So there I am, in Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, at about 3 o'clock in the morning, looking for one thousand brown M&Ms to fill a brandy glass, or Ozzy wouldn't go on stage that night. So, Jeff Beck pops his head 'round the door, and mentions there's a little sweets shop on the edge of town. So - we go. And - it's closed. So there's me, and Keith Moon, and David Crosby, breaking into that little sweets shop, eh. Well, instead of a guard dog, they've got this bloody great big Bengal tiger. I managed to take out the tiger with a can of mace, but the shopowner and his son... that's a different story altogether. I had to beat them to death with their own shoes. Nasty business, really. But, sure enough, I got the M&Ms, and Ozzy went on stage and did a great show.

it's the managers that babysit the rockstars, the roadies get to join the party when all the shiat is packed up.

You can't teach the Road.

They've always been techs but in the same way Siamese twins have always been "conjoined twins." No one ever says it except in front of them.

I've done this job as a road manager for the past five years. I hace to agree with TMS that you can teach nuts and bolts, but you have to be bred to deal with life on the road.

It's often a lot of hard, tedious work and hardly the glamourous life many have been led to believe.

I was a non-drinking, early rester/riser babysitter/counselor/soldier/weapon/clock and more for many bands for many years.

Oh yeah, there was also plenty of girls, drugs and fun to be had, but it was the exception rather than the rule.

Still and all, I would take this class were it local to me. It sounds interesting and the connections one could make would be cool.

mediaho: They've always been techs but in the same way Siamese twins have always been "conjoined twins." No one ever says it except in front of them.
===========

Nah, road managers, and techs are not the same thing on any tour you can actually make a decent living at.
I know road managers that are pulling down $2k or much more a week.

I also know alot of audio techs, lighting people, and riggers, that have degrees (sometimes multiple) that make pretty good money as well.

If you pull up with 14 semis, and hang 140 tons of gear over people's heads in less than 12 hours, you had better know what you're doing.

If you're mixing 128 channels at an arena show, and something goes down, make sure you can hot swap, and partially dissasemble a $400,000 mixing console while the show is still running, because 25,000 people who just paid between $40, and $200 a ticket, didn't come there to see mime.

The word "roadie", is very unfair, as it conjurs up images of some drunk with a "free moustache rides" tshirt, rather than stage designers, riggers, electricians, audio enginneers, acousticians, tour accountants, pyrotechnic technicians, luthiers, etc.

THEY ALL FALL UNDER THE TERM "ROADIE".

If you ever tryed to get a decent job citing that course as your qualifications though, they would just laugh their ass off.

Gee, your teacher knows The Pixies? Can I have your autograph?

TommyymmoT: Gee, your teacher knows The Pixies? Can I have your autograph?

LOL. It's a techie thread!

Even the squints have to know what they're doing these days.

Tucci: I take umbrage at your snark.

No offense meant. I'm a jack-off-of-all-trades in my area, just because the market is so small. Watching lighting transform from 100% analog to 100% digital has been amazing and bizarre.

\old enough to remember using a broom handle for blackouts.

Kyosuke: TommyymmoT: Gee, your teacher knows The Pixies? Can I have your autograph?

LOL. It's a techie thread!

Even the squints have to know what they're doing these days.

I'm still wary of the splints though.

Tucci: Wasn't really upset, but was going to look up the Lee/Roscoe filter number for "bastard amber" and see if you got it.

hehe

Lee 162. Yeah, thanks. ^_^

I haven't had to gel-up a 120k rig in years, and I don't miss it a bit.

TommyymmoT: mediaho: They've always been techs but in the same way Siamese twins have always been "conjoined twins." No one ever says it except in front of them.
===========

Nah, road managers, and techs are not the same thing on any tour you can actually make a decent living at.
I know road managers that are pulling down $2k or much more a week.

I also know alot of audio techs, lighting people, and riggers, that have degrees (sometimes multiple) that make pretty good money as well.

If you pull up with 14 semis, and hang 140 tons of gear over people's heads in less than 12 hours, you had better know what you're doing.

