Do you bring backup instruments to a gig? What do you bring? I like to tavel light to gigs, since things are usually chaotic enough without littering the stage and dressing room with spare guitars, amps and effects. But every now and then I start to worry: what if something breaks?

So anyway, please telle me what you bring to gigs by way of backup.

hectim said:

Heres a drummers typical backup. When I get to a gig, Ive got at least 3 pairs of sticks, theres a spare skin in each drum case & I carry a bag around to every gig with me with towels, toolkits & other 'just in case' items.

I always have a backup guitar. Always. Broken string will take 10 minutes to fix. That's a LONG LONG ten minutes when the whole band is sitting around waiting on you.

And NOW, I bring a backup amp too. My Deluxe is getting old and there's been two gigs where it's over heated. I had to turn it off and wait 15 minutes until I could get it going again.

But, all that stuff? It all depends on the gig. if i'm hired as a sideman, I definitely go prepared. Somebody's paying me to have my act together.

If it's MY band, well, screw it, I'm making the rules and folks can wait for me.

So there you go. My backup guitar usually just stays in the case - I don't set it up on the stage... you're right about that part, I don't like having a million things up on the stage getting in my way.

It depends a bit on the gig, and what instrument I play on the gig.
When I play bass, I have a spare bass with me with bigger gigs and gigs with tight schedules like festivals. I don't want to be responsible to screw up 1/2 the concert because I broke a string.
When I play keys, screw it. I don't have a spare Rhodes and synth (the rhodes is too heavy as it is).
In a small pub it's not that important to keep the show going. There's usually no tight schedule or anything. I always have some spare leads and strings and stuff with me.