What Is The Secret To A Quick In And Out Job?

[brianmole 0]

OK, easy tiger - not that kind of job! I'll elaborate:

 

I run an estate car - it's very comfy, it doesn't burn oil :yuck: , it has a decent stereo, and it's quick, so I can cover gigs all over the place without feeling like I'm driving an overladen snail. As a result, I have to break down the kit into a lot of little bits & pieces, and this takes a lot of time when it comes to setting up or breaking down a show. I don't want to run a seperate vehicle, and there is no way on earth I would ever consider getting a trailer.

 

This year, I have made a wiring loom with DMX and mains combined, this has saved me a lot of time in setting up the lighting. I'm now thinking I ought to keep the parcans and Dynamos fitted to the bars prewired, and get some flightcases made to fit. Then I would also flightcase all the Bose B1's and L1's.

 

The idea is to get in and out of awkward venues with the minimum of trips I guess.... What do you merry lot rekon?

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

Take less lighting.

[Jimbo55 0]

What is the bit of set up and take down you are unhappy with?

 

Looking at pics of your rig it's difficult to suggest as it's pretty well neat anyway.

 

Lights prefitted to top bar? left and right side fitted into custom cases? This may mean a Roof Box or could be the first load into the car with the L1 sticks to give you a flat loading for the rest of the kit. Assuming L1's are custom cased.

 

Jimbo

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

I must admit though I know what Brian means....Lights are the time consuming bit...I did a gig on Sat just gone., As it was in an old night club all the lighhting was still there. All I took was a couple of Mackies and a head set. I set up and packed down in less than 15 mins.

 

Tonights job I just need a head set so Ill be out the door in 5 mins.....

Edited December 13, 2006 by stevemitchell

[brianmole 0]

Loading up ( :!: 3.2Mb slideshow!) - look at all the stuff I have to move in and out of the venue. If it's all in say 4 or 5 big flightcases, the setup time should be dramatically cut I guess.

[FDDJ 0]

Take less lighting is the obvious quick fix but you may wish to consider getting a decent trolley so that rather than walking backwards and forwards all the time you can get the gear in in 2 or 3 trips rather than 10 - 12.

[Digital discos 0]

Yep flat load trolley or sack barrow is the way forward!

[RobbieD 0]

I'm currently working on this. Takes up hardly any more space than the lights on their own, but should save a lot of time. (Just need to find the time to wire it up now.)

 

you may wish to consider getting a decent trolley so that rather than walking backwards and forwards all the time you can get the gear in in 2 or 3 trips rather than 10 - 12.

I've considered this, but most of the trolleys I have seen take up too much space themselves.

 

I'm also experimenting with wheels fitted to some of my larger cases so that I can pull two rather than carry one, or possibly use the wheeled cases as trolleys with other gear on top.

 

[Cheezy 0]

Certainly less lights worked for me. This combined with having a dedicated wiring loom, made setting up much easier.

 

I no longer use PAR cans and pin spots, just have 5 small effects lights.

 

Also putting both speaker tripods into a bag with my gantry poles saves walking back to the car as it has a great shoulder strap!

 

Cheezy

 

Nightsounds

 

[DJGAVT 0]

I have decided to only use 3 wizard extremes for my full show now on a 6m rig with a full star clothe.

 

This way I can use 1, 2 or 3 wizard depending on the size of the gig, wizard extremes have 250w discharge bulbs meaning they can cover any venue easy. Plus I have 1 in a case with wheels attached meaning I just stack the other 2 on top. Plus having the star clothe means I won't need to tape down the wires as they can all drop down the back of the star clothe making my set up alot quicker.

[C.S 0]

A minimum of lights, just use virtual flames , its enough !

[digitaldistortion 0]

Team of Roadies (min 12)

 

Hangar doors to venue

 

Bomb threat (at end of show!) tongue out icon

 

Ramped artic :!:

 

 

 

 

[Kingy 0]

I have not got a standard set up, so making looms, although a great idea in principle, would not work for me.

 

I agree with taking fewer lighting effects, works for me.

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

I thought about pre-wiring my lights to the stand ,but, some venues require less lighting so I`d have to take the cables off the stand to use them on a smaller rig.

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

I can setup my Rig in less than 1 hour, and a typical setup time for me and the roadie is 45min... again the part that takes the longest is the lighting as sound (amps etc) is all wired in a flight case. I just plug two wires from the mixer to the amp box and then 4 wires out to the speakers, takes no longer than 5 min....

 

having helped brian setup a couple of times I think it takes him so long becuase everything is in its own box and neatly packed into his car as if its was the tardis... it all comes out and links to the next part none of it pre wired apart from the cross bar on his rig...

 

In contrast I wheel in 5 or 6 big boxes take the lids off and link them together...

[brianmole 0]

I can setup my Rig in less than 1 hour, and a typical setup time for me and the roadie is 45min... again the part that takes the longest is the lighting as sound (amps etc) is all wired in a flight case. I just plug two wires from the mixer to the amp box and then 4 wires out to the speakers, takes no longer than 5 min....

 

having helped brian setup a couple of times I think it takes him so long becuase everything is in its own box and neatly packed into his car as if its was the tardis... it all comes out and links to the next part none of it pre wired apart from the cross bar on his rig...

 

In contrast I wheel in 5 or 6 big boxes take the lids off and link them together...

Exactly! I'm looking at changing this for 2007.

[wizard 0]

Dunno about the loading as it looks a doddle compared to my van........but don't ya just love that Elektro toon :joe:

[Jimbo55 0]

I now use Flight Cases for everything

 

SKB Mini gig and base unit with locking castor wheels, I have made two shelves that attach to each side. 4x LED parcans fit in the base unit along with accessories, cabling and spares. For transporting The two PS1's get strapped to the top of the SKB unit. Two times Adda cases for the L1's. B1's get transported on a flat folding sack barrow that takes all 4. Tripods with either bridge or T bar depending on light requirements. Moving heads and additional Scanners flight cased.

 

Usually 5 or 6 trips or 8 to 9 with stairs. Two audio and one mains connection to each side gets the music running. Add 2 extra trips if Karaoke is required.

 

Maximum weight is the SKB Mini Rig unit at about 24Kg. All Transportable via stairways.

 

Small rig is 2 trips or 5 with stairs. 1) SKB trolly with mini gig, PS1 and two B1's. 2) single Adda Case with L1 and tripod with T-bar. Lighting in SKB base unit.

 

Jimbo