Spares ?

[Chris]

Obviously, all equipment has a certain lifespan and we hope that lifespan doesn't finish at one of our gigs, but just wondering, do any of us carry spares of anything to a gig?

[Corabar Steve]

Er......


Yeah.


Most (if not all) of us.


This has been done to death, have a look around the search facility

[Corabar Entertainment]

You'll find that most of the members on here carry back up of most things to every gig for that 'just in case' scenario.

Many even carry back up of back of part of the rig.

Lighting is the least important thing to have back up of, because you can carry on without one of your lights, but you should seriously be considering back up for anything that could mean an abrupt end to the night.

[Chris]

You'll find that most of the members on here carry back up of most things to every gig for that 'just in case' scenario.

Many even carry back up of back of part of the rig.

Lighting is the least important thing to have back up of, because you can carry on without one of your lights, but you should seriously be considering back up for anything that could mean an abrupt end to the night.
So, backups for any part of the music end. Spare laptop, spare hard drive, spare speakers, spare amp, spare mixer....a lot of money, I best start saving! :)

[Corabar Entertainment]

...Not forgetting LOADS of spare leads! :D

[Corabar Steve]

So, backups for any part of the music end. Spare laptop, spare hard drive, spare speakers, spare amp, spare mixer....a lot of money, I best start saving! :)Yep


...Not forgetting LOADS of spare leads! :DYep :sj:

[Kernow]

So, backups for any part of the music end. Spare laptop, spare hard drive, spare speakers, spare amp, spare mixer....a lot of money, I best start saving! :)

Not necessarily there's a big difference between backup, which allows you to keep things going, and duplication ;)
Think of the spare wheels for vehicles that allow you to keep rolling but at a maximum of 50 mph ? :)

[NKR]

So, backups for any part of the music end. Spare laptop, spare hard drive, spare speakers, spare amp, spare mixer....a lot of money, I best start saving! :)

Yep spare everything on site during Christmas. In fact I could run a whole separate system if I wanted to (and I kind of am with full room coverage via a separate zone and 4 separate speakers.)

[Daryll]

Think I have enough spare leads to reach Portsmouth..:D .:D .
The importance of backup was proved at last might gig , spend an hour messing about with the laptop , the citronic SD player just chugged away , as it should, Bi amping means that if one amp goes down , the other can be used to power tops and subs , at a reduced volume , but better than silence , sometimes I wish I had a spare me , for the times the brain freezes....

Daryll

[yourdj]

Obviously, all equipment has a certain lifespan and we hope that lifespan doesn't finish at one of our gigs, but just wondering, do any of us carry spares of anything to a gig?


So, backups for any part of the music end. Spare laptop, spare hard drive, spare speakers, spare amp, spare mixer....a lot of money, I best start saving! :)

This is the most important thing IMO.

Imagine being in front of 300 people and your laptop goes bang.
You have nothing to do but sing to the people :p

One of my DJ's (not my gig thank god) forgot his back up VCI 300 and was using the pioneer Itch controller. something went wrong and he had to drive home mid wedding and get it. ended up missing most the wedding for something he should have had plugged in next to him for a what if moment!!

I carry spare (and bring them to a gig):

- sound
- playout (ipad)
- LOADS of leads
- microphones
- headphones
- etc.

as Steve says use the search faclility as this has been done lots :)



Yep spare everything on site during Christmas. In fact I could run a whole separate system if I wanted to (and I kind of am with full room coverage via a separate zone and 4 separate speakers.)

Samer here we have a separate system on site not being used but in a cupboard just in case.

[DazzyD]

Think I have enough spare leads to reach Portsmouth..:D .:D .
The importance of backup was proved at last might gig , spend an hour messing about with the laptop , the citronic SD player just chugged away , as it should, Bi amping means that if one amp goes down , the other can be used to power tops and subs , at a reduced volume , but better than silence , sometimes I wish I had a spare me , for the times the brain freezes....

Daryll

Me too!!! :D :D :D

[Chris]

Thanks guys. I've never had anything pack up on me yet, but will get prepared for it. Do leads often pack up? What's the item that usually goes belly-up?

[NKR]

Thanks guys. I've never had anything pack up on me yet, but will get prepared for it. Do leads often pack up? What's the item that usually goes belly-up?

95% of problems are related to cables and connections. I have killed 3 XLR mic leads this year for whatever reason.

[Megamix]

You only need a backup once - and it's all been very worthwhile. Hopefully not needed - but like insurance, it's also peace of mind.

Spare leads, spare playout (+ amp if not active) , spare mixer probably the minimum.

I've had two mixers die but nothing else (touch wood)

[Shaun]

I'm a little obsessive when it comes to back-ups, and like Angela has mentioned I even have backups of some backups

Backup play out system
iPad with djay as backup of my backup playout system
Backup mixer
Backup hard drive
Backup speaker
Backup cables of every sort
Backup speaker stands
Backup connecting speaker poles
Backup Mic
Backup backup mic
Backup heaphones

I only recently stopped taking a backup ultimax stand.
I don't carry backup lighting of the effects I use, but I have a couple of generic LED lighting effects that I keep in the van just in case my main lighting packs up.

Also carry spare lamps, (and after an unfortunate trouser tearing moment...lol) I carry a full spare pair of clothes that are ironed and in suit holder hanging up in the van. Even a spare pair of shoes under the drivers seat.

