Posted Wed Nov 21, 2018 2:08 pm
Never, I just tinker around at home, proud ameture. If I can ever get out to a Commodore user group, might use that as an excuse to play something live, though. I can't say I've ever accidentally had the drive dislodge itself. It's snug, though not attached by anything other than the circuit boards. It's weighty enough that it shouldn't move, and I used to have that thing nearly hanging off a small metal table that only fit my 500 comfortably. Attaching the hard drive meant it literally had 85% of the unit in the air, and it never had issues like that, though I've gotten a hold of a proper wood desk that fits it all wonderfully now.
Inside of the GVP unit itself, the drive is super sturdy, long lasting SCSII. I want to say there's an episode of the Computer Chronicles out there showing off someone's old setup from back in the day with a hard drive, and he took it to gigs. I mean I can appreciate and understand the concern in a live scenario, but as long as you plan the setup and location well, I imagine it would be fine. On that same wobbly old setup of mine where the drive was hanging in the air, I had the Amiga running 4 days straight to transfer files via a null modem cable. I was always scared of how I used to have that thing placed, but it surprised me with working so well in that situation.
I think I'd be more concerned with the treatment of the computer after the gig, if other people are involved in transportation, like roadies. I'd have a firm talk with them. Ultimately whatever sounds the best for you, I don't like to steer people toward solutions as much as make sure they're not afraid of them. In my experience looking this stuff up, too many are afraid of the real drives. Choose something because it sounds good to you, not because you've been made to be afraid of something else. The GVP unit itself, pricey but not unreasonable these days. SCSII drives that have been guaranteed to work from the seller? 20 dollars. Newer SCSII drives might need an adapter, which I covered in my guide, but those are only 10 dollars. I'd be no more concerned with an attached GVP drive at a gig as I would about having the real Amiga itself there.