Doppler, A Roadies View

Strength In Numbers Tour Cancelled

Where do I begin. Well as the title of this post says the tour has been cancelled. The singer from Sum 41 hurt his back on stage the other night and is laid up for 4-6 weeks. This happened during the show in Calgary. No one knew the severity of his injury until the next morning when the rest of us arrived in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

That night the guys (Finger Eleven) ended up headlining by themselves and played a longer set. This meant I spent the afternoon programming for four songs that I didn't have on this particular desk. The show went off well and the crowd had a great time.

We proceeded to Red Deer, Alberta after the show where we did the same thing the following day. However, we were informed that the promoter for the tour decided to cancel the remainder of the shows except Winnipeg. Needless to say we are all disappointed but things happen. At least we have that show and still have to do MTV and another TV event on Wednesday. Then next weekend we fly down to Houston for Buzzfest.

However, it also means 2 weeks less work for everyone. This I am not happy about since that is a lot of money that I will not see.

Today we spent the day off in Calgary. Tomorrow the plan is to go to Regina for another day off and then on to Winnipeg.

But wait!! We find out that the show in Winnipeg may be cancelled since there is no sound and lighting system available for the show. We have to use a regional company since the touring production was sent home. So everyone plans to fly home. Let's just say everyone is not in a good mood. What else can happen we thought.

We all head to the mall and then go eat dinner. While there the phone's begin to ring and we are informed that the show is back on. Production for the show is available because the band Heart is playing the next night and we can use the system that is being provided for them.

So now I wait to find out what lighting gear will be available. Hopefully the same console I had out here and similar lighting fixtures, but I am not holding my breath.

Well it's off to my bunk since we are departing at 4 am.

Labels: Concert, Finger Eleven, Lighting, Strength In Numbers, Sum 41, Tour

posted by Doppler at 3:31 AM | 0 comment(s)

Finally a day of rest

Finally a day off, well a partial day off. We departed Kelowna late last night and arrived in Edmonton around 3:30 this afternoon. I think I slept most of the way. However on our bus sleep is not very restful. We are on a Prevost H3 and they are so tall and just sway back and forth. I am stuck in a top bunk so I get tossed around like a rag doll.

Anyway after four shows and a couple days of rehearsal let me reflect a little. Things are coming together on all levels. I am still going through the lighting cues and cleaning things up. The guys have also been changing the set list around a bit. I am also taking on a couple extra jobs on this tour. Besides running lights for the Finger Eleven guys, I am running lights for the opener and also helping out the lighting crew and set carpenter.

Hey any extra cash is a good thing. Even though it makes my day a little longer.

I took a few pictures of the lighting just after sound check yesterday. Kind of hard to see with the venues house lights on but it gives me an idea of how things are progressing.

The show in Toronto next month will be filmed for release as a concert DVD. So I have begun to get ideas for the show since we need to add a bit more lighting for the shoot. I expect to hear from the video crew this week.

Labels: Canada, Concert, Finger Eleven, Lighting, Strength In Numbers

posted by Doppler at 11:10 PM | 0 comment(s)

Hello Canada

Well another week at home just flew by. After some home repairs, a dentist visit and auto inspections I head back out on the road. It's off to the great white north. We will be on the Strength In Numbers Tour co-headling with Sum 41. If you have seen the guys in Finger Eleven before well they have a couple of surprises for you this time around.

The tour will run till November 10th, hopefully we won't see a lot of cold weather yet. Well at least not much snow.

I need to pack. Three flights ahead of me.

More to come.

Labels: Canada, Concert, Finger Eleven, Strength In Numbers, Tours

posted by Doppler at 5:07 PM | 0 comment(s)