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I guess I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. My powered tops weigh in at 92 pounds each and the subs are 137 pounds each. I don't find it to big a deal to set them up, it's part of the job. I'm with Lonnie here, I will not compromise sound, after all that's part of the reason they hired me in the first place. Something to think about, it's amazing how busy you get when you get the reputation of having the best sounding rig around. By the way, I use a hand truck, men don't play with dolly's.

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Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

But there's less gravitational force in Michigan..........and I've seen a Dolly or two, that you wouldn't mind playing with.....I've also been married for 34 years, and I find I'm doing many things by hand lately.............thank god, it's just a small load.......... ....I'm talking laundry...... ...get your mind outta da gutter...

I had a big laugh at one of my jobs that uses another company on a different night.

I can see the rubber feet drag marks on the sidewalk. Someone drags their speakers in. That looks real professional. Glad they aren't working for me.

From the parking lot to the dance floor is at least 30-40 feet of drag. Maybe more.


But then again most KJs can set up in 5 minutes with less than 150 pounds of equipment. Sounds like it too.

I use a convertible hand truck. My gear is too stinkin' heavy and I want to have a back when I'm 60. I hate to agree with sidewinder, but to not use one as much as possible is asking for trouble at some point. I also use a back support belt when lifting speakers in and out of the van, as well as onto stands or a stage. I broke three ribs back in April trying to lift those JRX125s into my van, so I don't take any chances anymore.

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hi-voxentertainment

Let me know if you want my best back saving tip of all time for loading heavy speakers in to your van. My subs weight 85 pounds. I can not dead lift them up to floor of my full size van. I move 800 pounds of equipment 2 times every night, 6 days a week. Every trip is on a dolly.

I wouldn’t say I’d “sacrifice” my sound, but I dang sure compromise it to save my old back. PR15s are all I pull out of the house anymore, for anything.

Never got a complaint; never DIDN’T get compliments.

Who’s gonna pay for your back/hernia surgery, or even remember you when you’re down; the old patrons, or bar owner? Bah…

It’s not like anyone is A/B’ing the various speakers; they hear what they hear, and set up right, they sound fine. There are plenty of other limiting factors to consider.

I just did a back-yard party… got a $100 tip (I did work a couple extra hours), and they want to make an annual affair from it.

Got two of her neighbors wanting me for next year, as well.

I guess my PRs did okay.

Peace.

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Hate is like taking poison, hoping the other guy gets sick

Oh, if you use or want PRSubs to go with your PR tops, especially if you‘re using the 12”ers

On the PR Subs I put the little rubber feet on the opposite end (four little holes to re-drill and screw them in) and flip the whole thing over. The grill flips over with four screws so the emblems are still right.

This puts the vent on the bottom and the pole-mount on top, which looks more like a conventional Sub.

With the pole mounts now on top, you can use a short pole and mount the PRs tops above like a more conventional setup. They look great, and are surprisingly stable. I’m sure if they did topple for any reason, they’re so light that they wouldn’t even hurt anything.

Just a thought.

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Hate is like taking poison, hoping the other guy gets sick

[font=Verdana] I haven’t had that many gigs yet, but the few that I have done, I was getting tired of all the trips back and forth to get my system into the venue. So I bought a dolly/hand truck. The next gig I had, and the same one I am doing this Friday, I couldn’t use it to come from the car but had to set it just inside the door and wheel the stuff from there to where I was setting up. That did help, at least I didn’t have to tote everything the full length of the bar.

Months ago I bought a regular hand truck from Lowe’s that Johnny now has, He doesn’t use it all that much which makes me worry about what he is doing to his back. He’s not a very big guy, about 5’8” and skinny…LOL. I know his road case weighs over 150lbs, the two original speakers that I bought weigh around 100lbs each, then he has 2 big 18” subs. Due to limited space in my Pontiac I had to go with something collapsible and light weight..[/font]

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Dusty Rose
Blue Rose Classic Karaoke
More Sound! More Selections! More Fun!
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Every host (self included) has opted for lighter speakers and gear over the years. Ease of setup is also a factor for that is time spent without pay.

