Members theantarcticans Posted March 8, 2006 Members Posted March 8, 2006 Hello all, New to the forums here. Hoping to get some advice on an upcoming tour.the Scenario:We'll be Joining a Japanese band for a US tour starting in April.They will share our Backline.The 1 month tour starts and ends in New York.We live in LA.Do we drive out with the gear? -this would mean crossing the states 4 times. ouch.orFreight the gear out and fly.Any advice? Favorite freight forwarders or Van rentals?Keep in mind, this is coming out of pocket for us.bestThe Antarcticans
Moderators daddymack Posted March 8, 2006 Moderators Posted March 8, 2006 LA to NY? I would likely freight it as long as everything is roadcased properly. For what it would cost to drive across country in a rented vehicle twice, I think you can get a two-way LTL rate from any number of van lines that specialize in gear transport. That is assuming that all other transport for the tour is already split between you and the other band, and they should shoulder some of the cost for the LA-NY-LA, since otherwise they would need to rent and haul their own gear. Good luck... btw, where in LA are you guys based?
Members theantarcticans Posted March 8, 2006 Author Members Posted March 8, 2006 Pasadena and Echo park
Members Redsand187 Posted March 8, 2006 Members Posted March 8, 2006 okay, maybe I'm not understanding this completetly. But you are from LA, you start in New York, you are going from New York to LA and Back to New York again, right? How are you traveling from each stop? Are you renting a bus or just van's? How are you going to transport your gear from each stop? I'm just thinking it may be much easier to send one or two guys either from the bands or "crew" accross the country with the gear in a van set up to haul it all, and then have them transport the gear to each venue. Sort of like how the big guys do it with semi's only obviously on a smaller scale.
Members theantarcticans Posted March 8, 2006 Author Members Posted March 8, 2006 Once in NYC, we make a big loop around the US and back to NYC. 29 shows in 34 days. We will have one full size Van, so will the other band. Gear will be split between the two vans.
Members Beachbum Posted March 8, 2006 Members Posted March 8, 2006 Great question. As much as I always thought about how cool it would be to tour, I never really thought about the logistics of hauling equipment.
Members BlueStrat Posted March 8, 2006 Members Posted March 8, 2006 Who does your booking, the Marquis de Sade? Why couldn't they start in LA to NY and back? Wouldn't that have been closer for the Japanese dudes as well? FWIW, for what it would cost you to ship your gear and fly the whole band, you could probably drive 6 times. If you get 400 miles on 50 bucks, that's about 800 bucks in fuel to drive round trip in a van with the gear. Plus you'd know it was where it was supposed to be when you got there.
Members BlueStrat Posted March 8, 2006 Members Posted March 8, 2006 Originally posted by Beachbum Great question. As much as I always thought about how cool it would be to tour, I never really thought about the logistics of hauling equipment. We had one of those 1-ton cube vans with a walk thru cab, and we put up a wall about 7 feet back, put up bunk beds, paneling, carpet, a cooler, a TV/VCR/DVD player, a captain's chair, a wardrobe bar, and cut a window in the side, and the gear and luggage went behind the wall. It worked really well.
Members B. Adams Posted March 8, 2006 Members Posted March 8, 2006 Would it be possible to carry only real esentials, like guitars and effects, and put everything else on a backline rider and have the venue/promoter take care of it? That way you don't need to carry much. Then again, if you don't have much in the way of riders to begin with, and the contracts are already done, it's probably not possible to add a backline rider at this point. And paying for local backline on a per-day basis is not something you want to cover out-of-pocket. Backline rider = something to think about next time. Another solution might be renting backline in NY and carrying it with you from there. Monthy backline rates are much better than day rates. If you don't want to rent backline, or feel a desperate need to carry your own, first of all make sure it's all in good road cases, and freight it with Rock-It Cargo. That's the best way to assure that your gear gets there in one peice.
Members theantarcticans Posted March 8, 2006 Author Members Posted March 8, 2006 thanks for the info guys. There's a lot to think about.
Members BlueStrat Posted March 8, 2006 Members Posted March 8, 2006 Originally posted by theantarcticans thanks for the info guys. There's a lot to think about. Good luck, whatever you decide. It sounds like it's going to be fun no matter what. All the best. Oh, and drive safe!
Members Eva Elliott Posted March 15, 2006 Members Posted March 15, 2006 Book shows out there and back. At least make some money to help cover gas.
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