Renting Gear on the Road

danielcrowe86 · 08-28-2007, 08:34 PM

I'm not sure about what category this goes under, so I'll just put it here.

I've usually carried what I could of my gear when I have a fly date and good stuff like that, but its gotten very difficult with the airline regulations....especially since i have an 80lbs keyboard and amps that are close to the 50lbs range.

Has anybody on the boards have any experience with renting gear locally where you play? I guess a backline-type deal? And if you have, how have you gone about doing it, and keeping the gear in good shape once rented?

Thanks!

snizzle · 09-07-2007, 01:11 PM

I'm pretty interested in this subject as well. Hopefully someone with some knowledge will post?
-shane

danielcrowe86 · 03-26-2009, 11:31 AM

Bump...even more interested now that I have an upcoming flydate and don't particularly want to pay for each piece of gear...

ibanez_dude · 03-26-2009, 11:43 AM

Are you talking about renting instruments or audio equipment, like a PA? I know it is a fairly common practice for bands to rent a PA or something locally if/when they can't or don't want to take their own gear out. In terms of instruments, not really sure.

**tenwatt** · 03-26-2009, 11:48 AM

I never flew for a gig. We always traveled with a trailer. I never rented anything other than PA gear and stuff like that. Guitars, amps, and such are way to personal to rent for a gig.

**bravesfan007** · 03-26-2009, 07:59 PM

Is the gig booked through a promoter or through yourself? If it's through a promoter I would imagine that it would be their duty to get the necessary equipment.

CloudlessAudio · 10-23-2009, 05:54 PM

Daniel -- You may want to try the Pro Sound Web site. Pro Sound Web

The Marketplace forum has some postings for road warriors wanting to rent PA and backline. There are sound pros on that forum literally world wide.

Caveat emptor of course, but many of those guys make their living with their rigs and are truly professional. If you have a tech rider ready that will help.

As noted in another post, if you are working through a promoter, they should handle the details.

Bill McIntosh

martinedwards · 12-13-2010, 07:52 AM

I remember reading Iggy Pops live contract and it had things like stage amps, mics ect as well as the usual riders for towels, mineral water and vegan sandwiches, so I'm GUESSING that someone must do it.

I was at a clearance auction AGES ago where thay were clearing out hire stuff..... Yamaha DX7 keyboards etc (shows how long ago it was!) but the concept certainly did exist 20 odd years ago.

I suppose it depends how picky you are on your keys.

is a Digital piano OK or does it HAVE to be a Roland XXZXP?

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 12-13-2010, 07:56 PM

I have been asked to rent out a couple specific items I own for a couple shows from guys I know. Not very proffesional or backline, but I have rented out some vintage pieces to guys I knew I could trust that if they broke it they bought it.

jeepnstein · 10-26-2011, 06:52 AM

I've worked for a company that fulfilled P.A. and backline agreements. We would also handle the "hospitality" end of it if the venue was really buggered. The venue or the promoter almost always contacted us, I can think of a time or two the performer did this for himself. I do know of a couple of cases where an act would try to hire us to do a tour but our trucking capability just couldn't handle that, thankfully.

Talk to your promoter and the venue. Make sure this is spelled out when you book a gig. If you don't have it on the dotted line they'll probably make a mess of it and blame you. Smaller acts can't be as demanding as larger ones. For instance, when B.B. King asked for a black faced Fender Twin and some other higher end stuff we immediately provided it. By that I mean we secured a sweet vintage one from a local player and sent a person to mind it before, during, and after the show. And I got paid to do it. If some bar band would try to slip in a demand for a Mesa Boogie stack with the P.A. we'd generally send it back for revision. Your demands have to be in line with the revenue you can generate. Don't be surprised if you have to settle a bit on your choice of keyboard.