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Lon,
I wouldn't suggest anyone sacrifice their sound. From what I know about you , you are a true profesional SOUND MAN and know your stuff. For me there is GREAT SOUND , GOOD SOUND, ACCEPTABLE SOUND AND BAD SOUND.

From what I''ve read here over the years most KJ's are in the acceptable to good sound. You and others using top of the line equipment, subs, outboard effects and such are indeed in the GREAT SOUND. The diiferance between Great Sound and Good Sound is a personal thing for the KJ . In my opinion really has no bearing on the quality of show as 99% of the audience and employeers couldn't tell between Good and Great ..only the true audiophile will be able to. Some will choose to roll in racks and thousands of dollars worth of equipment for a weekly bar gig for $150. To me it's not required ..NICE TO HAVE but not required. I know I could have GREAT SOUND just by listening to suggestions on this board. But I choose to strive for GOOD sound at an affordable cost .

The question is could a liteweight speaker do a GOOD JOB ? Would it sound OK to 99% of the audienece ?

Let me guess a portable ramp? If you have a van (we do) with the room it's great. But some people do not own vans and cannot bring dollies or ramps with them.

Time to get off your high horse.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

We used passive 15-inch Bag Ends and 12-inch Yamahas for years (stacked). I actually moved it myself for a period of time twice a week. Noticed a definite increase in abs and triceps...not what I was really hoping to get out of karaoke.

We are powered now, one sub, two sets of speakers (10" and 12") for different sized rooms. I talked briefly with a musician/singer from the other side of the country last night who popped in to sing (because he was in town for business and likes to sing karaoke). He has a band and has been doing musicals on stage for years. He complimented me on the sound of the SM350s and sub combo in our Monday night room. I had to agree. The SM350s weigh in at about 35 pounds. I can easily perch them up on the stands myself. Sub is a little heavier but I can actually lift it myself (subs are always such strange shapes, which is what makes them difficult to pick up, imo). Doesn't make sense to carry too much if the same or better sound quality is available in a lighter version, albeit more expensive to begin with.

All the sound at the secondary stages at Buffalo Chip Campground at Sturgis was provided by Mackie gear - all active; each stage had two 18-inch subs and the big daddy tops, and SM450 monitors. Great sound & real quick teardown when tornado and golfball size hail threatened one night.

I have had various length ramps sets for 15 years. Wouldn't ever be without them when it comes to steps. Nothing hurts your back more than pulling 200# up steps. I use a ramp 3 nights a week and 2 jobs have built in sidewalk ramps. The others are street level.

The first thing I ask any new job lead is how many steps they have to get in the bar.

I never do any job up or down an entire flight of steps. The desperate KJs can have those jobs. No amount of money is worth a flight of steps to me.

I got a rock n' roller collapsable cart/dolly about a year ago, and I'll never do another mobile gig without it. It's not just speakers that are heavy. With my racks, 60 lbs of books, etc., it's become an absolute neccessity.

My back is not so good anymore, and if I hurt it, I lose income. I've even gone so far as to break my rack setup into two smaller racks so I don't have to lift so much at one time. It takes up a little more room, but my van has room to spare.

I recently purchased one of those new HoverCraft dolleys. They can easily transport up to 175lbs over any terrain.......

Only trouble is........I have to keep farting into the intake manifold to keep it afloat

TMI

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** I want to be a DJ/KJ Someday **

Oh, I'm sorry... ...I should have added a disclaimer.... I just made that up......... a weak attempt at humor......... very weak.......did you think I really did that/dolley exists???..... ......Immmmmmm Sorrrrry.......

......I'm Not Sorry.......

go figure!

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** I want to be a DJ/KJ Someday **