Toronto.....Not again
It's been a couple of days since another stage collapse. This one in Toronto, Canada happened during the afternoon just before the band Radiohead concert was to take place. Four people were hurt, one of them Scott Johnson was the bands drum tech and he lost his life. I didn't know Scott but in my business we all consider ourselves "brothers and sisters" and refer to each other that way.
Scott was a brother, one of us. We all feel a sense of loss. I can't imagine what his family is going through. My family has and still worries about me when I'm on tour. It's incidents like this that make you step back and look at your own life.
I am one of those people that is always looking around my work situation and making sure that things are safe for me and those around me. If I see something that doesn't look right I speak up. The last few years I have been even more aware.
As I have mentioned before in previous post I help build and set up these outdoor stages for a production company here at home when I'm not on tour. So I guess my senses are heightened a bit more.
I will be heading back on the road in a few weeks with the band YES for another round of shows. There are a couple of outdoor shows where we will be on stages built by someone else that I probably don't know. I will be the one guy who will be looking over everything with a keen eye.
Labels: 2012, Collapse, Crew, Lighting, Musician, Radiohead, roadie, Roadies, Stage, Stage Collapse, Stageline, Toronto
Stage Collapse's my view
As someone who has been in the music industry as a touring crew person I have seen a lot of things in my time. The last month has been tough for people in my industry. Today another stage was damaged, this time in Belgium. In this case and also in Indiana and Ottawa it appears that weather played a major role in these stages collapsing.
Several people including concert patrons were killed and injured. No one wants to see this happen especially us who are responsible for building these stages.
Most of these years I have worked as a lighting director and or tech. I also have worked in other areas too. The last few years I went back to working for a regional production company when I am not touring. We provide all aspects of production, sound, lighting, backline, trucking and yes staging. Matter of fact we own Thomas staging just like what was used in Indiana. We also use
Stageline.
I can tell you we take great care and time when setting these up. Granted there is a difference between the two types. One of them you build from the ground up and is comprised of trussing. The other is self contained and when closed it is basically a tractor trailer.
Neither type of stage will withstand a tornado but they are rated to handle certain weather and wind speeds to a point. Some people have been blaming the stages and the people that put them up as the fault in their collapse. Granted I was not personally involved in any of them. I will say that most of these people have no idea what they are talking about.
Whenever I step foot onto someone else's stage I make sure to look and all aspects of it. How is in setting, are there ballast supports, is the sound and lighting hanging correctly on it, etc. I also keep and eye on the weather especially when I am involved with one of oupr companies stages.
Just yesterday we set up a Stageline 260 for a Barenaked Ladies show and everything went off without a hitch. That stage will get set up again for a show and then on Saturday. One of our Thomas roofs is setting up for a show on Saturday. Our concern will be the safety of all the people on or around. Not because of what has recently happened, but for the fact this is always what we have done.
If weather becomes a factor we will take the necessary action to assure every ones safety.
Labels: Collapse, Crew, Stage, Stageline, Thomas
H1N1 Virus
This virus is all over the news. It's a concern and people should be aware of it. Will it affect the touring industry as we go through the spring and into the summer? At this point who knows. I think it will depend on how much it spreads.
Hopefully people will be smart and see a doctor if they start to have symptoms. Stay home from school or work if they are sick.
My gut feeling is if it does become wide spread you will see people begin to avoid gatherings especially with large crowds. With the current economy this illness could really hurt the live music business. It will interesting to see what happens.
As for myself I have still not had a tour pan out for this spring. The talk of a tour later this summer is still looking to be happening with one of my regular artists. Of course now with what is beginning to happen I wouldn't be surprised if things change.
I'm not saying it's a time to panic but a time for caution as they say.
I have not heard of anyone getting sick while on tour at the moment. Generally if there is a flu bug or cold virus going around. Road crew folks usually get it at some point since we are in such close proximity to the public. It spreads fairly quick and easy among ourselves since we travel and live on tour buses. I spent most of the month of November with a bad respiratory infection while on tour.
So we wait and see.
Labels: Crew, H1N1, Roadies, swine, Touring, virus
It's good to be busy?
