How to transport band gear in a car

How to transport musical instruments explained by a guy who’s always looking for better solutions

Whether you’re a professional gigging musician or just a beginner, figuring out how to pack all your band’s equipment in a car can be quite a challenge. All of the equipment has to be transported in a secure and safe way. At the same time, passenger comfort should never be sacrificed. The band members should be seated in a way so that they arrive at the gig relaxed, even after long periods of driving.

Without preparation, simply stuffing your car with musical equipment will end up either as a giggers nightmare or not getting everything fitted inside. There have been times when my band had to decide which piece of gear was not going with us, and that always ended up in a not-so-good live show.

It takes hundreds of gigs and years of trial and error to determine what works best for packing and transporting your band’s gear.

We’ll explore some of the most important tips on how to pack and stack your amps, guitars, drums, and even a double-bass in only one car safely and comfortably.

1. Passenger security and comfort

Our main goal is to pack all of the band’s equipment optimally and safely so we make use of the car’s space as best as possible. Always keep in mind that no matter how well you pack your gear, if the band members have to sit in an uncomfortable or risky way, you have to change something. Passenger comfort and security are a top priority.

Neglecting musicians’ comfort and level of fatigue as a result, often leads to poor performances. It’s better to be too tired after a great show than before it.

2. Dimensions

Band’s equipment

Make a list

Before measuring and arranging what goes where the best thing to do is to make a list of all the equipment that the band needs for its gigs.

A good idea would be to make two lists, one for bigger gigs and the other for smaller, i.e. acoustic gigs.

Grouping Equipment

Now that we have a list of all our equipment we can see which elements go with which.

Placing all the speaker, microphone, and guitar stands in one larger hard case is the best way to go. It provides a very compact surface which allows easy further stacking on top, and is easy to carry around by two persons.

Microphone cables, power strips, and monitors, all can be placed in separate cases or bags to keep everything organized. 

Measuring

When we know how many cases and bags we have, measure them all to get an idea if all of them will fit in the car. Be sure to take actual outside dimensions, not internal dimensions from the internet.

Car

Here at Easy Music Gig, we will be focusing mainly on cars, not vans. That is simply because when using minimal gigging gear there is no need for a van. One more, very important reason is that a car gives us much more comfort than a van.

If you are planning on buying a car specifically for the needs of transporting your band and its equipment to gigs, you’re at the right place.

This whole planning and measuring is an ongoing process that changes over time depending on the number of band members and types of instruments involved.

It is not the same playing with or without a drum set. An electric bass or double bass. Keyboards or no keyboards. These are all things to consider when planning a car for your band.

Whether you already have a car or are buying one for your gigs, be sure to measure all the interior dimensions. This way you will get an idea if the choice is right. Cars with 3 rows of seats are spacious and can carry lots of musical equipment. Take out the third row of seats and if possible, the middle seat from the second row and you’ll have plenty of space for your equipment.

If you already have a car, adapt the cases and bags to the car’s layout, but if you are buying a car you are adapting it to the size of your equipment.

3. Cases and bags

Case or bag? This is a question many musicians ask themselves when buying something that will protect their musical gear and make it easy to transport.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of investing in high-quality cases and bags that are designed for professional use. Budget-friendly protective cases and bags get worn out very soon or get broken easily.

Heavy pieces like metal stands are best placed in road (flight) cases. The same goes for fragile gear like cables, pedals, and microphones.

Guitars and basses can be placed in both. It depends on personal preferences and where they will be placed in the car. Guitars in soft cases (bags) are easy to stack on top of cases and amps or speakers. But if your guitar has to go at the bottom it has to be protected in a case.

4. The packing and stacking process

The main rule is to first pack items that are in cases, not bags. Our goal is to create a surface that is as flat as possible so the items that go on top of the bottom items are stable during transport.

First, pack these items on the bottom:

• Cases with stands
• Guitar and bass amps
• PA speakers
• Drums
• Keyboards in cases

These go well on top:

• Guitars
• Keyboards in bags
• Small mixers
• Small backpacks with clothes and accessories
• Individual small monitors
• Anything in bags (small pedalboards, lighting equipment)

While packing gear into the car, empty space gaps that could lead to shaking, shifting, or overturning of musical gear should be filled with light cushioning materials. Also, take into consideration that some case and bag materials make things that are on top slide, which is a potential danger. For instance, placing a beach mat will prevent this. 

My band packs a double bass inside the car. It always goes on top of everything with the headstock facing to the front. Due to its big size, it acts as a good stabilizer for other gear.

For extra protection consider using:

• Beach mats made of foam
• Blankets
• Large sponges
• Air pillows
• Bubblewrap
• Cardboard

If possible, try not to cover your back view from the rearview mirror with gear. Any items that are a potential danger for passengers when braking suddenly shouldn’t be placed too high or should be fastened with bungee cords or cargo nets for additional safety.

Conclusion

These are the main guidelines for packing musical instrument gear in a car. It doesn’t have to be perfect the first time you implement these tips. The only way you’ll get it right is to experiment with different placing of items gig after gig. Spend some time at home planning ahead. The best way to solve any concerns about fitting and stability is to take all the gear and play around with different packing variations in your spare time.

After you get it right, your gigs will become much easier, and you will be focusing on what matters the most, your performances. 

How do you transport music gear?