Bring the Right Gear for the Job

One of the fastest ways to gain—or lose—the respect of a bandleader or music director has nothing to do with how well you play. It has everything to do with whether you come prepared.

I've lost count of how many times we've performed on silent stages—productions where there are no amplifiers, no floor wedges, and no traditional stage monitors. Everything is run through in-ear monitors.

Before the show, every musician is told exactly what to bring: in-ear monitors or quality headphones so they can hear the mix, the talkback microphone, click tracks, guide vocals, and musical cues.

Yet someone inevitably arrives without them.

The result? They're lost for the entire performance, unable to hear important instructions, missing cues, and making the show more difficult for everyone else.

Preparation is part of professionalism.

Sometimes having the right gear also means bringing a different instrument than you normally use because it's better suited for that particular venue or production. Every show has different requirements, and successful musicians adapt.

Just as important, respect the production requirements.

If you're told to bring in-ear monitors but instead show up with a guitar amplifier, you're ignoring the wishes of both the venue and the music director.

If you're told there won't be live horns on stage but you bring two saxophone players anyway, that's the same thing—it shows a lack of respect for the production plan and for the people responsible for making the show run smoothly.

Professional musicians don't guess. They follow directions.

Finally, make sure your equipment is reliable.

Before every performance:

Install fresh batteries in any wireless packs, active pickups, pedals, or other battery-powered equipment.

Test every cable and always carry backups. Cables almost always fail at the worst possible moment—usually during a solo or another critical part of the show.

Guitarists and bass players should carry a complete spare set of strings. Don't rely on a single replacement string; Murphy's Law says a different string will be the one that breaks.

Drummers should carry a backup snare drum or at least a spare snare head, along with extra sticks.

Keyboard players should always have a spare sustain pedal and the necessary power supplies. Those pedals have an uncanny ability to quit without warning.

Vocalists should bring any specialty microphones, in-ear equipment, adapters, and extra batteries they depend on.

Everyone should pack extension cords, power strips, adapters, and anything else required to make their own setup work without borrowing from someone else.

The audience expects a great performance—not excuses.

Professional musicians understand that talent gets you hired, but preparation gets you hired again.

Success on stage begins long before the first note is played. Come prepared, respect the production, and always bring the right gear for the job.