Image via PreSonus.
It might not be the first thing you think of when you’ve locked in a gig, but incorporating changeover practice into your rehearsal time is crucial! Find out why and how in this handy guide.
Most events have short changeovers: the period between performances where acts set up equipment, soundcheck, and clear the stage of their equipment after performance for the next act to come on. Changeovers can be stressful, with performers full of nerves and engineers under time pressure!
Onto It Media director and former live sound engineer Chris Johnson says that change over and soundcheck etiquette can make or break an act’s chances at a venue.
“If an act is slow to setup their gear or to clear the stage after performing it can blow out event stage times, annoy other acts, lose the audience, and infuriate the sound engineer. Being polite, efficient, listening to instructions, offering to help other acts, and keeping to changeover times between acts is crucial. Doing a changeover without intruding on others greatly increases your chances of having a good show, and being asked back.”
The most important thing you can do is practice your changeover.
We know of an extremely successful Australian band who hired a rehearsal space prior to an international music showcase for the sole purpose of practice setting up and packing down their gear. It’s that important!
Here’s how to get your changeovers tight:
Now here’s the fun part:
Assume you will have less than half of any changeover time to achieve the above. That’s because you may have another act before you, and they’ll use half the changeover time to clear the stage of their gear. So 15 minute changeovers in reality usually become a 5 minute setup time for an act, with a few minutes spare for soundcheck,
Tip: When you finish a real performance people may come up to talk to you. Be polite, maybe offer to chat in a moment, but focus on clearing the stage - that’s the priority!
If you’re just starting out read out guide on approaching venues for gigs.
If you have any problems with your gear whatsoever (e.g. an annoying hum in an amplifier) remember that those sounds will be overemphasised through a venue speaker system.
When rehearsing, try turning your amp up really loud without playing to suss out any hums or hisses that may be overbearing when put through a venue PA. With that in mind, opt to always use gear that is in it’s best condition. That way you are making sure that the sound engineer can provide the best possible mix on the night.
Borrowing gear that’s in good condition is better than playing equipment which needs to be repaired.
Also bring backups of everything which is easily breakable and essential to your set - guitar picks, drum sticks, snares and 9 volt batteries. Having to scramble to find spare gear right before a set is stressful and distracting, especially when dealing with pre-gig jitters!