That's one benefit of bricklaying, you soon learn to tell people to go fly a kite or worst.

Man up and just tell them no!

1. Tell them you don't let your wife, children nor your parents touch your gear.

2. Who cares if they get mad or their feelings hurt! You don't want them or their friends in you audience anyway yelling for him to get up and sing every night.

3. Tell him to go get his own gig!

OK! If it's the owner's son you might have a problem. You might, after the first night, explain to the owner that your gear is expensive and you don't want anyone touching or getting near it.

My buddy Sonny in Carmel Cal. quit a 9 year gig that probably paid as much as any other 4 night a week gig in the USA, because of sit-ins. It's a shame. I know he was making pretty good. I don't know how he put up with it for so long. He played their acoustic piano and use the house PA so, he didn't have to worry about gear.