How early do you turn up ??

[ppentertainments]

Generally speaking I allow an hour to setup and arrive at least 30 minutes before this, if travelling any distance I plan to arrive 2 hours before start time.

Whenever I arrive at the venue and introduce myself at reception they seem amazed I am there already. I know I am maybe a bit ott with arriving early but feel comfortable with this.

Am I too early or is this normal practise ??

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think this has been done before as I remember Shaun saying he get's there 2 hours early.

I normally get to the venue about an hour before if I know it and a little earlier if I don't.

Obviously it depends on the size of rig and access etc

[WWDJ]

If I am doing the full deckstand, but of uplighting, tidy up, tape down etc, then I allow 1hr 30mins just so I dont look like a sweating heap by the time it is all done.

For smaller parties circa 1hr.

Mostly I am up and running with music within 20 minutes of arriving, but i like to be completely ready by 10 minutes before the start time because you know, at kids parties at least, that they are going to be pestering you from the off.

[Sapphire Disco]

I always aim to get to the venue at least an hour before start and give myself a bit extra time on traveling than expect it to be.

The last 2 gigs I have done I've been told it's nice to see you early because the DJ last week was late, one an hour and the other one an hour and a half.

[Shaun]

Daz is correct, I like to get there a couple of hours early. It means a lot of down-time waiting about, but it's reassuring to know I have plenty of time on my side should the van break down or any other unforeseen circumstances arise.

[Mark Wild]

I normally arrive at the venue at least one hour before I'm due to set up, sometimes more specifically if it's a weekday and my journey can be hindered by rush hour traffic.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I try to set up in the morning wherever possible. A lot of my work is quite local. If that's the case, I will be at the venue 30 minutes before I am due to start. If I have to set up when the wedding breakfast and speeches have finished (if it's a wedding) or if I can't get in early, I will arrive around 90 minutes before I am due to start.

[STEVE HANLEY]

Or you arive 2 hours beforehand and find out the wedding's approx 90 mins behind time and you still only have 30 mins to set up during the room turn around :Censored: :Censored:

[funkymook]

I aim to arrive 2 hours before start time (and always over estimate travel times) - I hate feeling rushed when I arrive.

[Jonathan Ford]

Notwithstanding confounding factors like travel problems and rig size, I generally aim to be at the venue 1 hour before I'm due to start.

[Creature]

Small or Medium rig - 2-3 hours before hand

large right 4-5 hours

But I am unfortuantly one of those who sweat a lot so I like to have a strip wash and a change of clothes after setting up and before people arrive.

[DJ Paulie]

Same for me leave early even though I always visit the venue. That allows for rush hour or roadworks. Usually arrive 90min/2hr before start time, so can fund the loo/bar/smoking area. Also makes sure there to find client to get paid !

[Excalibur]

Generally speaking I allow an hour to setup and arrive at least 30 minutes before this, if travelling any distance I plan to arrive 2 hours before start time.

Whenever I arrive at the venue and introduce myself at reception they seem amazed I am there already. I know I am maybe a bit ott with arriving early but feel comfortable with this.

Am I too early or is this normal practise ??
Pretty normal for me.


I think this has been done before as I remember Shaun saying he gets there 2 hours early.
I normally get to the venue about an hour before if I know it and a little earlier if I don't.

Obviously it depends on the size of rig and access etc
Well he was fibbing then, cos I remember him turning up a day early for a gig, and a week early for a client meeting. :D


Or you arive 2 hours beforehand and find out the wedding's approx 90 mins behind time and you still only have 30 mins to set up during the room turn around :Censored: :Censored:
Oh my friend, I know whereof you speak. :( :( :(

[Shaun]

Well he was fibbing then, cos I remember him turning up a day early for a gig, and a week early for a client meeting. :D


You have a pretty good memory for an auld man. :d

[Kernow]

Usually arrive 90min/2hr before start time, so can fund the loo/bar/smoking area.

That's very generous :beer1: ;)

Timewise about the same, I like to arrive around 2 hours beforehand

[Ecstatic Events]

2 hours at least for me.

