Set Up/Break Down

[my_sticks_broke]

For a long time I have had my drums in the same place, never needing to be moved or relocated. Now that I am in a steady permanent band, and we're playing shows, I have to constantly break down my drums and move them. I find it a tedious task, although I have been doing it somewhat faster and with less hassle lately.

So do you guys have any tips on how to make it easier or more efficiant when moving your kit from here to there?

[Panopticon]

get a rack...makes it much easier and faster...

[Josiah]

Have a drum carpet, mark out the location of stand legs/rack legs, pedals, throne legs, kickdrum spurs, etc.. anything on the ground.

Used colored high quality tape in thin stripes on stands and hardware that get broken down. I colorized my stands.. green stand, yellow stand, etc
With a rack, it's just wich "top" goes where.

Repetition. The more you do it, the more efficient and faster you get at it. After a few 1,000 times it'll be like nothing I promise.

[Half Life]

Drum cases
Hardware bag(with or without wheels)

^Totally essential. I put ALL of my hardware in ONE bag and it makes it 1000 times easier to move. I don't have drum cases though so that limits me as I'm very cautious as to how their transported, so all I can suggest is that you invest in the above to make moving your gear less of a hassle :thumb:

[Josiah]

Word on the cases. A truck helps on that note too...

Also, might be hard now, but you'll get to a point where you don't care about hardware. I throw mine around, drop it on the ground etc.. I stopped caring about minor marring on it when I realized it really didn't make a difference from 20 feet away.

[Tim]

memory locks help a greeat deal too on your toms.

[Panopticon]

dont even take off the rack toms that are mounted on the bass drum...put it all in the car/truck just like that...that much less to think about...if you have legs on your floor tom...move the leg position as little as possible...

In short, try and tear down as little as possible...it'll make everything that much easier in the end...

[[LP213]]

I leave all my boom arms unadjusted and pack them with only the base condensed. My tom mount never changes and I pack my floor tom as is so there really isn't any adjustments needed on anything.

[my_sticks_broke]

dont even take off the rack toms that are mounted on the bass drum...put it all in the car/truck just like that...that much less to think about...if you have legs on your floor tom...move the leg position as little as possible...

In short, try and tear down as little as possible...it'll make everything that much easier in the end...Oh, I don't have any toms mounted on my bass drum. I use a four piece kit, and the toms are mounted on stands, but that's an awesome tip.

The rug tip from Josiah is awesome. I do have a carpet that I always bring, and I think I am going to pick up some gaff tape from the store, or just borrow some from school.

I probably should get some cases for my drums. There is a decent size nick in one of my toms. This sucks majorly considering the finish on my drums were discontinued by DW.

[Panopticon]

how many stands/pieces of hardware do you have?

[Seafroggys]

yeah I don't care about my hardware too mcuh, but my drums....only I touch

with that being said, I also spike my stands and carpet so its much faster.

Working at a calm, steady pace (not rushing) I can set up everything in about 13-15 minutes. If I'm in a hurry, I think I've done it in under 10 before. This is with a 5 piece set plus 4-5 cymbal stands (including hi-hat).

This is not including load/unload times.

[Motleyguy]

I put my hardware in a hockey bag, it's heavy as **** tho. I can get it up in like 10 minutesish. Imark all my stands with a sharpie, like C1, C2, R, and the levels everything is at.

[Aaron]

for my hardware, i just fold up the legs, put them next to each other and roll them up on my drum-mat. so with an occy-strap tied around it, i can keep all my stands together in one bundle and carry under 1 arm. i keep pedals and hi-hat clutches in my pedal case. and my cymbals in a case. with that system i do hardware and cymbals in one carry.

[FL3P]

All great advice here and get a bit of help from your bandmates if they dont have much to do. The faster you are the better chance that people will let you use your own gear and we all know how nice that is.

I also agree with the hardware thing, it's amazing how secondary it becomes when you are in a hurry.

[Wizz]

Rack is the best solution to have a quick setup / Breakdown imo.

Also , good and heavy cases with locks are a must when your doing gigs to not get your gear stolen and protect it from damage , or beer pored over it.

[goalieman92]

I put my hardware in a hockey bag, it's heavy as **** tho. I can get it up in like 10 minutesish. Imark all my stands with a sharpie, like C1, C2, R, and the levels everything is at.
That's a great idea. I'll carry all my stuff in my current goaliebag when I get a new one. at 44"x24" I think i can carry most my stuff in it.(even drums)

[Half Life]

Also, might be hard now, but you'll get to a point where you don't care about hardware. I throw mine around, drop it on the ground etc.. I stopped caring about minor marring on it when I realized it really didn't make a difference from 20 feet away.

^I understand that man, but the only reason I use a bag is that I have 7 stands, plus 4 grabber arms, my throne, and the mounting for the toms and being able to put ALL of that in a bag helps to save space and makes it easier to move it all at once. Then again like someone said, it can get to be heavy as hell :eek:

[aznriceball]

big heavy duty hardware bag, then just get a band mate to help u carry. cases with good straps is a must...i cant explain how horrible it is to have a top of the line case with a crappy strap..

memory locks are great, but its better to use em in conjunction with colored taping the stands so u dont memory them to the wrong ones

[Aaron]

roadies!

[Corkofski]

a lesson: if you let inexperienced people tear down your hardware, you get free stuff.

i currently have a micstand that belongs to the church hall we rented last night

and also, a sharpie works well marking stands.
it also comes off easy with nail varnish remover

[Josiah]

^I understand that man, but the only reason I use a bag is that I have 7 stands, plus 4 grabber arms, my throne, and the mounting for the toms and being able to put ALL of that in a bag helps to save space and makes it easier to move it all at once. Then again like someone said, it can get to be heavy as hell :eek:


Yea, i wasn't saying that as to mean not using bags/cases.. just in general. I throw my hardware into it's case. Out of, on the stage, whatever, etc

Though honestly man, no excuse for 7 stands. Get a rack. I only use stands if it's 3 or less, and less toms (1 or 2).

I forgot to add though, the best way to handle setup/tear down. Get a roddie!

[Half Life]

Haha man, I like stands though. Besides, with my current plan of putting away money for college and my class trip for my senior year, I don't have the resources to make a brand new ICON the latest addition to my kit :lol:

[PremierManiac]

It's been said before, but memory locks work wonders. The colored tape is also a very good idea (credit to Josiah).

[Josiah]

AH no worries.. my tech did that for me actually. Prob been done since the 30's I'd imagine or whenever colored tape was invented.

[Ming-a-Ling]

I used to use tape too...though I wasn't smart enough to use colored tape. I would also practice alot too at home. That makes me sound kinda lame huh? but it made me get pretty proficient and set up and tear down.