If you're mixing 128 channels at an arena show, and something goes down, make sure you can hot swap, and partially dissasemble a $400,000 mixing console while the show is still running, because 25,000 people who just paid between $40, and $200 a ticket, didn't come there to see mime.

The word "roadie", is very unfair, as it conjurs up images of some drunk with a "free moustache rides" tshirt, rather than stage designers, riggers, electricians, audio enginneers, acousticians, tour accountants, pyrotechnic technicians, luthiers, etc.

THEY ALL FALL UNDER THE TERM "ROADIE".

If you ever tryed to get a decent job citing that course as your qualifications though, they would just laugh their ass off.

Gee, your teacher knows The Pixies? Can I have your autograph?


Speak for yourself. I am a stage designer and I give free mustache rides.

Lesson #1: Everything works if you let it.

/Uh-oh. Travis has a brainlock...

Heh... funny story:

My roommate is in one of the best bands in the area. They did a show at a local bar a few weeks ago, and we had after-hours at my place. Quite a few fans from the show were there. Of them, there was one guy trying to convince my roomie to let him and his friend help load and unload gear for shows. (ie, be a roadie). He then proceeds to try and convince his friend that this is what they are going to do. Somewhere in the pitch he actually says "We'll be like groupies, but without the sex!!"

Make sure they teach "how to crap all over the local crew".

It's an essential skill.

/ yeah I been there, they don't all do it

TommyymmoT: I know road managers that are pulling down $2k or much more a week

Wha wha!?!? Wow. That's amazing. I never really did it for the money though. It was just fun to make the engine go.

As far as logistics, that was my area as well. The tech guys reported to me and I planned out routes and everything else. I would mostly hang around the tech guys and gals and make sure everything went off hitchless on a gig or tour.

I think what you're thinking of might be a band's personal assistant or maybe even a "tour manager" who basically hangs with the band and handles their business.

I did that as well. I pretty much did everything but hard tech like lights and sound. I left that to the pros.

Roscoe: 02
Lee: 162

Still doing it for a living.

and Subby -a tech only knows how to do one thing- a Roadie does everything.

Tucci: You need more skills than muscle power if you want to travel with and work for the band directly.

This. If you're actually on the road with the band, then at each stop you've got to explain to the local hands that you "sprained your back during last night's load out." From then on, you just point and leave the hard work for the people who will get to sleep in their own beds that night.

\been on both sides.

T.M.S.: TommyymmoT:
Speak for yourself. I am a stage designer and I give free mustache rides.

Yes I've heard that, but my now ex girlfriend, told me that it was *after rebate*, and it took over 6 weeks for the check to arrive.

;)

Kyosuke: Tucci: You need more skills than muscle power if you want to travel with and work for the band directly.

This. If you're actually on the road with the band, then at each stop you've got to explain to the local hands that you "sprained your back during last night's load out." From then on, you just point and leave the hard work for the people who will get to sleep in their own beds that night.

\been on both sides.
===============================

Been on both sides as well. Fortunately, I've never been on one of those "hey, we can all just sleep in the van, road trip!", kind of tours.

We always had a specified amount of loaders, locally licensed electrician etc, in the contract, yet that wouldn't stop people from offering their services, and beg to go out with us, as if we would actually pay for food, lodging, and airfare for someone who's only qualification was a strong back, which could be found in any given city.

Tucci: grinningdeamon: help load and unload gear for shows. (ie, be a roadie slugger )

FTFY

You need more skills than muscle power if you want to travel with and work for the band directly. But hey, you've gotta start somewhere.

Well, I am learning lights. DMX programming is sooooo boring.

grinningdeamon:

there was one guy trying to convince my roomie to let him and his friend help load and unload gear for shows. (ie, be a roadie).

Never let anyone you don't know, around the gear, and never leave it unsecured.

T.M.S.: You can't teach the Road.

amen brother. and *it* stays there.

Kyosuke: Tucci: You need more skills than muscle power if you want to travel with and work for the band directly.

This. If you're actually on the road with the band, then at each stop you've got to explain to the local hands that you "sprained your back during last night's load out." From then on, you just point and leave the hard work for the people who will get to sleep in their own beds that night.

