The road and another year gone...
It's a very cold and snowy day today. I decided to log onto my blog, which I realized today I never seem to post to anymore. I guess it happens. I find myself on Twitter and unfortunately Facebook. Also there are a few industry blogs and forums that I like to frequent.
Time seems to go by quicker each year. 2013 found me still touring, though not as much as the previous few. The guys in YES have been keeping me busy and 2014 is gearing up to be more so than 2013.
The music business is shifting on so many levels. Bands are making very little money selling their music. So touring is a means to make some real money and if they are lucky a living. The bean counters have really stuck there noses into the industry. Managers, accountants and even the bands themselves are cutting back on salaries offers. They are also pushing to cut back on the amount of people they hire and ask the ones they do to wear more than one hat.
This multi hat issue is not new. It has been going on with the younger and up incoming artists for some time. The problem is established and more well known bands are doing it more and more. For example they want the same person to do sound and road manage. Or they want someone to set up the band gear and handle the merchandise. Yet they only want to pay them the equivalent of one job or even less.
What this is leading to is the quality of work is suffering. Also I believe it will lead to safety issues as well.
As a fan it will effect you to a point. The quality of the product will go down. Say if you have an young inexperienced sound person mixing your favorite band and it sounds bad, you a not getting what you paid for. This will come back on the artist because "you" the fan may not be willing to pay your hard earned money to see them the next time around.
Labels: 2014, Band, Canada, North America, Progressive, Road, roadie, Roadies, Salary, Snow, Tour, Tours, Travel, YES
Toronto
Just a few days into the tour and I am tired already. It's sucks getting old. Things kicked off on a solid note in Columbus the other night. Everyone was a little rusty but the show went pretty well and the crowd was appreciative. Day two featured a trip to the motor city. Besides some issues with the bands monitors the show went ok. Again the crowd seemed to enjoy it and sang along at several points in the show.
We arrived in Toronto around 5 am yesterday morning and I found myself venturing to my room while still half asleep. Along with point a couple of the guys in the right direction since they had a bit much to drink on the ride here.
It's a busy schedule the next couple of days. We set up yesterday at MTV for a private event that they are having tonight. The guys will be closing the show. One of the other artists on the bill is Alanis Morissette. She is going on early and playing an acoustic set.
This afternoon we head over to Muchmusic so that some of the guys can perform a short acoustic set.
For me today it is easy since I won't be running lights for either performance since television is involved.
Tomorrow is a different story. We will be at Massey Hall for a concert. I have a lighting system coming in that I designed and will be using for three of the next four shows. If you are attending any of them you will be seeing the band in a whole new light. Pun intended. They actually will be doing something special for these Canadian shows.
The interesting part of the next couple days will be the weather. It appears a major winter storm will be coming up the east coast and will impact the northeast part of the US and southeast part of Canada. They are calling for up to a foot in most areas. So it will be interesting to see what happens as far as the show. Hopefully it won't be postponed.
Last time I was in Toronto with the guys back in December we had a major snow storm. I think someone is trying to tell us something.
Labels: Concert, F11, Finger Eleven, Snow
Oh Canada!
Two weeks have gone by rather quickly. Thousands of miles under our belts and several live concerts and a couple acoustic performances we are back in Toronto and getting ready to do a live show on Much Music. The show will be live Monday at 8pm and the guys will be performing 5 songs.
We flew in from Phoenix last night just as a major snow storm was hitting the area.
This morning I woke up to about a foot of snow and ventured over to the television studio. We set up the backline and the guys came in to sound check.
Tomorrow afternoon we will run through a rehearsal and the show will do the camera blocking. The guys will also be doing a couple of interviews.
So this evening I am spending time in my hotel suite trying to stay warm and get some sleep. I will be heading home on tuesday for the holidays. The real stress begins since I have done no Christmas shopping. This is unusual for me since I generally have it done by now. Get ready for a lot of gift cards my friends.
Labels: Canada, Christmas, Finger Eleven, Holidays, Snow, Touring
Are you kidding me??!!
It's mid April and spring time at least that what the calendar says. Well it seems we are going to get a big snow storm here in the Northeast tomorrow and Monday.
This could not come at a worse time. I have a flight on Monday at noon to Los Angeles. We could see around a foot of snow. Hopefully the airport will be getting flights out, even if they are delayed.
Then there is the fact of driving to the airport. This in itself could be a challenge since I live 45 minutes from it.
I asked management if I could be booked on a flight tomorrow several weeks ago and they said no. Of course I asked this not because of the weather, but for the fact I wanted a bit of prep time with the lighting equipment that I will be carrying on the tour.
Now there is a potential I could miss the first show.
Labels: Airlines, Airports, Five For Fighting, Snow, Weather
