How To Setup For Live Gigs
- Nathan-Jon Snell
- Jan 20, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 24, 2023
One of the questions I have been asked by inspired like minded musicians and singers is "how do you go about getting setup for gigs?". Well, normally my first answer is, are you ready to get bookings? Do you have your own equipment? Which PA speakers do you have, which mixing desk, microphones, liability insurance etc.
Let's talk speakers
Lets just pretend you don't currently have your own PA speakers. Where do you start? Active / Passive speakers? What the difference?
An 'Passive' speaker requires a separate amplifier to drive the speaker itself, a bit like your wired headphones requiring your mobile phones power vs say a Bluetooth ear buds that provides there own amplification once charged making them active speakers.
So in terms of an 'Active' speaker, it has its amplifier built in and therefore allows you to simply plug your mixing desk into the back of the speakers XLR input once your power lead is connected to unit itself.
Which PA system should you choose?
Well this would depend on your acts application, small venue on a Sunday lunchtime set, or a high energy Wedding evenings entertainment for 500 people. Sure, it would be great to have both systems at your disposable but that's not always feasible and obviously would come at a high cost when you are starting out.
Where did I buy my live sound gear from?
This depends on may factors, for me I am lucky enough to have an amazing music Superstore only 30 miles from me called Absolute Music who I believe have guided me in the direction that my music has taken me.
Whether you are looking for guitars, bass guitars, drums, keyboards, brass instruments or home studio and even high pro audio equipment the team as Absolute Music in Poole, Dorset will help you to make tough decisions with you.
Further down on this post I have included my / our very own live music PA setup that includes links to products we use on a day to day basis :)
What PA system have I chosen and why?
Let me share with you the systems that I use for both of my acts Nathan-Jon (solo acoustic act) and KOAST (duo acoustic act)
Lets talk solo..... As an example, I provide chilled out Sunday sessions at an amazing local live music venue named The Belvedere in Weymouth, Dorset UK which is a select small venue with a smaller audience that doesn't require too much power. For this I sing and play my Faith Neptune electro acoustic guitar browse the Faith guitars range here.
Typical chilled solo acoustic act:
I would typically take the following system for chilled acoustic act:
Typical KOAST upbeat duo performance:
We would typically take the following system for our upbeat acoustic act:
2 x RCF Evox 8 v2 (now discontinued) 1400w mains powered PA system - see similar here
1 x QSC Touchmix 8 - Digital mixer with phone and tablet wifi mixer app
1 x Alto Truesonic TS315S - 15 inch Active Subwoofer - see here
1 x Yamaha DXR12 - 700w active pa speaker used as stage fold back / monitor - see here
1 x Sennheiser E935 - Professional dynamic stage microphone - see here
1 x Shure SM58 - Professional dynamic stage microphone - see here
2 x Hercules 2 in 1 microphone stand - see here
2 x Hercules tablet holder (lyrics for new songs) - see here
2 x 10m XLR microphone cable - see here
1 x 10m jack to jack guitar cable - see here
With gigging comes YOUR responsibilities
Gear is great, I love nothing better than filling my stage with audio gear! Loud speakers, bass drums, guitars etc etc but all of this comes with there own problems......... Cables, Cables and more Cables!! Wireless technology has improved somewhat over the years but cables cannot be avoided none the less.
Trip hazards a plenty! Never ever ask a drummer to route your cables for you, just no! As funny as it is to watch your drummer tripping over their own ego, you really don't want this to happen to you, but more importantly your audience and venue staff!
Think about where each of your acts members will be in you most of the time crampt "stage" area. In fact I have our setup down to a tee now! I welcome you to the facebook marketplace rug! Looks cool but also I know which and how long each mic, guitar, speaker and power leads need to be which makes setting up safer for all of us :)
Simply setup your act and bring out the tape measure and I promise you will never look back!
PLI - Public Liability Insurance
PLC - Public Liability Insurance- Although (touch wood) I haven't needed to make a claim I have no doubt that common sense and a bit of thought has played a big part in this.
There are so many insurance companies and brokers out there, I personally have found our best solution we personally use to date and especially at a cost starting at only £49 per year. The Alliance of Musicians and Performers aka AMPband! AMPband will quote you instantly, you simply add your details like band name, how many members are in the band etc.
You can then simply login to ampband.co.uk and download your PLI certificate that will give both you and your venue the piece of mind that you both have it covered.
Please use the following link as this would greatly help our blog to keep doing what we love :) - AMPband Setup
What's included?
£10m Public Liability Insurance Cover*
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*PLI Cover includes:
Sale of Merchandise
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*PLI Cover does not include:
Event organisation
Cover for your own equipment
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