I'd thought it would be an interesting topic to hear about how Nh payers setup, breakdown, travel in between, to each job in one day. What tips and tricks do you use make it all happen day after day. Gear used, loading procedures, weather issues, etc.... I know for me when I do NH gigs I like to do one trip so my Rock n Roller KART is essential, although I still see people carrying keyboards under their arm with No case no Kart, & making numerous trips in & out stuffing everything in the trunk of a small vehicle also!!

Forgot to mention ....one day while leaving a NH I see a guy ROLLING in his Whole entire Rig on a custome made contraption, w/speakers, KB, etc.....
"ALL SET UP" already out of a Van down a ramp, into the facility.....in & out he just plugs in and he's ready!! awesome!

Just play the accordion...

I use a dolly that modifies into a L shaped unit. I set my Bose sub at the rear, then my bench upside down next to it. I use two smaller bungy chords to secure the two tall cases holding my Bose tower to the handle that I'll pull to move it. I then slide my kg in between the two upright towers cases and the one side of the piano bench. Then, I slide the bose base unit underneath the two legs of my bench, then attach another bungy chord into the handle of the bose bass case and one of the travel hooks on the underside of the kb case. There's a space for me to slide in my kb stand...I put 2 mic stands, upside down into one space, secured by a small bungy chord and my music pad pro goes in a corresponding space across from it. Finally, there's room at the end of the cart for me to slide in my equipment bag of cables, pedals, etc. and off I go. One trip in, one trip out.

I do this the same for each show, regardless if I do 1 or 4 in a day.

If its raining, I can load the cart while underneath the rear hatch of my mini van and cover the whole with a tart that I carry with me in the van all the time.

To load the cart-5 minutes
To unload it-5 minutes

General set up takes 15-20....tear down, about the same.

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Bill in Dayton

I never worked a nursing home gig, but i'm really looking forward to it. I figure that i'll be the house musician at the one they put me in when my time comes, and i'll have my stuff all permanently setup and will never have to setup/breakdown again. Then when i die someone else will have to worry about it. Now that sounds like heaven on earth to me, can't wait! ;D

meantime I'm one of those guys described above who carries his kbd naked w/no case.
(saves a lot of $ on clothes bada boooom!!)
making 3 trips back and forth with other items. there's nothing healthier than walking, and it's much easier and actually much less time-consuming than putting everything into cases and stacking everything on a racknroll, making one trip, then unpacking and repacking. humans have this instinct of trying to "save" by carrying as much as possible instead of using their legs...from groceries to lumber to whatever they load/unload. hence all the
strains, sprains, falls, hernias, etc. just make more trips, walking more is GOOD for you.


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Miami Mo

For nursing home type jobs..what can be easier than my set up?

V-stand in it's carry bag, BA330 self contained mixer/amp..and battery powered to boot, and Prelude in a wheeled lightweight bag..with all the accessories...Carry in one trip..right hand wheeling the Prelude, left-hand carrying the BA330, and the V-Stand with a shoulder strap..

Set up time, including unloading or loading time...less than 10 minutes...depending how far I am parked from the door..

If it is too much to carry for you youngsters....all fit easily on a R&R cart...just add another 5 minutes to use the cart..

Mo cases are a must for me...I hate abused equipment..and I want the next owner to have a clean well cared instrument...besides it shows to other folks that you are professional..

Mo, maybe that is why no one wants to trade you keyboards.....just kidding...well a little bit...

Fran maybe they don't want to trade because they know i got my E60 from you/Donny? just kidding. Look like a professional? a case makes you look like one? hmmm.. maybe i'll carry my mics in an attaché case, and of course i'll wear a derby with that. thanks for the heads-up, never realized people could be seeing me with a naked kb rolling on a folding handtruck, immediately setting up all my stuff without unpacking and not taking up the venue's space with my cases/rollercart and them thinking...
wow what an amateur, we won't call him again.

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Miami Mo

Mo, at least...don't wrap the E-60 in an old plastic table cloth..

Guys ..you know what? Maybe I am doing it all wrong..

Don Mason uses a Executive high back chair to roll his equipment to the gig..and I have another friend that uses a wheel chair (yes..that kind of wheelchair)....and both of these guys couldn't be busier...

F/S a like new Rock and roll cart..
a lightly used carry bag w/ wheels for a 61 key board..
or trade for a wheelchair and assorted blankets...