EDIT: Live Performance Processes & Protocols

So you successfully managed to book a show - congratulations! Now how do you make sure you don’t screw everything up on showday? Well, this articule exists to help you do exactly not-that. <3

LOAD IN 


LOAD IN: 5pm 

Double park in the street, not too close to the intersection for safety

Load in the side door (quickly, SAFELY) 

Usually put gear along the side wall 

Go park, walk back 


(Green Day Sound Check 5:15pm - 5:45pm)


(stage load) 5:45pm - 6:00pm 


6:00pm - 6:25pm sound check - 

  • Since you are an opener and (2) since the act checking after you is acoustic, you should be able to leave all your stuff (amp / board) up ready to go






SOUND CHECK: 3 Phases


  1. Individual rig

Plug in, make sure you have signal coming through with all 3 guitars 

Test pedals, check gain staging



  1. Monitoring (solo)

Audio engineer usually goes 1 instrument at a time starting with drums

Then may be bass, guitars, vox, or Left-Right or Right-Left, whatever


  1. Hear other elements in your monitor if need be

    1. Ransom is on the other side of the stage; put a little in your wedge

    2. Probably won’t need drums, bass, 

    3. Decent bit of Gaby

    4. Above all else, you should clearly hear yourself



  1. Full Band Sound Check 

Hit a verse / chorus of first song 


Switch guitars / maybe a Ruby vocal song, idk, something different, check those levels


Ruby is substantially quieter on vox than Gaby; if you can’t get her loud enough to be audible without introducing too much cymbal bleed, just have her lower 


If there’s time for a 3rd, hit a chorus. If not, ok. 






Common courtesy (after sound check, before your set)


Always double check “is it cool if I ______ ?” if something looks like it’s in someone’s way 


If another band is checking after you, it’s always nice to push your pedalboard up to the front of the stage. Try not to move the monitor. Amp can stay in this case, but if you’re a direct support / headliner probably plan on striking it


Strike all guitars / stands

As for placement - use best judgement 

The “off stage pocket” vs. green room 



GREEN ROOM
Judgement call: you can store stuff here, but try not to take it over

When you’re an opener, always defer to direct support >> headliner. 





7:45 pm - 8:15pm set 


BREAKDOWN:

Strike stands, pedals, amp directly to the landing zone (not blocking walkway) 

Try to have the stage clear as quickly as possible 



Obviously try to stay for the full duration of the show