Set up Time

Billy Murdoch · From: Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.

Prompted ny something I read in another post.
Scenario.
I arrive at a gig,unload My equipment and transport it to the stage and set up,test and tune up and am ready to play in...How long?
There is obviously a "comfortable time" and a
"Hey Guys I'm sorry I'm late" time.How long?

Whilst I have'nt timed Myself I like to be about 45 minutes(comfort time)and minimum 15 minutes rushed.
Billy

Barry Blackwood · Posted 10 May 2009 1:32 pm

Sounds comfortable. Smile

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

For me, it depends on how close to the venue I can park. It takes me two trips, with a 2-wheeler, to get my stuff to the stage. Amp and Pac-A-Seat first trip. Guitar and Toolbox-of-Stuff on the second trip.

Once I've gotten that far, I can be ready to play in about 15 minutes.

It rarely works out that way, though. I play with two different bands, and it's a group effort to get all the p.a., keyboards, and drums to the stage.

Lee, from South Texas

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Five minutes is a rush (though I used to do it in 3). Anymore, I prefer 10 minutes. I tune at home, usually the night before. Ordinarily, only a touch-up of one or two strings after a minute or two of playing is all that's necessary.

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

At steel guitar shows, my dad sets up my steel, plugs in my amplifier, and adjusts my seat to where I can get behind the steel and do a little soundcheck. Usually, at the shows, we park the truck as close to the backstage area as we can so we can take all my gear in. My steel is usually set up backstage for rehearsal before I go onstage, so I mainly do a little soundcheck backstage before my set, and when I go onstage, I usually give the volume pedal a little volume to see if there's any sound comin' from the amp. So, it really don't take too long to setup.

Brett

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · From: Ayrshire, Scotland

If you're playing the local tattie-munchers club, best to worry about your strip down and GTF outta there time! Shocked

Arch.
_________________
I'm well behaved, so there!

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

It usually takes me about 5-7 minutes to load my steel, amp and seat into the venue - barring any unusual obstacles; and it takes about 5-7 minutes to set it all up. All in all, about 15 minutes from parking the car to having the steel powered up. I actually takes me a bit longer to break it all down and load out, about 20 minutes.

Malcolm McMaster · From: Beith Ayrshire Scotland

Billy I didn't know you set up your own gear, thought that well paid roadie of yours, whats her name , did all that for you.You know that well known saying about barking yourself.

Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

I try to arrive at the gig 45 minutes before we start, but I can set up in 15 minutes if necessary. 5 minutes to tear down. Everything goes into a "milk crate", although I do have a nice Walker seat. I put a few light, fragile things in the seat and everything else goes in the crate (stomp boxes, cords, etc). I play a S-10, so that makes things easier.
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel

Eric Philippsen · From: Central Florida USA

I arrive 45 minutes before start.
20-25 minutes to set up and tune.
10 minutes of silent playing to get hands warmed up.
10 minutes to relax while other band members are trying to get set up on time.

In a hurry I can be ready to go in 10 which includes setting my front neck E's. Then I'll get the rest of the neck in tune throughout the first few songs. No time to tune back neck? Hello bar placement. That can be fun.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Most of my gigs are steel and lead guitar, but on the steel only gigs it's a snap. I always keep my steel set up except for an out of town gig. I have a place in the back of my van where I just set the steel in with a cover on top and slip the (Walker) pack seat right under it (also fully set up). I only use one effect at the moment which is a Boss digital delay which I keep in the pack seat.

When I get to the gig I just take out my amp which has casters. Set the pack seat on top of it and roll it in. Then I carry in my steel (already set up) and place it where I want it. I can probably be set up in under ten minutes easily........JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Ben Lawson · From: Brooksville Florida

Set up time is about 15 min. It's usually the middle of the second set before I'm "ready" to play.
This gettin' old thing is no fun.

Jim Walker · From: Headland, AL

I pull double duty. It takes me a good 25 minutes to properly set up my Steel rig and my 6 string rig. I can have it all packed and ready to haul out in about 10 minutes on a good night.

JW
_________________
Show Pro D10, Session 400

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

I like to get to a gig at least 1 hour ahead of showtime. The old adage 'Set up and shut up' is a good one. There is nothing worse for the audience than having to sit and listen to a musician spending ages going through their repertoire at normal stage volume prior to the first number. It just isn't professional.
_________________
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I like to get to the gig about an hour and a half before the gig. This gives me a chance to set up, let the guitar get to room temp, and about 45 minutes before playing, I tune up. This also gives me a chance to relax before the gig. It also gives me extra time if traffic gets real bad. I could set up and be ready to go in a half hour though if need be.

Marlin Smoot · From: Kansas

10 to 15 minutes - 52 USA RI Tele into Keeley BOSS Blues Driver - Keeley Compressor into a Dr. Z Amp.

Desert Rose Pedal Steel into (old Lil Izzy)tuner - Steel Guitar Black Box into Delay into Session (15 JBL) 400. It's hard to see the Session 400 in the picture but its under the Dr. Z amp. Old Sho-Bud Chair. (lead guitar player using the 50 watt tube Blonde Crate amp next (Right) to me.

Simple yet quick. However, always looking to cut set up time and thinking about getting a pedal board for my 2 pedals and tuner...

Walter Bowden · From: Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

A lot of the gigs I've played require the musicians to be set up and sound checked a couple of hours before the actual playing begins due to dinner/cocktails/schmoozing time for the guests. They don't want the "hired help" around messing up the "atmosphere". I'll usually play soft jazz or equally unobtrusive stuff on my iPod through the sound system until playing time. Usually these are country clubs, weddings, charity balls or golf/fishing tournament things that can be a pain to work around but pay very, very nicely. Also, by the time for the band to play, the guests are
feeling like partying due to the cocktail hour effects!
_________________
Emmons S10, p/p, Nashville 112, Zion 50 tele style guitar, Gibson LP Classic w/Vox AC30, Fender Deluxe De Ville and a Rawdon-Hall classical

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I normally double on pedal steel and guitar. Unless there's some reason we need to set up early, I try to have my equipment in the room a half to one hour ahead of start to give time to react to unplanned contingencies. But I can generally be ready in 10-15 minutes if I haul butt, nothing major goes wrong, and I'm not expected to do a lot of special stuff - just pedal steel => vol pedal => prewired rack => amp and electric guitar => Pod => pedal steel amp - and no b@njo or specialty guitars, no vocal mic checking, no wah wah or other stuff that's not prewired in the rack, no need to move other people's stuff around to make setup space, and no "special requests". Just leave me alone and let me set up.

Occasionally, I play on bills with several bands and have very short time - more like 5 minutes - between sets. It can be done, but I need to be basically set up and then just move stuff into place during the set break, double-check tuning, and go.

Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

Forum Index > Steel Players		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic