Journal: News & Comment

Who needs a van?

Permalinks to this entry: individual page or in monthly context. For more material from my journal, visit my home page or the archive.

I noted more than two years ago how much stuff we can fit in our Ford Focus station wagon. But I think I set a new record the most recent time I loaded musical gear into it from our lockup:

• Two self-powered PA speakers about the size of small beer fridges.
• A 100-watt bass amplifier with a 15" speaker.
• A keyboard stand and two speaker stands.
• A drum kit consisting of a 22" bass drum, 13" and 18" tom-toms, and a 14" snare drum, all in cases.
• A large bag full of metal drum and microphone stands.
• Sets of cymbals and spare drum heads, each in separate bags.
• Two small rolling suitcases full of wires, a small mixing board, and various connectors and clips.
• An 800-watt 8-channel powered mixing board.
• A tube guitar combo amplifier on wheels, with two 12" speakers.
• Two monitor speaker wedges with 12" speakers.
• Two smaller monitor wedges with 10" speakers.
• Two costume bags containing three sets of four jackets, two sets of pants, and three sets of shirts, plus an Elvis jumpsuit.
• Three bags, each containing a stage light and associated cables.
• A bag full of microphones and connecting cables.
• A bag of heavy metal bases for microphone stands.
• A 61-key Korg synthesizer keyboard, in its case with power supply and pedal.

There was still room for me, my briefcase and personal bag, my jacket, and a cup of coffee (but no passengers). All the doors close, I could (just) see the right side-view mirror, and I didn't use the roof rack.

Ford should put me in a commercial.

 |