Many of our members disagree in the area of setup time - size vs. weight issues etc, so I'd like to add a bit of perspective to the discussion.

Years ago, music and musicians were treated as a premium service - spotlighted, set up on stages and advertised. Today, the situation is not the same. Venues need 50 TVs to distract the customers in case conversation ceases, entertainment has switched to the audience controlled sing-a-long styles, and more often than not, entertainers are asked to setup "over there in that corner ..." instead of featured on a real stage.

I understand the trending changes in business and social gatherings, but all these little things have added up to a less than ideal scenario for the performer.

A typical "gig" for me involves 1 or 2 quick trips to the car, small setup (due to space restraints) and fast exits because of back-to-back activities in the same room. Very often, a wedding or event will follow another with less than 1 hour in between - these venues really appreciated the fact that I can tear down and exit the room with great precision and haste.

I have a job this weekend in a 4-star casino in Atlantic City NJ, and the entertainer sets up ... "in that corner over there"
They move a few chairs, and BAM! - there's my stage area ... spitting distance from the audience, and so close that I hear their conversations louder than my own voice at times.

In this scenario - a fantastic sound is absolutely second place to a neat setup and timely, professional load-in/out.
I will sacrifice the better harmonies to use the on board mic processor in my KB, and I will only use what is absolutely necessary to cover this room ... in my case, a Bose Compact.

I've set up at the end of buffet lines, behind couches, squeezed between other bands gear, and almost every possible situation you can imagine. The routine that keeps me working has always been
1)my choice of songs (setting and controlling the pace)
2)my vocal presentation (it's what 99% of the crowd knows)
3)my blend (volume) in the room (no room for egos)

These three things have been the cornerstone of my performances for 45 years, and I'm grateful that I've been able to work so long in a field that gives me so much joy.

If I had a double rig with stereo speakers, subwoofer and fancy visuals .... I would not make ONE PENNY more, and I would not be asked to work this upcoming Casino job. The right look and the right sound for the right venue is what makes or breaks you in this crazy business.

I'm sure you all have a take on how this relates or contradicts your own philosophy on setups, but this is mine, and I wanted to share it. I'm interested in hearing what you think is important and why.

Peace!

(the picture is my setup at the Crab Trap - for the Casino - NO mixer, NO ipad, NO VLT2. Light and fast.

Great post Dave, and some excellent points.

I've been in many similar situations, and luckily, over the past 10 years or so, my own setup has remained very compact and pretty easy to set up/breakdown. And, it's always been the case of following the old Boy Scout's motto, "Be Prepared!"

I'm considering doing a duo sometime next spring, with a guitarist vocalist, using double Bose L1's (with subs)-in stereo...of course, I'll be using the Tyros4, which is as small as I'd like to keep my keyboard setup.

Again, lightness and portability are paramount, and stage footprint to be kept at a minimum...using the Bose means not needing monitors (I have my two Yamaha MS-60S if ever needed) and I have had previous experience using the same setup so I know it's great capabilities and very few, if any, drawbacks. Keyboard EQ is extremely important with the Bose system, but I wouldn't use anything else because of it's excellent coverage.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions...we can all learn from each other.

Ian

Use the rocknroller?

Dave,
You just described 100% of my gigs.
Sometimes I'am so close to the people it is nearly impossible
to hear what I am playing.

Deane

Tell it like it is, brother! So often true.
In most cases, my gear is so light and compact that I don't need the rock n' roller. It weighs more than any of my gear.
DonM

My one "problem" job is a patio where I have a patio in front (400 seats), waiting ares to the right and left with bar service
and a terrace area directly behind me, wrapped around a pool with beverage service.

It takes three heads, 6 cabinets and a powered monitor, not for volume, but for coverage.

The restaurant is in an old farmhouse, so there is no room for storing anything. It's 4 trips to the van for two of us; both in and out.

I'm working on a 4 nighter where the equipment stays...rare these days, but way better for the back and nerves.

Many of my jobs are just what Dave describes. Luckily, my son/bass player often sets up for me when I'm finishing another job. I just come in and play!


Russ

Nope - bulky and has to be stored. When I get to the site - all the covers fit into the kb case and I stow it in a closet. Neat, clean, pretty.

Dave, when you had the 3x, did you have the bar at any time?

Does anyone play out live with the bar and does it project at all to the audience?

Too bad it's pointed as a monitor, although I hear it's incredible sounding.

I still do quite a mix of full band, duo and solo work. Personally, I don't feel like buying three different PA's and an arranger with speakers built in (none that have them impress me much) so I can take the absolute minimum in that the gig calls for. If you play with a drummer, the truth is, your PA needs are radically greater than doing a solo for a NH.

Happily, nowadays, you can still throw out a decent volume with little more than a powered sub, a powered mixer and two top cabs. Or skip the powered mixer and use good quality powered tops. Compared to what most bands use, that's still only a light rig! But I wouldn't want to risk putting a band into a Compact!

I appreciate that Dave's solution works for HIM (and many others here) but some of us still work in situations where we AREN'T background noise to distract those not watching the 15 TV's in the room! On the whole, I'd rather serve fries than be so marginalized nobody cares what I sound like, play on, or do! The day my primary concern is how fast I can get the hell out of a gig to go to the next engagement where they care exactly as little, I'm hanging up my spurs!

I did buy the sound bar, and it was fantastic. It works great as a monitor and it's loud enough that it projects into a room about as well as an amp on the floor would. If I wanted that extra bulk - I'd still have it. My problem was in the stand mounting - the bar pushed the kb about 6 inches away from my stand-mounted mic boom, making it cumbersome and extending the boom. I'm set now with the PA900 for a while. I might even send back the VLT2 - not sure yet ... its got so many more features than the built in unit.