Plus, full AA membership which is my backup to make sure I always get to the gig in case of van breakdown.


Told you, I'm obsessive. :o I know I'm not alone here though. There's many here on the forum that carry a lot of backup.

[Excalibur]

Told you, I'm obsessive. :o I know I'm not alone here though. There's many here on the forum that carry a lot of backup.
Hmmm, compared to some legendary former DJ's, you have a very cavalier and slapdash attitude to backup! :eek: :eek:


Only kidding mate, that's an admirable policy. Well done.

High risk/short life items appear to be leads of most kinds, particularly USB cables from hard drives. I've had some die on me. I've gone through a lot of mic cables, due to one particular set of functions which Penfold will be very familiar with. ;) :D This has led to me buying some relatively expensive ones, in order to achieve greater reliability

[WWDJ]

Backup play out system - 1 x spare laptop+iPad with Djay
Backup mixer - Yes
Backup speaker - No, I rely on active backing up itself. Spare pair in garage in case i get a failire when i setup and can get a 'runner' to bring me some.
Backup cables of every sort - Nearly ... need to get that sorted.
Backup speaker stands - No
Backup connecting speaker poles - Ha Ha - No
Backup Mic - Yes, Radio Mic
Backup heaphones - Yes
backup ultimax stand - Are you kidding??
backup lighting - No, but I have spare bulbs and the show could go on.
backup clothes - No, worth thinking about though
backup transport - AA Cover

[Shaun]

backup ultimax stand - Are you kidding??


Nope, not kidding. And It was used too. I once forgot to pack the serge wool cloth for my deckstand booth,so a quick trip out to the van for the ultimax saved the day.

You never know when you'll need backup till you need it.

[Vectis]

backup transport - AA Cover

Hopefully that's not the ONLY backup plan?

What happens if, when you ring them, they give you a 2-hour ETA? THEN the guy/gal's got to diagnose the problem and if they can't get you going it takes a good 15-20 minutes to hitch you to their van (assuming they agree to do this rather than call a truck due to the weight of your vehicle + gear with a potential further 2 hour wait). THEN you've got to get to the venue at a crawl ASSUMING that the venue is within the distance they're prepared to drag you (IIRC the more basic roadside type policies have a 10 mile tow limit).

Depending how far you typically travel from base it might be worth rethinking this one... :)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Hopefully that's not the ONLY backup plan?

What happens if, when you ring them, they give you a 2-hour ETA? THEN the guy/gal's got to diagnose the problem and if they can't get you going it takes a good 15-20 minutes to hitch you to their van (assuming they agree to do this rather than call a truck due to the weight of your vehicle + gear with a potential further 2 hour wait). THEN you've got to get to the venue at a crawl ASSUMING that the venue is within the distance they're prepared to drag you (IIRC the more basic roadside type policies have a 10 mile tow limit).

Depending how far you typically travel from base it might be worth rethinking this one... :)

Have you suggestions then? What did you used to do Martin?

[Vectis]

What did you used to do Martin?

Live on a tiny island :D

Seriously, my in-laws live just a couple of miles from us and they have a Nissan X-Trail and a Laguna estate. Between me and the Mrs we have 2 other small cars so in the event of a problem it was quickly sorted. My furthest-away venue is about 16 miles but the majority are within 6 or 7.

Only had a problem the once - a puncture on a tyre with seized wheel nuts. Luckily that was on the way home from an early setup so I had the whole afternoon to sort something.

Reason for flagging the thread is that many folks assume that bog standard AA (other rescue services also available) cover will be sufficient for business use. It's not.

[WWDJ]

Hopefully that's not the ONLY backup plan?

What happens if, when you ring them, they give you a 2-hour ETA? THEN the guy/gal's got to diagnose the problem and if they can't get you going it takes a good 15-20 minutes to hitch you to their van (assuming they agree to do this rather than call a truck due to the weight of your vehicle + gear with a potential further 2 hour wait). THEN you've got to get to the venue at a crawl ASSUMING that the venue is within the distance they're prepared to drag you (IIRC the more basic roadside type policies have a 10 mile tow limit).

Depending how far you typically travel from base it might be worth rethinking this one... :)

Typically I cover Warwickshire and usually within about 30 minutes of my house. The overall backup plan would be to call in favours from everyone I know with a car to get me there!

Nine times out of ten I will do an early setup as it takes the pressure off and gives me time to get it right. On the evening all I need to do is get myself and laptops to the gig, so a taxi would be feasible in an emergancy.

[Shaun]

Hopefully that's not the ONLY backup plan?

What happens if, when you ring them, they give you a 2-hour ETA? THEN the guy/gal's got to diagnose the problem and if they can't get you going it takes a good 15-20 minutes to hitch you to their van (assuming they agree to do this rather than call a truck due to the weight of your vehicle + gear with a potential further 2 hour wait). THEN you've got to get to the venue at a crawl ASSUMING that the venue is within the distance they're prepared to drag you (IIRC the more basic roadside type policies have a 10 mile tow limit).

Depending how far you typically travel from base it might be worth rethinking this one... :)

Fair point.

It's been mentioned in the past how ridiculously early I leave for gigs. I'm often at the venue hours before I'm meant to be setting up. Again, this is a pre-emptive strike in case of breakdowns or unforeseen circumstances. I also have a couple of friends with vans, plus my brother has a van too.

All bases covered. :)