I realized this morning that I only had five days off since last weeks tour ended. Tomorrow it's back to the airport and off to California. This next run is for the month of September so I will be back by October 1st.
It's back to the clubs and I mean clubs. I think the biggest venue on this run is like 1200 capacity. The band and crew are traveling on one bus with a trailer for the gear. Space is limited so I had to cut back on the moving light package that I wanted to bring out. It is going to be just a few moving heads, some strobes and a console. It should be fine though, it's always a fun challenge to create a show in these places.
Wish me luck.
Labels: Concert, Crew, Finger Eleven, Lighting, Touring
3 Days on the road...Part 1
The corporate date we did on Tuesday is over. Things started out with a couple of flights to California on Monday. Of course my connecting flight out of Chicago was delayed, thanks American Airlines. I finally got into LAX around 10pm.
The crew did get to stay at a
Ritz Carlton hotel right on the ocean. Now this is a place to spend a few days. Too bad we didn't spend much time there.
The venue was very nice. It's basically an opera house that was just built in 2006. There is a picture of it that you see at the top of this post. This is from their website.
The band and our guitar tech drove down from LA where they are rehearsing.
Just before sound check I was out working with the house lighting crew trying to get some programming done on their new console. They have an ETC EOS, which just recently came on the market. Not a bad console, but there are still bugs in the software.
While I was at the board I heard a crash on stage. When I looked up I see Randy the drummer getting up off the floor. It seems the local crew left some sort of rolling stage platform out and Randy didn't see it and tripped. He ended up injuring his right hand. It is mainly his thumb and the hospital didn't find a fracture. He was able to play some of the songs even though he was bandaged up.
The show went fairly well otherwise.
Want to mention there are a couple new guys in the band for the upcoming tour. Greg Suran will be playing guitar. You may have seen Greg play with Jewel recently. He also toured with the Goo Goo Dolls for a couple years. I have actually known Greg for about 12 years. He was the touring guitarist for the band Machines Of Loving Grace who I road managed for several years.
Playing bass on this tour is Eric Holden who plays with the Bo Deans. Of course Randy Cooke is still behind the kit.
We have a couple new crew guys this time out.
Labels: California, Concert, Crew, FFF, Five For Fighting
PENS NEW HOME
No... not Kansas City. They are going to remain in Pittsburgh for the next 30 years. An agreement was announced today on the new arena which should open in time for the 2009-10 NHL season.
This is a rendering of the new arena.
Just a couple weeks left of the regular season and playoff fever is in effect.
The NHL playoffs will be in full swing once the tour starts. So if you come to a show and see someone working around the stage in a Penguins shirt that will be me.
I wonder if I can get John to wear a Crosby or Staal jersey on stage. Doubtful since he's a Kings fan.
Labels: Concert, Crew, FFF, Five For Fighting, Hockey, Penguins
A Production Christmas Poem
Another one I wish I wrote but didn't....sorry about the capital letters, I copied from an email.
T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS; THE DEADLINE WAS TIGHT.
THE TEMPERS WERE FLARING; THERE WAS NO END IN SIGHT.
THE GROUND PLANS WERE HUNG ON THE WALLS WITHOUT CARE,
WHILE HUNDREDS OF BOX TRUSS WERE FLOWN IN THE AIR.
THE CLIENTS WERE NESTLED ALL SNUG IN THEIR BEDS
WHILE WE IN PRODUCTION WERE BANGING OUR HEADS.
THE SCRIPT HAD REVISIONS; THE COMPUTER HAD CRASHED.
THE MESSENGER WAS LATE; THE PA NEEDED CASH.
THE PRODUCER WAS PHONING TO BRING IN MORE TROOPS.
WE WERE PUSHED TO THE LIMIT AND JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS.
THE CREW WAS ON OT, THE BUDGET WAS TRASH;
THAT GOOD OLE' CONTINGENCY HAD COME IN A FLASH!
WHEN OUT ON THE STAGE THERE AROSE SUCH A CLATTER.
WE ALL RAN TO SEE WHAT THE HECK WAS THE MATTER!
THE PRODUCTION MANAGER SCREAMED THAT THE CUES WERE ALL WRONG.
AND REHEARSALS WERE RUNNING SIXTY MINUTES TOO LONG!
