Martin Ruff
What does a Band and an Event Manager need to provide for a live performance?
When a band puts on a live performance there are lots of thing to remember. Not only the equipment the band needs to bring, but also what event organisers or the production crew need to provide for them.
We’re giving you a handy guide to what you will need to bring or have to hand for a live band performance.
Things the band need to bring:
- Their instruments
Unless the event organisers are providing a backline, then the band need to make sure they bring everything they need, including drum kit, guitar amplifiers and keyboards.
- Drinks
Don’t forget, if you are playing for any period of time, you’re going to get hot and sweaty, and you need to make sure you keep hydrated.
- A set list
All to often we see bands that have to discuss with each other during their performance what song they are going to play next. Not only does this look unprofessional, it wastes time on stage in front of the crowd.
- A multiway power lead
If you have a lot to plug-in, then don’t rely on the event organisers to supply enough sockets on stage.
There are things we see bands forgetting all the time, so the below is a check list for those smaller things that you will need.
For the Drummer:
- Drum Sticks & Spares
- Drum Stool
- Kick Drum Pedal
For the Guitar and bass players:
- Spare strings
- Spare guitar lead
- Power cable for your amp (we lend these out at least once a week)
- Spare batteries (for wireless packs, pedals or electro-acoustic guitar)
The Band Shop is a great place to get any kit you may require, check out their stock for quality products at affordable prices.
As an event organiser you need to make sure you provide:
- A performance space
Generally this is a stage you need to hire in, but you may be lucky that the venue you are using have a suitable performance space.
- A PA system suitable for the performances and the size of the crowd.
This is again something you would normally need to hire in, and unless you plan to operate it yourselves, then you’ll need a sound engineer with it.
- Power sockets on stage
Most professional PA companies will ensure they provide power on stage for the performers, but it is something you need to make sure is arranged.
- Stage Lighting
Is it going to be dark before the performances have finished? If so, you need to make sure you have stage lighting. Depending on you budget this can be as simple or as lavish as you like.
- A changing area
Most groups will want to look good onstage, and many will what to change into their best cloths/costume before their performance.
- Access/Parking
A band will bring with them a lot of bulky equipment that they need to get from their cars/vans to the stage. Every year we attend events that have given no thought to this, and make the bands walk their gear hundreds of metres across a site.
If access will be restricted during the event, then bands need to be informed of this and arrangements need to be made to get the equipment to the stage before the event opens, or provisions need to be in place to ferry the equipment to the stage during the event.
- Generator
If you are putting on an outdoor event, do you have power available to you? If so, is it enough? You may need to consider getting a generator in to power everything.
We have also provided a list below of the type of equipment the PA system should consist of. So even if you are not providing the PA system yourself, you should check the following is included:
- Mixing Desk (with enough channels for the band’s needs)
- Speaker System for the audience (Powerful enough for the size of the crowd)
- Speakers for the band (a band will normally require no less than 4 monitor speakers)
- A good selection of microphone with cables (At least enough of each type to cover the band’s needs)
- Microphone stands (almost every microphone on stage will need some kind of stand)
- D.I. Boxes (these are used to connect electronic instruments to the PA system)
- Sound Engineer (as previously mentioned, someone needs to control the sound system)
- Power cables and distribution (a PA system takes a bit of power, so need to have its power supply planned out)
There’s a lot to think about when getting live music at your event, if in doubt hire in a company that knows what to provide and how to manage the sound. If you have any questions, we are available to chat through your requirements and questions.
