gear needed for live sound?

[MisterB]

I'm interested in hiring out my PA for small venues / audiences. Right now what I have is two O-top 12s, 4 15" bass reflex subs of my own design, a Crown XLS 1000 for the tops, 2 Crown XLS 2000s for the subs, and a Driverack for all my processing / EQ / limiting. I have used this rig for outdoor DJ applications for smaller crowds (50 -100 people) and gotten a lot of positive feedback. Most of the feedback has been along the lines of "It's not deafeningly loud but the sound is rich, detailed, and immersive." Now that I know I have a good system for smaller crowds I'm looking into hiring it out to recoup some of the expenses from the build. I have to fix or build some new monitors but other than that I am all set to rent it for DJ applications. I'm really in the blank, though, about what additional equipment I'd need for live sound applications. What kinds of things do bands expect to be provided and what will they supply? Should I have a mixing board, mics, floor monitors, etc... or do some bands provide this stuff themselves? Not really sure if I want to invest in all that but just trying to gather more info. I appreciate any info that can be offered.

[Bruce Weldy]

Should I have a mixing board, mics, floor monitors, etc... or do some bands provide this stuff themselves? Not really sure if I want to invest in all that but just trying to gather more info. I appreciate any info that can be offered.

If you are hiring out to the general public, then you need to provide everything - all the stuff you listed plus, plus, plus......

You are looking at several hundred to a few thousand more bucks....depending on whether you go really cheap, or step up a little.

You have to consider a snake if you want to get out front. Lots of mic cables. Mic stands, mic clips for drums or a cheap drum mic set, monitors, an amp for the monitors, EQ for the monitors, cases, something to haul it all in.......

Now, if you know some bands that need more PA than they have - you can work out a deal where they use their stands, mics, etc.....they could use their PA tops as monitors, maybe even their board. That wouldn't be a bad place to start, then use some of that money to start building up your rig.

I have probably $400 in cables alone....and I built 'em all myself. Decent vocal mics will set you back $100 each, then you need something for amps, drums, direct boxes for keys and bass.....

It's not a cheap venture - even if it's all DIY.

[Bruce Weldy]

If you want, take a drive down to New Braunfels tonight. I'll be running sound for Concerts in the Park in Landa Park. Then, you can get a first hand look at what all it takes to do this.

I'll be there from 4pm until 11pm when we drive away. It's at the dance slab - anyone can point you that direction.

[BrentEvans]

I have probably $400 in cables alone....and I built 'em all myself. Decent vocal mics will set you back $100 each, then you need something for amps, drums, direct boxes for keys and bass.....

It's not a cheap venture - even if it's all DIY.

$400 is a conservative estimate. I have at least half again more that much in my foh and monitor speaker cabling. I have at least 50 mic cables in the box at about $6 each, another $150 in short cables, $600 in extension cords, plus plus plus....

I make my speaker cables, but I buy the $5-7 whirlwind mic cables from my local distributor because the connectors cost nearly that much and my time is scarce.
When they break, I toss them. I've tossed about three of them in the last five years, so...

Live sound is expensive. When I had to price my rig piece by piece for insurance when my trailer wrecked, well .. I could pay off my house for what it would cost retail.

The real trick is to buy slowly and buy cheap. Hawk eBay and set up some followed searches and be ready to buy when stuff pops up. I've also inherited a lot of stuff from installs I've done.

Also, be cautioned that a rig that is *just* loud enough for dj work will strain with live music, which is more dynamic and needs more headroom to sound right.