Everyone has a PA system...

[RedJoker]

I have an upcoming gig and shared it with my friends. I have received no less than four offers to use their PA systems. Turns out, everyone seems to have one or two systems that are under-utilized and they just want them to be used.

I won't be buying any new PA equipment for a while. I'll just keep borrowing everyone else's!!

[Daniel Grenier]

You can borrow mine too if you want.

[rmp]

I'll throw in a few spare guitar amps and some stands too.

[leew3]

and a clip on tuner, 47 9 volt batteries and some 1/4" cables....

[The Kid!]

Originally Posted by RedJoker

I have an upcoming gig and shared it with my friends. I have received no less than four offers to use their PA systems. Turns out, everyone seems to have one or two systems that are under-utilized and they just want them to be used.

I won't be buying any new PA equipment for a while. I'll just keep borrowing everyone else's!!

That's a good plan until you run into a night where their PA's are in use, or you wear out your welcome. I'd also hate the added inconvenience of a phone call, arranging pick up & drop off times, and another trip to their house to drop it off.

I was letting a buddy use mine for a while when I wasn't and it was cool until a couple channels got broken because he was careless, and a few cables went missing. The final straw was when he didn't have a ride to drop it off at my gig where and when he agreed that he would.

He bought his own after and even admitted that he was glad that he did. He can be as careless with his own gear as he wants to be. (and he is )

Plus piecing different PA's together from different sources all the time isn't optimal as learning how to get the best sound out of what you become more familiar with as time goes on because you own it.

If they all have a couple systems, offer to but the one that you like the best or look for some good used deals in your area.

[dcopper]

I think the point here is that we often wind up with gear that never gets used.
Glad you have good friends that let you borrow!
you never realize how much “Stuff” you accumulate in your gear arsenal over the years until you downsize - then yikes!

[Guitaurman]

I have three systems, unless you count my Loudbox Mini, then it's four. Tonight I'm going to set it up for a guy who is running an open mic this evening, and with a little luck, sell it to him. I just don't want to lug around my old heavy gear that served me so well in years past. That old system sure sounds good though, and was reliable as hell.

[shufflebeat]

Originally Posted by The Kid!

...it was cool until a couple channels got broken...

If I damage the look or function of any of my gear I know it was not simply the result of carelessness because I'm pretty conscientious about things like that. If I borrow somebody else's stuff and it gets damaged I feel like an idiot, careful or not.

[The Kid!]

Originally Posted by shufflebeat

If I borrow somebody else's stuff and it gets damaged I feel like an idiot, careful or not.

But do you pay for the repair or the replacement? That's the real concern. My buddy did not. Claimed those two XLR inputs didn't work when he got it, and that all the cables had been returned.

Not to long after, I witnessed how he yanked the XLR cables out and wondered how every channel didn't come back broken. He's hard on gear to this day. Love him like a brother, just won't loan him anything.

Another friend is terrible about returning stuff or paying for things that he wants to buy in installments, but insists on taking up front. He's been cut off for years too.

Gear is expensive. This is what I do for a living, so I can't afford cats playing loose and reckless with my tools.

[varmonter]

Hopefully you will work toward buying your own
system asap. Perhaps your friends may
be lending you theirs hoping youll make
them an offer. I beleive there is a fine line
between helping you out and you becoming a burden.
Not that you are now .. but you may be soon.
Plus You dont want to have to buy something you broke..

[RedJoker]

Originally Posted by dcopper

I think the point here is that we often wind up with gear that never gets used.
Glad you have good friends that let you borrow!
you never realize how much “Stuff” you accumulate in your gear arsenal over the years until you downsize - then yikes!

Yes, this was exactly my point. I think maybe I wasn't very clear. These pa systems haven't been used in years and I'm not looking to go pro. They are literally just gathering dust. Plus, it will be about nine months since my last gig so I think I'm ok with not being a burden yet. I could work towards getting my own pa but I'm not looking for gigs. These are just one off things. I've offered to buy one powered speaker but he wanted to keep it as a backup.

[ricdoug]

Look at a Kustom PA50, if you would like to have your own powered speaker, @RedJoker . At $99 bucks or less, you won't have to borrow anything.

[shufflebeat]

Originally Posted by The Kid!

But do you pair for the repair or the replacement? That's the real concern.

I certainly feel I (theoretically) should.

This issue also crops up in a "band owned PA" scenario. My general policy now is - I own the small PA. I take a contribution off every player at every gig, then I'm responsible for upkeep. Bigger gigs are hire-in.

In keeping with the original point, I have enough spare gear to loan out a small system to a buddy in need but I'm very choosy about who qualifies.

[MikeBmusic]

As others have said, what do you do when you return a system and the person says to you a few days later 'hey. something's broken, the speaker isn't making any sound'? Do you pay for the repair, or replacement? Get your own gear, even if you only use it occasionally.

[RedJoker]

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

As others have said, what do you do when you return a system and the person says to you a few days later 'hey. something's broken, the speaker isn't making any sound'? Do you pay for the repair, or replacement? .

Of course I would pay. I assume most folks would.

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

Get your own gear, even if you only use it occasionally.

And that's exactly why I have so many pa systems being offered to me. All these folks bought pa's thinking they'd use them again but never did. They're all just gathering dust. None of us do this for a living so it's all just 'Gear Acquisition Syndrome.' One was in a rock band before he graduated and moved. One was a DJ before he got a 'real' job and moved. Two others were beginners that thought they would like to do a bunch of gigs but found out they don't. They haven't sold them to me or anyone else because maybe, just maybe they'll use them some day in the future.

Edit: I take that back. One guy actually gave me a Phonic 410 powered mixer with no speakers.

As I said in the original post, I haven't asked anyone for anything. They all were unsolicited offers.