Unusual ways of getting your gear into a gig

[rob1963]

Darren's post got me thinking...

...what are some of the more unusual way's you've got your gear into a gig?

In my case, all I can come up with is a gig I did on an island in the Thames.

Access was obtained by a hand operated "ferry" - which was actually little more than a wooden raft with a handle that you had to turn like mad to propel yourself across!

It made a change!

What about the rest of you?

[theoloyla]

When I did a gig at Leeds Castle last year it is situated on an island reached by a drawbridge and gatehouse. It was impossible to take the van on; so all the gear had to be transferred into a little golf type electric buggy
(3 trips even for my small show). All the food and drink, bedding for the rooms had to come over that way too. Quite a palava!

[Dragonfly]

2 small children i aquired a couple of years ago and finally found a use for. :D :D :D :D :D

[spin mobile disco]

Did a gig about 15 years ago had to get in by remote cable lift. i.e big cable attached to cage no safety harness .

[Excalibur]

Did a gig about 15 years ago had to get in by remote cable lift. i.e big cable attached to cage no safety harness .

Once did one in an upstairs barn, customer offered to put gear up with forklift! We declined, and carried it up the stairs ourselves.

[rob1963]

I've just thought of another one from my very early days.

A new year's eve gig at a restaurant in Kingston.

Arrived & asked where I should set up...and he pointed to the toilet roof - about 15 feet above the ground, which had an aluminium step ladder at the side that I was meant to use to get the gear up!

This was in the days when I had home made speakers - floor standing & about 5 feet tall. I could just about carry one on my own. Also in those days I had a really large & heavy console.

I don't know how, but somehow I managed to get all my gear up the ladder onto the roof. I could have easily fallen & killed myself. I guess I was younger, fitter & more stipid in those days!

It was one of the craziest gigs I've done...talk about feeling aloof & cut off.

At least nobody bothered me by climbing the ladder to ask for any requests!

[Corabar Steve]

Used one of those construction site type lifts to get into the venue once.

http://www.littlemotors.org/antifreeze/archives/images/blueelevator2.jpg

this sort of thing

[TONYTIGER]

Did a gig on a large ship many years ago and they put all my gear in a net type thing and used a crane to drop it in the hold ,bit nerve racking.
TONYTIGER

[colint]

Theo will likely know this one!
I did a few gigs in chislehurst caves years ago! it was about half a mile into the caves and we used a hand pulled trolly to get the gear in! it took hours!!!!
or for about £20.00 the cave manager could take you in/out on a electric trolly, Guess how we came out, the best £20.00 I ever spent!

and to cap it all the next day when we checked the kit out it was all covered in nice bright white chalk dust!

we spent days getting it off, NEVER again

[PropellerHeadCase]

On the back of a flat-bed farm quad-bike, from marquee back to van.

[BeerFunk]

Along a tightrope on a unicycle... :eek:


Na, I've never had any problems really (unless you count stairs :o )

[rob1963]

Did a gig on a large ship many years ago and they put all my gear in a net type thing and used a crane to drop it in the hold ,bit nerve racking.
TONYTIGER

Reminds me of a gig done by the guy in my local disco shop.

It was on a boat moored on the Thames, and they had to carry all the gear along an 18 inch wide gang plank...which was also a bit nerve racking!

[theoloyla]

Theo will likely know this one!
I did a few gigs in chislehurst caves years ago! it was about half a mile into the caves and we used a hand pulled trolly to get the gear in! it took hours!!!!
or for about £20.00 the cave manager could take you in/out on a electric trolly, Guess how we came out, the best £20.00 I ever spent!

and to cap it all the next day when we checked the kit out it was all covered in nice bright white chalk dust!

we spent days getting it off, NEVER again

Yes Colin I remember working there. I also remember Eastbourne Pier where all the gear had to be put on a handcart and carted 400 yards before going up stairs into the pavilion, accross the dance floor and then up onto the stage!

[Jiggles]

In the back of a mini bus! Dont ask!!!! :D:D:D

[Tonsk]

I had one where I had to park the van about 1/2 mile and put everything into a rickety "cart" and drag it over a bridge and then across stones to the venue....

And had to do that three times to get all the stuff there....

Loved that one..

Although the worst one was in a place called Narbrough where I had the option of carrying the stuff in through the kitchen, then through a corridor into the room, or through the courtyard - corridor - room or through a window straight into the room.

Straight through the window - but ached for AGES after that gig - Too many unused muscles got used...