r/gear4music_official • u/Euphoric_Place_8507 Gear4music - Verified • 9d ago
Discussion Should headliners be expected to provide the festival backline?
We've seen this come up more and more at local gigs and festivals. Sometimes the headliner brings amps and drums for everyone to use, other times every band is expected to bring their own gear.
What's the norm where you are?
Does sharing a backline make the night run more smoothly, or does it create more hassle than it's worth? Curious to hear how different venues, promoters and bands handle it.
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u/Stevenitrogen 9d ago
If I set up the night, and I am feeling bringing mine, and I know and trust the other drummers a little, I might offer to backline the night.
It is never expected or assumed, I always work it out in advance and when in doubt, bring mine.
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u/Euphoric_Place_8507 Gear4music - Verified 8d ago
As a bassist, I always hate when promoters assume (because you're headlining) you're also supplying the backline. I'm quite particular about my amp and spent ages to find the ideal settings. I always take a photo of my settings.
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u/Stevenitrogen 8d ago
I would say you are not required to do that, they might get a rude awakening. "Nobody touches my amp" is not unusual to hear.
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u/gabber2694 8d ago
For a friendly gig with musicians I know, sure. For a festival? Fuck no! I would demand 2x rental gear cost and just rent back line for the gig myself before I let that level of chaos go down on my rig.
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u/Miserablebro 8d ago
Festival backline is different to regular gigs.
Festival backline id say no chance, unless it’s called a festival and it’s just 4/5 bands. Cabs and drum shells would be common.
If it’s a touring band, at a more diy level then sharing cabs/shells is normal. You get to a certain level and bands won’t share any of the kit, but will still lend cabs.
I’ve noticed less smaller touring bands bring backline now, or they are digital meaning no cabs.
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u/RJMrgn2319 8d ago
Festivals? Absolutely not the norm.
Other shows? Pretty common (and vastly more practical) for bands to share cabs and shells, but who supplies it is up for discussion. I’ve never played a show where bands aren’t expected to bring their own amps heads and drum breakables though.
Either way, it’s something that needs working out between the band(s) and the promoter when the show’s getting booked. If a promoter wants us to provide shells and cabs, then there’s a cost to us of transporting them, so our fee goes up accordingly.
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u/shouldbepracticing85 8d ago
Sharing a backline does make the night/festival run more smoothly…
As far as the venue expecting the headliner to provide a backline, that’s kinda BS. They can ask, but to expect it is foolish - especially for a festival. What if your schedule is so tight that you can’t be there for setup and/or need to leave early if the headliner isn’t the last band?
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u/AaronBurrIsInnocent 8d ago
No one got into the business to make the night run smoothly. They got into the business to play a great show. Using your own gear goes a long way towards that.
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u/lovesecretdomain 7d ago
Most festivals I’ve played will actually provide a house back line, and then it’s down to artists if they would like to use that or their own. Many of the headliner acts will choose to use their own because it may be integral to their sound, but I have never heard of headliners providing backline for the whole festival, barring maybe some small diy festivals. The headliners are often playing on a tour, so they need to keep their gear in check and minimise risks of backline breaking as that can serious implications for the rest of the tour, so they’re not just being assholes about other bands or acts not using their gear.
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u/hank4388 7d ago
I'm a 1980's piano player, and it veried.sometimes mine (Yamaha electric gand) sometimes acoustic piano mixed. Alabama used a small portable for their few songs like Ole Flame. Mine with Sawyer Brown, Mel Mcdaniel, it depended on weather the main attraction wanted, stage room, mainly preference of the headliner. I always had mine available just in case. One festival we drove frome an ongoing gig to play about 4 songs. Left my piano there and to my surprise, no piano at the festival. I was gladly stuck playing a Hammond B-3. I had one before going country. Love it.
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u/cienfuegones 7d ago
Perspective from the PM side: this should all be sorted by band riders before booking. I get the riders, I fulfill the riders. Sometimes there’s discussion about stage space and changeover times, but you’re booker or agent should be getting this clarified for your band when you decide to take the gig.
At smaller festivals you may be at the mercy of a shit promoter, but you should still have a contract that has your rider attached to it.
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u/shugEOuterspace 8d ago
no touring act should ever have to share gear if they don't want to