Written by Ted Goslin and James “JT” Taylor
Planning for a gig can be a tedious process, with the phone calls, meet-and-greets, and client requests. Then there’s the potential that all that work ends up falling by the wayside when the client forgets your request for shade on a hot summer day and you’re out on the gig, exposed and at the mercy of the sun.
Being a professional musician means many things but among the most useful of skills is resourcefulness. Here are some tips for protecting your Pan from the elements when no shade is available:
1. Find out from the client if there are alternatives available, such as a tarp, towels, blankets, etc. that you can drape from one object to another. Use whatever’s near by when finding a your performance area. If given a choice, look for the area that has two posts or objects by which to hang the cover. Preparation is important here, as bringing towels and duct tape can be the difference makers.
2. Bring a cover for your Pan. These are available online at various retailers like Panyard.com but if you’re looking to save money, just bring a towel. Cover the Pan in between sets. This might not always work to keep the Pan cool, but it’s better than nothing. At the least, it sends a message to guests not to touch the drum while you’re on break.
3. If you have one towel, why not have more? Towels can not only protect your instrument(s) but your P.A. as well.
4. Not everyone drives large vehicles, but if you have one and don’t mind the extra work, bring an EZ-up or some derivative of that. They’re hard to get up on your own, but if you can get the client to help, it’s worth having. It’s most ideal for full band gigs, but works either way. You can also purchase an umbrella with stand at most home and garden stores like Home Depot or Lowes. For gigs that have easy load-ins, this is plausible, but some gigs are more difficult, such as the roof-top gig featured in the photo above. Include sandbags and straps to weigh it down.
JT- People often seem to overlook the fact that a steel pan is parabolic. A chrome pan will not last long in the direct sunlight. You can feel the heat reflecting on your hands. I find that the lower pans tend to go out the quickest. The note just disappears and you should stop and cool the pan.
I had a steady at a Phoenix resort where it was so hot that I was dipping my tenor pan into the swimming pool to cool it. I have the have the luxury to play a painted pan on Arizona’s summer daytime gigs. I find that the painted pan does not get hot as fast as the chromed instruments.
Umbrellas, EZ- up canopies, fans, cooling towels, misting systems seem to as important as a pan stand and sticks.
