Karaoke Forums

Melly gave me the idea to start this post from another post.

I have a bad back and lugging my equipment around can really be scary sometimes.
I don't know if I'm going to wake up the next morning being able to stand up straight
without pain.

How the heck do you guys lift a equipment rack (30-40lbs) plus equipment in it which makes it even heavier.
I purposely bought JBL speakers that were about 30lbs a piece because of this. And I don't use a rack. I use wire shelves (very light). Then I tear done components individually. The heaviest thing I have is my amp (37 lbs) That even messes my back up sometimes. I'm lucky when someone offers to help, but I can't always count on that. Even if I used a cart I'd still have to lift it on and off of it. From reading posts of some of your equipment I am astonished how you lift it all.

***So how do you guys keep the weight factor down? ****

I am purchasing some new equipment and I don't know how I will stack it without a rack, but now I am worried how I will carry it. Just a rackable power amp (27lbs), mixer (10lbs), player 1 (8lbs), player 2 (12lbs) plus a rack. I'm thinking of trying to find a light weight rack that I can slip the players out of to carry seperately.

**Any ideas?**

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One word, wheels.  I bought an skb gigrig with wheels on it, i simply roll all my gear into place.

I'm 50 now and after many years of lifting patients and fighting fires I know what a bad back is.  As a chief now, the  heavest thing I lift in the day time is probably a pencil.  BUT, I kj 3 nights a week.  It isn't always easy.  Crank speaker stands is probably the best investment I ever made.  I use all Mackie.  450's get heavy tring to put them up after you get the stand to the height you want.  But with the cranks, I only have to lift to my waist.  I know many people say I could always not use the 1501 sub, BUT, if you ever use one you won't want to do without it.  And my gig rig is about 80lbs?  On wheels of course.  I don't have the weight of an amp of course but still have the mixer and wirless units on board.  I went fully digital about three years ago so I don't have the wieght of the discs any longer.  And of course where I play I can pull the van up to the front door and the stage is three feet to the right.  Always someone around who offers to help.  I don't say no.  When it's just me I have to remember to "bend my knees" and keep the "back straight."  Those two rules are probably the best to live by.

They also make small dollies that come in handy.  I use one when I know I have to go any distance.  I have problems with a couple bulging discs so I try to take supplements and exercise when I can.  Not being male chauvinist, (2 of my firefightrs are women.  One who I'm proud to say is serving in Iraq right now) but I can see how it can be harder for some of you ladies.  And learn  how to not have to moving anything twice before you put it in position.  :)

Kelly

Babs I use the powered eons.. Gator makes a bag with wheels which makes it easy to move them But the thing I hate is putting them in and out...My mixer case is on wheels but its all I can do to lift it into the van..

While we are on the subject what do you use to haul your books? I currently use two suitcases on wheels.....I use newer methods that really reduced the size and weight of them but other than the mixer they are the next hardest to move...

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The old bar I used to work at had a little extra space back in the kitchen so I asked them if I could buy a utility closet to put my equipment in there. The thing that I bough at Home Depot only cost about $100 and I would just have to transport my equipment about 50 feet each night then deadbolt the thing.

Unfortunately, the place I am at now does not afford me that luxury, but I figure that the day I can no longer safely lift everything, then karaoke is no longer for me.

After all, you wouldn't go apply for a telemarketer position if you were going deaf or a airplane pilot position if you were going blind, why would you have a job lifting heavy equipment if your getting a weak back?

Depending on the bar's setup, there is always the idea of having a semi-permanent setup of your equipment as well. I see this all the time where the karoake equipment will always be there and the KJ just takes home their discs. If I were to go that route, I think I would invest in flight cases for the player/amps, etc. so I could lock them down as well.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

One word dolly.  We wheel everything in.  The only lifting (after everything is on stage) is one subwoofer to it's place, the two Yorkville NX520s (less than 40 lbs) onto their post and the rack caseon top of the music case (a total lift of maybe six inches.  Go to my album to see.  For places with stages we ramp up the stage.  We have been doing it this way for about three years now (should have done it years ago).  Live and learn.

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QSC Power Wave Amps 700 watts at 8 Ohms and Only 21lbs I have 2 plx 3402's now.

Other than that a good cart / hand truck is a must.

QSC Power Wave Amps 700 watts at 8 Ohms and Only 21lbs I have 2 plx 3402's now.

Other than that a good cart / hand truck is a must.

I don't have to many problems with books. I only have 2, 3 ring binders with plastic sleeves for each page. The rest of my books are laminated fronts and backs with plastic binding, nothing covering the pages. These are very light.

I have a lot of books compared to most. I was worried about having the books that don't have the pages in plastic sleeves, but so far so good. They are still in good shape after a year.

