I have managed to get my setup time down to about 10 minutes.
Gear includes:
A-frame stand with attached mic boom
SD1 keyboard
Laptop
2 mics and cables
Bose PAS system
Rack bag with AC Strip. Power cords are already plugged in, and snake, mics cables and pedal are stored there too.

The snake goes to the Bose from the SD1 and Laptop. SD1 into Channels 1 and 2, LT into 3 and 4 (to play songs during breaks)
1 mic into XLR input on SD1, guest mic into 1/4-inch Mic input on SD1.

Take Bose PAS from bags and set up (3-5 minutes)
Take ends of power cords from bag and plug into Bose, SD1 and LT power supply.
Plug in remote to Bose and cable from Bose base to sub. Plug in pedal to SD1.
Plug in mic{s) Plug in AC strip to wall (Total plugging in 3-5 minutes)
Begin playing and singing.
Totally the quickest setup I've ever had.
Tearing down takes only a couple minutes longer, because cords must be coiled, and PA put back into bags, which isn't quite as quick as taking them out.
Everything fits on my dolly (similar to Rock 'n Roller) so there is only one trip to the van. Oh, and my stool rolls in.
DonM

Don, do I understand correctly....you roll in your stool!!

Don,

Sounds like you and set up about the same, and in the same time frame. My stool, however, is loaded on the Rock & Roller. Setup time 8 to 10 minutes, tear down time about 10 to 12 minutes tops. All my cables are in a harness, which means less things to roll up. The harness has a long strip of velcro attached, which is used to secure the roll after loosly rolling.

Just shows you that great minds think alike!

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Since getting the Bose and incorporating wires into a cable wrap, my setup and tear down is similar to Don's and Gary's.

I use the Rock 'n Roller cart about 50% of the time. Just one trip does it. The other 50% it is just as easy (maybe easier) to carry the gear in in a couple of short trips from the stage door to the stage.

Getting the gear to the stage and out of the bags takes longer than wiring everything up. Compared to the days of conventional speakers,stands,powered mixers, processors, double keyboards, etc....this is a piece of cake. And I love cake.

Eddie

Fran,
You have an EVIL mind, my friend!
Don

Sounds like we're all in the same time frame. My set up and tear down time are both in the range of 10 minutes. I'm usually in the car and rolling 15 minutes after the job ended. This is important as I do a lot of back to backs.

Ah, wouldn't a roadie be a nice addition to the mix...........

Joe

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Songman55
Joe Ayala

When Im in a hury.....I always get stuck after a gig shaking hands, kissing woman & signing autographs

It takes me 22 minutes to break down and pack my drum kit, microphones, etc. just to put things into perspective.

Keyboards, when I play with a band it's one keyboard with a Quicklock stand and mounted microphone, 1 powered mixer, 2 speakers, cables, and microphone.

15 minutes.

Bet you still envy the guy that plays the piccolo!

Yeah, and don't forget picking up all the underwear women keep on throwing at you...



[This message has been edited by Dreamer (edited 11-16-2005).]

Some people have all the luck.

As me + my parter are a keyboards / drums / vocal duo AND we use an Alesis DM5 with the drums, then we've got 2 or 4 speakers (depending on size of gig), Mixer / FX / Headphone amp rack, optional large PA amplifier rack, full drum kit, microphones, stands, wires blah blah blah blah

It usually takes 10 to 15 minutes just to get the stuff out of our 2 cars into the gig!

And I'd prefer not to discuss venues with stairs.....

I can remember well in 1982 or 83 being on the road. I had a full-size Chevy Van and after loading all my "stuff" there was barely room for a suitcase.
Huge Yamaha organ on a dollie, with leslie.
P.A. System with two big 15-inch speakers and stands
Monitor speakers and stands
Rack full of amps and mixer
Organ Bench and organ foot pedals
Lights
Mic stands, mics, cables, power strips
Box full of loose-leaf binders with songs
Cassette player/recorder
It would take a good hour to unload and set up, and I couldn't do it alone. The stuff was too heavy.
What progress we've made!
DonM

Same here, only time I get delayed is not when they want autographs or throw panties. It's having to wipe off the rotten eggs they sometimes throw.

Just a quick question - Do you guys wrap all your cables in one 'snake'? By that I mean are you running your power supply cords alongside the speaker cables. Surely that's not such a great idea? It must be inducing some power hum. Any problems like that, guys?

I don't now but I have before. I've never had a problem, but I suppose it helps to use really good cables.
DonM

All of my instrument cables are heavy-duty, sheilded cables and all are contained within a single harness. All of my power cables are very short, most are wall warts and all are housed within a custom made compartment that fits in front of the keyboard. The main power cable that goes to the wall is a heavy-duty, 14-gauge, grounded cord that is connected to a heavy-duty surge protector. No noise problems whatsoever.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Renig,

Running speaker cables next to power cables should be no problem. The reason for this is the signal is already amplified output being sent TO the speakers. The problem might appear if you run your input cables next to the power cables. The hum would enter your amp through the inputs, be amplified, and then sent to the speakers.

Tom

Don,

I remember those "good ole days" very well. I didn't have a van. I had a 5 by 7 trailer that I used to haul my equipment to the job. I carried either a Hammond M3 or a Gulbransen Theatrum organ. This also included a 147 Leslie. I drove the Leslie with a Fender Bassman head. (I wish I still had the Bassman head, it was built like a tank and was indestructable). I ran the bass output from the organ into an external bass amp. It was a Canadian amp called something like VT. I would have to put the organ on a dolly, wheel it in and take it off, go back out and wrestle the 147 out of the trailer onto the dolly and wheel that in. Grab the bench and carry that in, go back and get the VT amp and the Bassman head and bring them in. Then go back out and move the car and trailer. After the gig of course it was the reverse. Then when I got home it was park the trailer and disconnect it.

Now it is hard enough doing all this when it is 70 degrees out. Try doing it when it is 15 and the roads and walks are covered with snow or ice.

That's why you confederates lost the war. You're soft!

FYI it is 24 degrees out as I'm typing this and last night we got about 6 inches of snow. I'm tired of being tough.

Tom

[This message has been edited by Tom Cavanaugh (edited 11-17-2005).]

Tom 20 years ago I had a VT 4/10 cabinet with a separate VT head...That thing kicked butt..
I believe VT was eventually owned by Traynor, which became a Yorkville company...All three divisions had a quality line..
http://www.informatik.uni-bremen.de/~dace/vb/history.html

[This message has been edited by Fran Carango (edited 11-17-2005).]