Karaoke Forums

It's been a long time since I've done three gigs in a row... and it shows. Today, I ache all over after doing Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at three different venues... Hauling, setting-up, and striking all that equipment that many times is getting to be more than I can handle... especially since I'm one of those folks who tends to stay on my feet throughout the whole gig... The fact that I'm here in Canada in winter's snow and ice doesn't help much either.

I've been offered the Friday & Saturday gigs on a continuing basis in addition to my regular Thursday evening show. If I could just find a reliable roadie, there'd be no problem... Otherwise, I may have to return to my once-weekly "in house" gig.

Question... do any of you travel with a roadie... and if so, What's the going rate of pay?

cheers

Earl

Trade in those heavy speakers for one of those BOSE sticks. If you're still using discs; transfer them to a laptop and that will save some weight too. Get rid of the song books and buy a cheap used laptop to use as a song book for singers to browse though. That should save you a few hundred pounds of lifting at each gig.

I bring my oldest daughter with me because I have a bad knee.
If she has to haul in my speakers as well as my other gear, I pay her $20 per night for set up, tear down, and for setting out and gathering my books.
If I am using a house system with no speakers, I pay her $15.
More than fair in my opinion for less than 10 minutes work.
You might want to ask a regular if they;d be willing to give you a hand setting up and tearing down
Offer them a beer or two for their trouble.
PS: Where in Canada are you?

There is a girl that used to work for me and now has her own equipment. When she first started working for me, she had a problem with getting her speakers up on the stands.

She started buying one regular a week a beer to help her with the speakers. $1.50 for a 12oz beer, and the loyal regulars would usually help her bring everything inside and hoist the heavy speakers onto the speaker stands. Same thing at the end of the night, she would give one regular a beer to help her tear down the heavy speaker stands.

So, for $3.00 a show, she had a roadie to help her with the heavy tasks. Even more than that, the few guys that ended up helping her out with this were proud to do it. They got to be part of the show. 90% of the time, the same regular who helped her set up was the one who helped her break down.

So, it just take a bit of kindess and you can find a mutually beneficial roadie situation for a few beers and a smile!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Bruce is correct - if you are able to, streamline your process by trading passive equipment for active and get rid of the amp; there are light active speakers that weigh as little as 40 pounds that are easy to put on the stands. Do you use wind-up speaker stands? That helps. Computerize for sure if you aren't already - no need to carry heavy cases of CDGs. I can carry/set up/ tear down, unload and reload myself and I am a 'middle aged woman' (lordy, I hate typing that).

If you are considering doing this long-term make a few changes that will allow you a little rest from roadie-ing for yourself. I also agree - there are always people in the places we work at (3 nights in a row, btw, load/unload) who offer though roadie-hubby doesn't accept help. If I am doing it myself, there are always muscles around.

I forgot to add a caveat.
If you do get one of the regs to help you, be careful who you ask and make sure they are somewhat sober and know how to handle the equipment. I had the EQ knobs broken off one of my powered mixers once because the guy carrying it carried it with the knobs facing his leg and they were knocked off and bent.
I've also had my speaker grills pushed in by the same method.

I totally understand your pain! I was at where your at about 3 or 4 yrs ago.

I designed my rig to be as light as possible for the knowledge I had at the time. Passive speakers, light weight mixer, amp etc... But eventually ended up keeping my equipment at the venue, but I'm 3 nights a week in the same venue.

Before that I used to ask one of the regulars to help. Most of them would not except money, so I'd buy them a couple drinks. I hated asking for help, but my back just couldn't handle the stress any more.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

Fixed that for ya . . .

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Dave's not here.

If you are physically carrying your gear, then I have a word for you - Cart. Roll in, roll out, very little lifting.

Here's a pic of ours (we have two).

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You can be strange but not a stranger

woohooo! Thanks!

I guess I just like all the "toys" too much.... Every time I feel it's time to down-size, the volume of "stuff" grows.

I have the Mackie SRM450 powered speakers and the Rock 'n Roller cart, both of which lighten the load in/out... but I'm definitely anal about back-ups for everything, so I end up with my Dodge Grand Caravan completely packed.

Thanks for the suggestions folks... I still think a good roadie (if one can be found) is the only way to go... in my case, at least. Your mileage may vary.

Cheers

Earl

I have a pair of the 450s as well but they are reserved for much larger venues. I find the 350s to be perfectly adequate, in combination with a 15-inch active sub for almost any gig we do. In fact, I find if I use the 450s in most places, the signal never reaches optimum because I can't run them at a high enough volume. Yup, 450s are HEAVY puppies... GEESH! (we fill the back of a Ford Windstar, btw.)

May I recommend the Ultimate Air Powered speaker stands. They have been wonderful. Easily raise or lower your speakers with ease. Here's the link:

http://www.ultimatesupport.com/product/TS-100B

Not sure what the price difference is between the air-powered and the hand crank, but we use the hand cranks and it isn't cranking 450s up that is difficult, it is getting them up onto the stands in the first place (at least for me by myself). With two of us, it's no big deal.

That looks like a Yorkie!

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

I have the cranks although one is usually at home since I usually pole one main on the sub.

It does help although I only crank them maybe 6 inches. My Yorkies are only 35 lbs per so not bad. The three things that can get me are my rack, my sub, and my loaded gater bag. The gator has wheels and rails but steps can be a pain! I do use a 800 lb rated 2 wheeler. Started with a 250 that I already had but used it once to bring the gator bag down when it's handle broke and one step smashed the wheelsl!

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

Good eye Rip, tis Yorkies. We have two NX520s and two LS700

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You can be strange but not a stranger

We also use a pole for the speaker that is mounted above the sub. Sub crashed off the cart the other day (in icy conditions, bad move)....replacing speaker in it today. Grrr.

I just about always offer to help bring stuff in or out if we're there. I couldn't imagine asking for anything. Your there for my fun. And we don't pay to sing. It's the least I can do. I don't even think I've ever been offered a drink, and I'm fine with that.

But it does sound like your asking for a commitment though which is different.

I actually discourage people from "helping" me lift or carry anything... I'd much rather hire someone, teach him/her how to handle the equipment properly; how to wrap cables; how to properly tape cables; pretty-much the whole set-up and strike.... and then PAY them for their work.

Ideally, I'd like to find someone who is going to be there anyway... I'm thinking 45 minutes load-in & set-up... and another 45 to strike and load out, for a total of an hour and a half, should be worth how much??

I'm leaning towards $25. which, if you wish to consider income tax implications, works out to better than $40 per hour... I'd say that's more than fair.

I'm just wondering if anyone else employs a "roadie" or "assistant", and what the going rate of compensation might be.

Thanks

Earl