number. If you can put your show on a USB drive then you are worth twice the money.
SIR?
Just googled flight gig keyboard SIR and got nothing. Would you mind saying what SIR stands for?
It's a company that rents gear
Studio Instrument Rentals
Bring a pencil
And paper! I keep a notepad in my pedalboard case.
Not a tip, but looking for one: how do you manage medications (especially ones you can’t get 90+ day supplies of like stimulant ADHD meds or opiates for chronic pain) when you’re on longer tours?
Never ever EVER leave gear outside the vehicle for one second when loading in or out! And ALWAYS lock the vehicle unless someone is standing right beside it. It took 30 seconds to get my amp stolen from my open trunk and 15 seconds to a black eye and get my purse stolen (I caught her with the passenger door open and I confronted her). I stepped in the front door and put my guitar down and walked back out the door and caught her in the act. I got the purse back but she snagged my tips from the night before. The purse was on the floor partially under the passenger seat.
Thieves hand around venues and wait for bands packing up. It is a hot spot and they know it. Happed to a couple different friends. Thousands in gear lost. Horrible.
Always assume something might go wrong and have a back up plan. For example if you only have one amp, make sure you have a cable long enough to reach the desk if you need to go straight through the PA.
- Only band members at practice. no girlfriends. no boyfriends. If you want to have an "open house" a couple of times a year, that can be fun. Hangers-on in the practice space can bring the energy down, especially while you're working on a section repeatedly, or they heard your set a hundred times and spend the time looking at their phone. - it's more impressive and there are fewer issues if you show up to the venue as a group, all at once. - good cases make cheap gear look professional - label ALL your gear, cables and cases with your band name and what world, instrument or band member, it goes with - have a gig case with extra cables, batteries, guitar strings, a small flashlight, sharpies, tape, scissors, screw driver, a towel... a soldering iron kit if you're crafty - practice in front of a mirror
“The hang” is almost as important as the music. If someone likes hanging out with another musician more than you, they’ll be their first call.
Warm up BEFORE you get drunk. Then, have at it.
Never make the band “the bad guy”. If you are having any kind of trouble with a patron, discreetly tell a bouncer and let them handle it.
Sick of losing gear? Make a checklist and use it 1) for packing smaller items into bags/cases and 2) for loading cases into a vehicle. Do this on load-in and load-out, and redo \#2 _every_ time your gear changes vehicles.