I'd also be keen to hear the latest access times, mine's around 2 hours overun!!!! Meaning that I had been onsite for 4 hours before I could even get in to set up :(

[Megamix]

i set up at my regular venue late morning, test and arrive back with 30 mins to spare. If it was another venue, would allow about 90 mins.

[chrisj]

I like to arrive 75 minutes before I expect to start and if it is a wedding I usually wait for 30 minutes to 2 hours before I am told I can set up. This is for a standard rig with 4 -6 mood lights.
For standard rig and full mood lights (36) in a very large marquee I will arrive 3 1/2 hrs before start and that is with my assistant too.
All depends on the venue and size of rig. I do allow time for travel taking into account the time of day, leaving off time maybe in which case I allow 30 minutes extra.

[djdave01]

45 mins to an hour is fine for a standard rig. always add a bit of time for possible travel delays depending on distance.

maybe tempting fate here, but in 20 years ive never been late starting a gig unless i cant setup due to weddings running late etc

[Andy Goodtimes]

Just over an hour is fine for me, only ever been late once and that was about 6 years ago at the Metrapol in Leeds, the M62 over Saddleworth was more like a car park and it took 3 hours to get from just north of Manchester to Leeds. I do a lot round Chester so on a Friday especially in summer I have to allow extra time as its the main route into N Wales.

I have one hotel about 2 minutes from me that will ring me and let me know how the Wedding Breakfast is going which is nice as it means no prolonged hanging round but once earlier this year I waited till 9.45 at a hotel near Stone till I could get into the room, they did a daft thing whereby they passed a mic around all the tables during speeches and folk were just getting silly and saying all kinds of rubbish, in adition they had some kind of kitchen issue too.

I use a 4ft Ultimax with wind ups inside a S+H so if its a nice sunny evening and the Wedding Breakfast is running over I can set the lights up at chest height and wheel it in and just raise it all which saves time.

[CRAZY K]

Generally speaking I allow an hour to setup and arrive at least 30 minutes before this, if travelling any distance I plan to arrive 2 hours before start time.

Whenever I arrive at the venue and introduce myself at reception they seem amazed I am there already. I know I am maybe a bit ott with arriving early but feel comfortable with this.

Am I too early or is this normal practise ??

Good because it relaxes the client and you dont have to rush which is good.

Unless its a fast turn round Wedding----aaaaargh!

[Twinspin]

90 minutes before usually.

[ian8limelight]

Between an hour and a half and two hours before the start time, dependant on the venue.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Aim to get there an hour beforehand with some time to play with (dependant on distance). Every Wedding bar one this year has overran.

Ipad becomes very useful for times like this :)

[DazzyD]

For me it's an hour. I've made the rig really compact so it doesn't take long to set up. Add in to the equation that I always have my brother as a roadie then it's easy to see why setting up can be so quick.

[ppentertainments]

For me it's an hour. I've made the rig really compact so it doesn't take long to set up. Add in to the equation that I always have my brother as a roadie then it's easy to see why setting up can be so quick.

Sometimes wish I could
a) find a decent roadie
b) justify / afford paying a roadie

[WWDJ]

Sometimes wish I could
a) find a decent roadie
b) justify / afford paying a roadie

LOL me too. Occasionally a mate will help but they tend to get bored and also they can't make it all the time.

[Mark Wild]

Sometimes wish I could
a) find a decent roadie
b) justify / afford paying a roadie

Me three :(

[surround sounds]

I start out in plenty of time with traffic etc..
I normally get there 2 hours before i start..

[Creature]

Must admit for gigs near Manchester in wales and near Oxford go down on the day before :)

[DazzyD]

Sometimes wish I could
a) find a decent roadie
b) justify / afford paying a roadie


LOL me too. Occasionally a mate will help but they tend to get bored and also they can't make it all the time.


Me three :(

Aha! But he's not just my roadie. As I've mentioned before, he's a third partner in the business along with me and our dad. So he has a vested interest in the service we provide. Which is why we're only part time as the work we do won't support 3 partners but there are plans in the pipeline!