THE BAND MEMBERS WERE BRAINLESS, WITH NO TALENT AT ALL!
THE SET NEEDED ADJUSTING; IT WAS ONE FOOT TOO TALL!
THE MOON ON THE BREAST OF THE NEW FALLEN SNOW
WAS A PAINFUL REMINDER THAT WE COULD NOT GO.
THE LIGHTS IN THE CITY WERE TWINKLING AND VIVID
WHILE SITTING AT HOME, OUR SPOUSES WERE LIVID.
THEN WHAT TO OUR WONDERING EYES SHOULD APPEAR
BUT A DOZEN LARGE PIZZAS AND FOUR SIX-PACKS OF BEER?
WITH SOME CARBS AND SOME SPIRITS WE MERRILY PUSHED ON.
THE JOB FELL IN PLACE AND WE WRAPPED AROUND DAWN.
AS WE HANDED OUT PRAISES AND WISHED ALL A GOOD NIGHT,
ALAS....A SLEIGH AND REINDEER ABOUT TO TAKE FLIGHT.
THEN A JOLLY OLD MAN GAVE A LAUGH AND ADVICE;
"HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL,
WILL YOU ALL PLEASE GET A LIFE !"
Labels: Crew, fun, poem, Production, Roadies
Rules of the road
First let me say I did not create these.
If you are a current touring roadie you should already know these. If you are thinking of becoming one......are you sure?
If you have personal issues, please leave them at home, or have the subscriptions canceled; most significantly, substance abuses of any kind. There's no room for them on the bus.
If you know you're going to have a problem getting into Canada, then you've done this before, and you should tell us now. It's bad enough that people have to go to Canada at all—don't make it worse by forcing them to hear your story during a four o'clock in the morning border crossing. If you know you're hiding this, then make sure you have several hundred dollars in your pocket and the airfare for your replacement.
The Production Office is the production's office, not yours. Your office is the million-dollar system you load in and out every day—hang out there instead, and see if there's a way to take better care of it, or make better use of it.
Do not use the production telephones for personal use. If you need something for yourself, then use your own phone.
The tour manager takes care of the band, and doesn't need to know what you think or need. The production manager takes care of the production and only needs to know what the production needs. The production assistant is your best friend, but that's supposed to be a well-kept secret, so don't act like it.
Do not ask the runners to do anything personal for you. If it's that important, then either take care of it on your days off, or ask the production assistant if you can put it on the runner's list. If you have to think about whether you want everyone to know about it, then don't bother—simply re-read the first sentence of this rule.
There is to be no sex, real or imagined, with the production assistant or merch person—male or female.
In every situation, please try and remember these two somewhat metaphorical tenets for a successful operation; they also work for relationships and other emergencies:
a. Clearly establish and respect your chain of command, lines of communication, and plan of attack before you embark on your mission.
b. Secure your base, establish your coordinates, and guarantee an escape route. (In other words, figure out the best location for your equipment placement, find the safest and cleanest route for all signal paths, and lay it all out for the most efficient load-out.)
Take care of the equipment as if it's your responsibility—it is. Saving 30 seconds on a load-out is not worth two hours the next day to fix a piece of gear, or $500 in Fed Ex charges to send you a replacement.
If you are assigned a walkie-talkie by production, be aware that a replacement will cost as much as you likely net in a week, and will be worth more than you.
Bring your own specialized tools. Only you know what it is you do. God knows we still can't figure it out.
Work as a collective team. If one person is working and you're not, then help him. If you're too stupid to add anything, then go to the bus—but let someone know where you will be. Sitting around telling the same boring road tales while everyone else is working will not make you the envy of anyone, but it could invite disdain from the crew.
If you are the designated crew chief, it's an acknowledgement of leadership, responsibility, and respect, not an elevation in job title. There is no extra pay in it. Someone's gotta do it. Would you rather have some other idiot telling you what to do?
Speaking of idiots, be sure you do an "idiot" check at the end of every load out—this is in addition to staring at yourself in the mirror for an hour wondering why you agreed to do this gig. Do not assume the local crew gives a damn about the gear only you know is yours. If you leave something behind, you'll know it before we do, so get it back immediately or your name will replace the word idiot above .
