Backline no longer means backline?

A singer hired me for an out of town gig in Texarkana. I asked him about the backline at the festival stage. He started describing the PA, mic stands, mics, monitors and lights. But he never mentioned drums or amps. When inquired about those things he said, "Oh, backline no longer means amps and stuff. I looked it up on Wikopedia.".

So, the festival is providing a backline. But that does not include any backline equipment. What they are providing is what I always called 'the house system'. Why in the WORLD would they want to confuse traveling musicians that way. I can easily see folks traveling a long way expecting to find 'backline' amps and show up with nothing.

Has anyone else heard of this?

The great thing about Wikipedia is that anyone can edit it. The worst thing about Wikipedia is that anyone can edit it. It's super reliable that way...

Maybe someone with some 'sperience should educate the poor bastage about his mixed up terminology.

The singer is woefully mistaken about the definition of backline.

Here's what Wikipedia actually says:

In British English the term "backline" refers to the musical instruments used by bands on stage (drum kits, guitar and bass amps, keyboards, etc); the backline being the equipment that stands behind the band or at the back of the stage.

Which is not to say that the festival is actually providing any! I'd try to contact them directly and see what they have to say!!!

Cheers, Tim

very deceptive and dangerous for both the promoter and the bands ... i always tell my guys to bring their own rigs *just in case* unless i've gotten rock-solid assurance that the backline gear (1) will actually be there, and (2) is of sufficient quality to carry the day.

So the guy's an idiot for two reasons:

1: For looking at wikipedia in the first place

2: For misinterpreting a pretty easy definintion:

In British English the term "backline" refers to the musical instruments used by bands on stage (drum kits, guitar and bass amps, keyboards, etc); the backline being the equipment that stands behind the band or at the back of the stage. In the 1960's, all the equipment including the PA (public address) was also at the back, as time progressed the PA was moved to the front near the audience. Backline equipment can be rented for touring or studio use ((see www.backliner.ch)). Backline Techs were once known as roadies and are the crew who look after, set up, and maintain the equipment

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Raises a lot more questions than answers....Biggest one is whether you have to haul an amp or not.

From one who travels (flying) out of town for gigs with "backline" about 20 times a year ... BACKLINE has ALWAYS included AMPS and DRUMS. "Occasionally" it doesn't include cymbals. I stress 'occasionally'. I have NEVER heard it even posited in any other way.

Sounds to me like the singer didn't want to confess his ignorance of what a backline is, attempted to guess (lights, PA, etc.), guessed wrong, then made up some ridiculous lie to cover his embarrassed a$$.

Interesting. Everyone has confirmed what I already knew.

The singer wants to travel in two vehicles with 8 people. One of the vehicles (his) is going to stay over night. That leaves 6 people returning in one vehicle. Yet, he is saying that we must bring drums, guitars, keyboards, saxophones and amps - because there is no backline setup in the traditional sense. I quit the band once already this year due to the same inexperience and confusion factors. I was asked to 'get him out of a spot' since I already knew the material.

Boy, this is going to be fuuun.

Sounds like the best plan would be to refuse the offer.

There's also the verb, which I really, really hate.

I'm sure many folks here have run into bands that need to "backline," or set their junk up in back of all the other junk that needs to go on the stage for any other bands playing. In my area, promoters love to tell horrible little flavor-of-the-month bands to do this, and it not only uses up much of the stage real estate just so the promoter can stroke the egos of the overprivelaged twerps that play in such bands, but it defeats the whole purpose of the act to begin with.

The only reason to ever do something like that is if there are enough channels on a house board, and enough extra gear that the house crew (or just me, as is often the case) can actually soundcheck the headliner first and then leave everything alone until the headliner gets on stage. Trust me, in the dives that I've worked - even with real up-and-coming bands, this is very rarely the case.

reverbbb said:

That leaves 6 people returning in one vehicle.

Boy, this is going to be fuuun.

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Everything is relative.... a buddy of mine does a rural show once a year that involves a round trip in a rented minivan with 8 clowns and their props. Count your blessings.

..but clowns are used to being in a small vehicle with lots of other clown-folk, yes? I suppose that they do have to put all the squirty-flowers in the trunk for traveling though.

Wow.

I just had this conversation again with the singer last night. I insisted that backline only refers to PA system. Then he went on to say that the last two festival contracts that he signed, had the term backline defined as meaning only PA, mic and lighting.

I guess it is no point to argue with him. I am bringing my own amp any way.

It is just odd. The whole point to providing a 'backline' is to reduce stage change-over time between bands and have some control with the has mix.