Band members; do you have a bus?

[TonyHetherington]

Hi all

I'm in a band; 5 piece (3 guitars, drums and keyboard)...I play drums...and the band is currently trying to get a minibus.

I dont want one! They say it will be great but I can't help thinking it will just mean it's something else to insure/fix, and then on gig nights one person will have to go around to everybody's house to pick people up; that's an hour's worth no considering loading/unloading!

We're based in Medway, been together for 16months and predominantly doing local gigs. When we start to move further a field then it's certainly a consideration; but now?!

I'm losing my battle now; everyone's saying "it will make it easier" when I couldn't disagree more but I'm not actually getting any straight answers as to WHY.

Will the PH Massive help me see the light...please?!

[Plotloss]

How the fk do you get a drum kit in an Elise?

[TonyHetherington]

- I've got an S-reg Ford Focus too

(though I did once get an awful lot of it in the Elise, less the bass drum; the passenger seat came in quite useful)

[tim the pool man]

ISTR that you have a practise kit Tony, so do you need your full kit to come home with you? If not, then you could leave it loaded in the bus, while opting out of the "pickup run" and continue to make your own way to gigs?

[nevpugh308]

tim the pool man said:

ISTR that you have a practise kit Tony, so do you need your full kit to come home with you? If not, then you could leave it loaded in the bus, while opting out of the "pickup run" and continue to make your own way to gigs?

Guess that kind of depends on where the bus is left when not in use

Must admit, we all make our own way there, but we live far apart. How close are you all to each other ? Where would you store the bus when not in use ? Would bus costs come out of your gig money (would it severly dint the money you make, or wipe it out) ?

On the positive side, means you can drink ! (which I never can, bar one calming pint )

[chevy-stu]

How often are you playing ? Do you all live very local to each other ? Are alot of your gigs a fair distance, so you'd save on fuel ? Playing less than once a week, I wouldn't bother. Also depends if you are all up for paying for the expense of buying it/converting it/making it secure/parking it & running the thing.

[patchst]

We've got a Renault Kangoo, 5 seat one not the van and can get everyone and all equipment in that. Although if we had stacks instead of combo's we'd struggle.

[robbo3112]

Years ago played in a semi / pro (almost pro!!) 8 piece band doing clubs & unis etc - we had a two ton tail lift ex ambulance with a three men road crew, we had a huge 3.5k PA - Gauss bins, 15`s, 2x 12`s, horns etc, 32 channel desk, foldback, guitarists using staks, multi keys etc - it was wonderful turning up to a gig, getting horn out of it`s case - soundcheck - gig - pi** off home leaving the crew to it!! It cost money obviously but we had the option of travelling in the van if needed as long as we met the van at a central point ( NO drop offs!) These days gear is much smaller & more efficient so perhaps a van ain`t totally necessary - for long distance gigs you can hire? Oreven hire a PA & engineer? Whatever you do must be on the concensus - any minor disagreements can soon escalate into something bigger!