Got gigs lined up? Nice. But not every show is the same. Playing on a sidewalk corner is very different from playing at someone’s wedding.
Your gear should match the vibe of the venue and the crowd. What works for a packed-out bar might totally flop in a quiet coffee shop. And you’ll regret it if you drag your full rig to a tiny house show.
Here, we’ll share how you can prepare your gear for four different types of live shows.
#1 Open-Air Busking
The first rule of busking? Keep it simple and mobile. You’re on the street, maybe in a park, and nobody wants to watch you take 30 minutes to set up. You need to go light and self-contained.
Amplifiers are essential for open-air busking. Ideally, go for a model under 15 lbs. You can easily fit it in your gig bag.
You don’t get outlets on the street. So, bring a battery-powered amp. Note that amplifiers using AA batteries allow for quick replacement if the power runs low during a set. 
Using rechargeable AAs reduces cost and waste over time. Vocal Media shares that consumers can save 70% to 90% over time using rechargeable AA batteries rather than disposables. If you use pedals, consider a rechargeable power bank with a 9V output.
Performing back-to-back or having to power additional gear? Portable power stations are an option, though they add significant weight.
Outdoor performances are vulnerable to sudden weather changes. Keep large plastic trash bags or painter’s drop cloths readily available. You can quickly cover amplifiers and pedalboards if rain starts unexpectedly.
#2 Coffeehouse Gig
This is a low-key, intimate show. You’re background music—or the star—for a chill crowd sipping lattes. The vibe is relaxed, so your gear should match.
The intimate nature of coffeehouses requires careful volume management. The goal is a full, pleasing tone achieved without overpowering the space. Small combo amplifiers are generally the best fit.
Getting a compelling, clean tone at low volumes is important. Lowering the master isn’t enough. You must apply subtle effects. That will add depth and character without significantly increasing loudness.
Acoustic feedback is a common issue in smaller, reflective rooms. Several quick fixes exist.
Phase switch, found on many acoustic amps and preamps, inverts the signal’s polarity by 180 degrees. If the feedback is caused by sound waves arriving at the guitar in phase, flipping the switch can cause cancellation. That eliminates the howl without drastic EQ changes.
Avoid pointing the amplifier directly at the guitar’s top. Sometimes, simply shifting the position of the amp or the performer slightly can disrupt the feedback loop.
#3 Outdoor Festival
Sunburn, dust, questionable porta-potties, and a ton of people—festival gigs are awesome but unpredictable.
High-volume, clean headroom amps are essential for large outdoor stages. Go with a tube amp that’s at least 40 watts, or a solid-state/modeling amp with 100W+.
Due to the intense demands of festival stages, equipment is more prone to malfunction. Back up everything—cables, strings, power supplies. If something dies mid-set, no one’s gonna wait while you run to Guitar Center.
A word of warning—skip Teflon-coated guitar strings. They contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)
A study shows that the absorption through the skin can be a significant source of exposure to PFAS. This is concerning because these chemicals are linked with a range of health issues, including cancer.
The aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, lawsuit serves as a huge wake-up call. It has been filed by firefighters who developed cancer after exposure to PFAS through the firefighting foam. According to TruLaw, cancers most strongly linked with AFFF include pancreatic, kidney, and testicular.
Lawyers estimate that AFFF lawsuit settlement amounts range from $20,000 to over $1,000,000. The exact amount depends on the duration and severity of exposure to AFFF.
#4 Corporate or Wedding Event
These gigs are the ones where you wear a button-down and pretend you don’t own a Metal Zone. You’re there to sound good, not blow anyone’s mind.
These events typically involve significant client investment and high expectations, so equipment failure is unacceptable. Thorough preparation is important.
Test all guitars, amplifiers, pedals, and cables to make sure they are in excellent working condition. Bring reliable backups for all critical components, including guitars, amps or a DI/modeling solution, and cables.
Clean tone is the default. Bring a drive if needed, but weddings don’t usually want fuzz and phasers during dinner.
Visual presentation matters significantly at formal events. Messy, tangled cables detract from the visual aesthetic and can pose safety hazards. Use cable management solutions, like Velcro ties, to secure them.
Bottom line? Every gig is a little different, and part of the fun is learning to adapt. Sometimes, things go sideways—your amp dies, your string snaps or a very drunk guy requests Wonderwall for the seventh time.
But if your gear is dialed in for the type of show you’re playing, you’re gonna have a way better time and probably sound better, too. So, prep smart and pack efficiently.