Gongsters on the Road: Why You Need a Tech Rider (and How to Use One)

Posted by Lydia Querian Hey Gongsters,

If you’ve been gigging around with your kulintang ensemble, you already know the hustle is real. From loading up gongs to trying to explain to venue tech crews that your agong isn’t “just a gong,” it can get… interesting.

That’s why having a Tech Rider is clutch.

So What Is a Tech Rider Anyway?

A Tech Rider is a document you give to venues, festivals, or events that lays out all your technical needs for your performance. Think of it like your band's wish list for how to make you sound amazing on stage. It tells sound engineers what gear you’re bringing, what gear you need from them, how to mic everything, and how to make your instruments shine.

Here’s the thing though—most sound engineers have never worked with kulintang before. That’s no shade—it’s just rare. So let’s help them help you.

Your House of Gongs fam has put together a sample tech rider you can customize for your gigs. Because let’s face it: you put in the work, practice, research, and cultural responsibility to play these ancestral instruments—you deserve a setup that honors that sound.

Standard Kulintang Ensemble Tech Rider

Musician Lineup: 5 musicians

Equipment We Will Bring:

• Kulintang: 8 gongs on a wooden frame (approx. 6ft W x 1ft D x 1ft H)

• Dabakan: 1 goblet drum

• Agong: 2 large bass gongs hanging from a beam

• Gandingan: 4 mid-range gongs hanging from a beam

• Babandil: 1 small handheld timekeeper gong

• (Optional) Laptop: for audio playback (on stage or from FOH - Front of House)
  

Equipment We Will Need:

• Microphones (see input list below)

• 2 chairs

Input List

Instrument	Amp	DI Box	Mic(s)
Kulintang	No	No	3 instrument mics
Dabakan	No	No	1 instrument mic
Agong	No	No	2 instrument mics
Gandingan	No	No	2 instrument mics
Babandil	No	No	1 instrument mic
[Playback]	No	Yes	2 line inputs (L-R)

Note: Confirm with your musical director if any instrument other than kulintang needs a solo feature.

Mixing Notes for Kulintang Ensemble

Instrument	Mic Placement	Mix Note
Kulintang	3 dynamic mics placed 6–12” below/in front	Front and center. This is the lead.
Dabakan	1 dynamic close to drum head	Adds roundness under kulintang
Agong	2 dynamic mics at rear sides, 1 center for solo	Needs to boom—this is your bass
Gandingan	2 mics near hands	Adds color. Feature when needed.
Babandil	1 mic if needed	Like a clave—needs little support

Staging and Strike Notes

Best practice? Have everything pre-assembled and staged in the wings so it’s easy to roll on and off stage. Depending on how many hands you’ve got, you can do a full strike in under 2 minutes.

Instrument	Move Crew
Kulintang	2 people
Dabakan	1 person
Agong	2 people
Gandingan	2 people
Babandil	Musician carries themselves

Final Notes for the Gongster Soul

You deserve to be heard clearly. Our sounds are sacred, and how they show up on stage matters. A tech rider is logistics, yes and a VERY IMPORTANT ONE but also—it’s about RESPECT. Respect for your artistry, your lineage, and your audience’s experience.

If you need help customizing your own tech rider or talking to venues about this stuff, holla at your knock with a “tao po” at the House of Gongs. We got you!

And remember, May the gongs be with you—always.