Well, after YEARS of hollow promises, my band has FINALLY hired a couple of roadies for the back-line.

Ever since I've been in this band, I have dreamed of the day when I could just show up, play the gig, and go home (like the singers/horn players). Showing up early and staying late to help with gear has ALWAYS been a sticking point with me. I even started a "cartage fee" thread here a year or so ago and got lots of great advice. Because of that, I started getting an extra $50 per gig for doing this until they could find a crew to do it for us.

Well, that time has come and now it falls on me to “train” the guys how to set up and tear down my kit. Being that neither are drummers (one is a piano player and the other is not a musician), this makes me a little skittish.

My kit is easy enough to set up (thanks to Yamaha hardware and lock-nuts galore) and even easier to tear down and pack. But I have several little nuances that I don’t trust anyone else to get right. We all do, don’t we? Little things like making sure the kick and hihat stand are on the same section of stage if it’s a folding stage (most of them are), setting up right/center so the singer won’t keep knocking over my kick drum mic, etc, etc, etc.

Just seems odd that, after all this time of wishing for this, now I’m having 2nd thoughts. I would kind of like to just have the guys roll the gear and then set it up myself. Ditto tearing it down (I have a special way of packing everything up just right). But doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of a roadie?

Am I being too uptight? Both guys are 100% trustworthy. One is the step-son of the band leader and the other is his employee in the real world. Just wondering if anyone here has issues like this.   

Years ago I trained our new light man to be the drum tech, and after a few gigs there were no issues at all.  If the person setting up the drums is motivated, and if you're patient but emphatic about what's important, it'll be no problem.

We got to the point where I showed up for sound check, made any (very) minor tweaks that felt right, and played.  After the gig I could almost beat the singer to the bar.  I did have to stash my sticks after all.

Write down anything that's not obvious, and set things up so that it's harder to put something in the wrong place.  No problem.

Congratulations on getting help.  You're going to love it.

Dude, I've had quite a few roadies over the years, and unless that is their only job or they take a special interest in "drums" you are gonna have to struggle for a while untill they get it. You definately have to give up your little pet peaves on how things are done cause usually, they don't care, and are trying to get out of there just like you. If you find someone who "gets it right", HOLD ON TO THEM!!! Now I just like doing my gigs where the backline is provided, and I dont have to worry about things being generally "set up". I just go out before sound check, and adjust the provided kit to fit my needs then after the gig, IM OUT!! But the thing that worked for me most with un-experienced roadies was, Taping my rug for placement, using lug nuts and making marks on hardware for proper adjustment, and Finally Take some polaroids for refrence.

We've used roadies for 5 or 6 years now. The drum guy helps me carry my gear in and out of the club and then helps me set it up and tear it down. I wouldn't let someone set it up and tear it down completely on their own. Their are too many little things that have to be adjusted. And no one cares about your gear as much as you do. It is a real blessing to have them in the band. They carry and set up the guitars, amps, Lights and PA system, too.

For some years we had two roadies that unloaded and set up gear. When it came to drums and packing up im with ya riot2003. When youve got two roadies that have had a few to many i didnt need to see my 14x16 accidentally rolling down the stairs . Some of the bands members have their gear with the sound truck and is set up for them. The horn players?, well?, they just show up play and go home like the bunch of worthless...never mind. Forever i was the guy talking to the sound crew while tearing down when all the other ROCK stars were headin home basically because i wanted my gear protected.   

then 'let go and let god' as they say

i'm sure there are enough horror stories out there, but i TRY to believe that if people are interested in what they're doing, and they're being paid, they will try their best to please.

i suggest making their job a little easier with markings, personal preferences stated, etc. then after that, you've got to just chill. it's hard to let go of that control, but sometimes you gotta. and even if something does get a little banged up--while not cool, it's a thing. put it in perspective. (or maybe insure your kit).

i didn't have a roadie, just a little troll who helped me out at some gigs. he was always very gentle with the gear, and my kit is nothing special. my main goal was really just to have someone carry the hardware, but he would help with breakdown, too. because he didn't know about drums, he asked, and listened, and did what i needed him to do. i think it made both of us feel good.

i would definitely do a little sit 'n check, though, before you start playing. wanna make sure that cymbal is where you want it.

enjoy the freedom!

I can't afford a drum tech (while I would like to have one to help me deal with my 12 cymbals). However, I have my bass and guitar players willing to learn how to help me. Currently they are able to set up all my stands and clamps approx. to the position I need them. After that I put the cymbals and do sone small corrections. Also they tear the stands down after I remove cymbals. And all band members help me moving my stuff (including 50 lbs of hardware and 40 lbs of cymbals).