ryan_waf

I'd just like to clear this up, found it as I'm looking for reviews of some Sansamp gear and came across this, pretty shocked to find out it's actually about my band. Firstly, we were not headlining the night or providing the backline (as we were an out of town band, we thought it didn't make sense for us to headline and the local band play earlier). We have no problem lending out gear, we know what it's like to start up in bands and not really have that great gear; the problem we had with this was that the band opening (who started this thread) did NOT ask permission to borrow any of our heads (which, in our experience, are not classed as backline) but went straight up on stage for their sound check and plugged in then started moaning when they couldn't get them to work (not knowing where the on switch was). (For information, I play an Ampeg which has taken me years to save up for, and our guitarist plays a nice Orange Rocker which he has also saved for years for.) We let them use it after showing them how to work it and asking if they could make sure they left all the settings how they found them, call me old fashioned but was expecting a thank you for helping them out, alas nothing. So we let it go, walked off and got a beer to chill a little bit. Went back upstairs to watch them (polite thing to do...), thinking 'maybe they'll say thanks on stage, you know, like most bands do who borrow gear.' Again, nothing, even as we went on to set things up for us to play, no thanks, nothing, which I found a bit rude but thought 'seems like it could be their first gig, so we'll leave it.' I think they drummer had asked our drummer if he could borrow cymbals and snare as he didn't bring his (got his snare in the end, but still borrowed our cymbals), so that was fine, as he asked and said thank you. The next day, we had a message from said band to our myspace, thinking 'oh cool, they've thought to say thanks, maybe it just slipped their mind.' But no, was just asking if we'd picked up a lead they left; which then prompted me to send the message which this thread was started about (I've copied the full message below for you to see what was said...) [b]sup guys, i'll check with the others about that guitar lead. just for future reference for you guys though, backline does not mean borrowing other bands amp heads or drum breakables. as you can understand, our gear is worth a good few thousand ££ and when people just assume they can plug into to our amps without even asking or saying thanks it's never a good thing. it was your first gig so its understandable, but just so you know, some bands would not have kept quiet about it like we did; it's just gig etiquette to say thanks for any equipment borrowed, especially when it's gear that is not supposed to be borrowed. ryan x[/b] I might be old fashioned, but even if previously agreed with bands / promoters that backline is okay to borrow, I'll still ask the bassist and make sure I say thanks to them, same with each of our members depending on whats borrowed, simple manners.