Do not offer strangers tickets or passes. They're not yours to offer. Besides, you're leaving town on the bus and won't get laid anyway, and if you already did—why bother?
Think twice before offering people you know, including family, tickets or passes. Remember how distracting and time consuming it is to wander around outside a venue before a show, worrying about anything but the show. And you shouldn't be having sex with relatives anyway.
Beware the three-week rule. That's when everyone has learned the show, takes it for granted, and starts focusing on each other's behavioral problems. You've done this before; so don't act like you're surprised at that time of the month. It's going to happen. Get over it. It is also when spouses and mates get bitchy at home. If you don't want to come home and find the toilet seat up, then either give them the attention and detail they deserve before you leave, or don't go on tour.
NEVER be late for a bus call. You will be oil-spotted at your own expense. The good news is, if you're late, you will provide the entire production an opportunity for a lifetime's worth of jokes-also at your expense.
If you find you cannot urinate standing up on a moving bus without redecorating the entire head, it doesn't mean you're a drunk or a sissy. Even rock stars do it sitting down.
Do not even consider going #2 on the bus, or someone will pull your head off and do it down your neck.
Do not leave your new "special friend" alone on the bus, or in your hotel room-ever. I guarantee you, when they are gone they will have taken a souvenir, which could easily be your wallet, or your job.
Do not lose or lend your bus key, or your laminate, to anyone—ever. The cost of replacing either is subject to a market price determined by the most ruthless, twisted, and relentless person available in production – haha we know who this is.
If there are long bus drives ahead, buy a book or some videos, or write letters to your loved ones telling them how much you miss them. Do not ask us to pay for a flight to the next destination. Besides, you might miss a great view of the country's heartland before some deranged extremists attempt to destroy it.
Always sleep in your bunk with your feet facing the front—everyone else does. There are a lot of boot lickers in this business, and you wouldn't want them to get confused in the middle of the night. And if you really don't understand this rule, then just take note of what it feels like when the driver slams on his brakes 10 times during the late night ride.
Avoid falling asleep in either the front or back lounges of the bus—unless you want to wake up with a face that looks like a tattooed princess from New Zealand. Everyone has a Sharpie!!!
If you have days off, do not consider taking off for home. You should've taken care of whatever is so urgent before you left. Instead, arrange for whatever it is to come to you, at your own expense, and don't expect any special considerations.
Do not whine; you are an adult, and hopefully a professional. It's not becoming, and you might invite a kind of sex you do not want.
When you check out of a hotel, always pay your incidentals or you'll become incidental.
You have agreed to a pay rate. Do not suddenly decide halfway through the tour that you're working too hard, or are too talented, for that pay. That is only the artist's prerogative. If you were an artist, then we would have met in some avant-garde art gallery sipping sissy wine.
All recordings of the show belong to the artist—again, you are not the artist. They should be clearly labeled and handed over to one designated person in production. Any material recorded on hard drives should be dubbed onto "safeties."
Do not bother apologizing. Enough time was wasted when you screwed up. Time would be better served drawing a map for yourself so you won't bother going that way again.
No matter how you feel about the music or the artist, remember the artist is always right, and is ultimately responsible for all of you. They have put their trust in you while "up there on the stage." If they weren't there, you would be home wishing you had a gig. Or worse yet, you might be flipping burgers.
Remember, the show's the thing and it's a composite medium. It only works if everybody does their best together. Keep in mind that the audience has possibly spent their only disposable income of the year for one night out. Make it worth it.
The stars are not our friends, they are our employers. "Close to the fire, first to get burned." If they know your name, guess who they're going to freak out on when something goes wrong? Also, it wouldn't be a bad idea to remember exactly who you work for.
These rules are ordered for reference—not priority. Whichever one you screw up first automatically becomes #1. Do not see this as a challenge for how many infractions you can accumulate in the length of the tour. You will not last that long.
If you learned anything new by reading this, then either you don't belong on the road, or you're new, and should keep your excitement to yourself. We advise you then, to look at it again and again in your bunk with a flashlight, as if it were a girlie magazine. If it gets you titillated, we don't want to know about it.
Be nice(not tour manager applicable), be great, and have fun.
Labels: Crew, Road, Roadies, Touring
