The Starving Artist;s How to Guide: Protecting your gear on tour

November 13, 9:46 PMChicago Indie Music ExaminerJyn Radakovits

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Lastest victim of the gear snatching effecting bands, Kill Hannah fans are asking "Have you us"

Music Musing

Shocking enough, bands being victims of gear theft is circling the airwaves- Kill Hannah added to the list of at least eight other known cases in the US, many on the East Coast in the last year.  Others include Anberlin, Mae, Moneen,Poison The Well, A Static Lullaby, Men Women And Children, among other acts.

While fans of Kill Hannah and Mae took to the internet and streets raising donations in band relief funds, checking local pawnshops, auction sites, and posting e-fliers with pictures of the missing equipment, what can be done to protect yourselves from being victimized, rock star?

Always be aware of your surroundings

With van heists becoming big business, Kill Hannah's loss alone an estimated over $130,000; start watching news for the area you will be touring.  It is asinine it has come to this, but knowing where in town to not stay, or crimes have been committed will help you hold onto your van a lot longer.

Short of sleeping in the van, perform periodic checks on the gear while at the hotel

Do not depend on your hotel to have outdoor cameras in the parking lot. 

A fifteen passenger van can be a bullseye for someone working the theft circuit and knows what is in an unguarded trailer.  Whenever someone goes out to smoke, needs to walk around- go stand by the car.  By having a presence next to the van at various times make it appear to anyone that may be watching that people are constantly coming by that area and hopefully a potential thief will move on.

Alert the police if you see anything strange

Do not depend on the hotel or venue to be watching their lot.  Any strange activity around the lot needs to be reported to the police.  Encourage the fans to do the same. It may not be your van that gets hit, but it will help with fans cars being broken into. 

Keep current pictures and SN's on hand for your gear

Kill Hannah fans were quick to act by pulling out pictures that could be used to identify missing equipment  after their recent theft. The band should keep a binder of all insurance information, photographs of the gear, receipts that can be passed along to police in the event of a theft.

Lock the doors, keep valuables out of sight

You can't bring everything into the hotel room, we get that, but it is good practice to keep valuables out of sight.  Better yet take the small stuff inside with you.  There should be no reason for computers, GPS systems, phones, or other small valuables to be keep inside the van, especially over night.

Bring inside any paperwork containing back or finance information.

You can't bring in all your clothes of course, but haul in more than your toothbrush so in the case of a theft you are only replacing small items toiletries and new underwear can be found easily but replacing an entire wardrobe is tricky.

I hope this crime never happens to any more in the music industry but you have to assume worst case that it will.  Especially since several of these thefts on the East Coast seem related.

Keep your guard up rockers and protect yourselves.