I've been to a couple KJ shows where the KJ only had 2 books out front on 1 table with slips. You would have to come to the stage to fill out your slip instead of the convenience of having several books out on the bar tables with slips.

as far as lifting I can use a dolly, but still have to lift the rack case up onto the table or into the car. I don't have enough equipment to justify buying one of the big racks on wheels. If I ever get this figured out I will post it.

The biggest thing that bugs me is most rack cases are built heavy and tough for major handling. I'm not going to be throwing my equipment off a roof. I just need something light to shelve it for use on the job.
Impossible for me if it weighs more than 40lbs.

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I just got back from a show and I am sitting in my computer chair with the back massager going. I was hoping someone would post a solution to my problem. Oh well if worse comes to worse I'll hire someone to help me set up. I just hate paying someone for something I should be able to do myself. Darn back!!

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

^I hear ya!  I tried hiring someone once and he got drunk and dropped the speaker on me when getting it off the stand.  I RARELY lose my temper.  That night I did.  

I have help setting up.  My husband sets up on Monday's then I leave everything there until Wed. and I tear town myself.  Often someone will come and help, but I HATE that.  I only let them if they insist, or if I'm having a crappy night.  I think I'm going to get a dolly though because that would make a huge difference for me.  

My thursday night shows are a different story.  The hubbie sets up and tears down because we bring in our own speakers and they are huge mackie's.  That's the night I tried hiring someone to help tear down.  I don't even like calling my husband because he gets up for work at 6am.  I'm looking at buying a whole set up that I can carry and set up on my own though.  When it all boils down to it though I try to do it mostly myself because I'm stubborn like that.

I wish there was an easy solution for us Babs!  If I find one ever I'll let you know!

Are you married? Have a boyfriend? Kids?

Babs.... ferget hiring someone to help...

just invest in a Jacuzzi!! mmmmmm......... ahhhhh!

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Yes I have a fiancee' ,but he doesn't come in to the bar. There is a big problem with
me having male admirers. He doesn't do well with the attention I get. It is just normal attention just like maybe a female bartender would get. I think I handle it well
and don't encourage anything. Guys will leave me notes and try to give me flowers which I turn down politely. I have to have a bartender walk me to my car because sometimes I get followed.

He would love to help me, but he just can't deal with it all. He is a great singer and I would love to have him work with me, but until we can figure out the problem it just isn't possible.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

Ouch, that's a hard situation, and i could see how it would be a hard one.  On a lighter note, have him come help you tear down, that way it's after everyone has left!

I finish my show when the bar is still open. Stupid I know, but the bar owner doesn't want to pay me the extra hour to stay. There are always people there when I set up and tear down. Great idea though.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I also got tired of lugging equipment around so I went out and got a new Bose system which knocked my trips to the truck down signifantly.
No need to carry heavy speakers and stands.
I also went from using a tv to a 17 inch computer monitor. (no tv stand to haul)
I know some dont like the bose system I bought but I happen to love it. set up and tear down went from 1 hour to just about 15 to 20 minuets. and it all fits in the bed of my Ford Sport trac.

Hand trucks, and Dolly's helped only a small bit for some of the stuff I was responsible for having to get to and from gig's, and practices.... A partial list (not limited too),  yet somehow we managed, with often two people tops...

Hammond B-3 Setup

Organ 400+ lbs
Leslie 122 and 770 cabs  90 lbs each

Larger gig's playing Bass
Ampeg SVT classic bass head   about 85+ lbs
(2) Ampeg SVT classic fridge cab. 8X10's depending on speakers 175lbs+ (each)


Oh yeah,  and the smaller stuff- Playing Guitar
Fender Super Reverb  (this was probably one of the lighter amps considering)
Fender Twin with Altec's  80 lbs+
Yamaha CP-25 electric piano 100 lbs
Yamaha electric-grand  ALOT of lbs
Fender Rhodes satellite piano  ALOT of lbs
Altec Lansing VOT PA Bin's......  ALOT of lbs
Sunn coliseum Folded horn Fiberglass (I think) bass bottom with 2 rear firing 15 electrovoice SRO bass speakers   Alot of lbs...


This stuff is/was my own equipment... There were times two of us got the hammond up steps and landings to gigs....Angled the thing in narrow doorways, etc..
We just did it..... Getting it in, and out vans wasn't fun either....etc..  Never a bad back or neck from lifting in my particular case,  assuming you learn how to lift, and don't mess with moving this stuff while inebriated. Broke a finger or two of course..heavy stuff while drunk was never good  (Which was the biggest problem) More dangerous than the weight of the B-3 setup, are the tynes on the footpedal's (which seldom got moved thank god,  we didn't use the pedal's for bass parts anyway)..  those are razors... will take finger's off

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