I try to carry a spare everything in the van, spare amp, spare mic, etc.. At one point I even had a spare keyboard in a box, but I stopped carrying it along because I've never had a complete keyboard failure--ever.

As for being treated badly, that happened a couple times, but you just smile, take the check and say goodbye. These things happen, and more often than not when booked through an agent. Agents, at best, are frequently a pain in the ass. And, in this part of the world they tend to collect a very high fee, often as much as 40 percent. That's one of the many reasons I no longer book through agencies.

Gary