\been on both sides.

i disagree. no need for excuses." i am running this show, you are going to do the work. dont want to? there will be plenty of people who will."
dont want to sound harsh, but ive hauled miles of 4ought. and i aint gonna throw my back tonight. not 800 miles from home.

TommyymmoT: grinningdeamon:

there was one guy trying to convince my roomie to let him and his friend help load and unload gear for shows. (ie, be a roadie).

Never let anyone you don't know, around the gear, and never leave it unsecured.

and keep your farkin drinks off the racks

TommyymmoT: Never let anyone you don't know, around the gear, and never leave it unsecured.

It was still in the trailer. And no one really knew that was the practice house.

DPWbrc: and keep your farkin drinks off the racks

I lol'ed

DPWbrc: TommyymmoT: grinningdeamon:

there was one guy trying to convince my roomie to let him and his friend help load and unload gear for shows. (ie, be a roadie).

Never let anyone you don't know, around the gear, and never leave it unsecured.

and keep your farkin drinks off the racks

That too. Despite large signs, they put them on the racks, and anything else that's handy. I never hesitate to use my whole arm, to just sweep them off.

Especially if they are blasphemous enough to put their drinks on "Work World", my double door refrigerator sized, Anvil work case with lights, work table, tools, and all the emergency spare parts inside. It is essential that it is the first thing off the truck, and that I have easy access to it at all times.

They once messed with me at the Canadian border because I stenciled "DO NOT OPEN - LIVE CIRCUS ANIMALS" on it.

The NASA logo, and "EXPLOSIVE BOLTS" didn't go over too well either.

TommyymmoT:

If you ever write a book, let me know. You've got some great war stories...

TommyymmoT: DPWbrc: TommyymmoT: grinningdeamon:

there was one guy trying to convince my roomie to let him and his friend help load and unload gear for shows. (ie, be a roadie).

Never let anyone you don't know, around the gear, and never leave it unsecured.

and keep your farkin drinks off the racks

That too. Despite large signs, they put them on the racks, and anything else that's handy. I never hesitate to use my whole arm, to just sweep them off.

Especially if they are blasphemous enough to put their drinks on "Work World", my double door refrigerator sized, Anvil work case with lights, work table, tools, and all the emergency spare parts inside. It is essential that it is the first thing off the truck, and that I have easy access to it at all times.

They once messed with me at the Canadian border because I stenciled "DO NOT OPEN - LIVE CIRCUS ANIMALS" on it.

The NASA logo, and "EXPLOSIVE BOLTS" didn't go over too well either.

sometimes, if im feeling nice, ill spit or ash or... in the drink then set it on the deck. when they come to retrieve, i gently give them a verbal warning.

Tucci:

and always keep a blow dryer handy

Without a doubt. People thought I was weird for travelling with one, but they're life savers.

As far as spills go, lots of towels, WD-40, contact cleaner, and household cleaners are good ideas as well.

At one point, I was piano boy. I used to open the case with the harp in it, toss in a blow dryer, and close it for 15 minutes or so.

When a piano has been bouncing around in the back of a truck for the last 36 hours, at 10 degrees below zero, trying to tune it right away is just a bad idea.

TommyymmoT: Tucci:

and always keep a blow dryer handy

Without a doubt. People thought I was weird for travelling with one, but they're life savers.

As far as spills go, lots of towels, WD-40, contact cleaner, and household cleaners are good ideas as well.

At one point, I was piano boy. I used to open the case with the harp in it, toss in a blow dryer, and close it for 15 minutes or so.

When a piano has been bouncing around in the back of a truck for the last 36 hours, at 10 degrees below zero, trying to tune it right away is just a bad idea.

the best part about a piano tuning is setting your foh sine wave gen at about 228 and playing it at just above audible, and watching the the piano tech go apeshait

DPWbrc: TommyymmoT: Tucci:

and always keep a blow dryer handy

Without a doubt. People thought I was weird for travelling with one, but they're life savers.

As far as spills go, lots of towels, WD-40, contact cleaner, and household cleaners are good ideas as well.

At one point, I was piano boy. I used to open the case with the harp in it, toss in a blow dryer, and close it for 15 minutes or so.

When a piano has been bouncing around in the back of a truck for the last 36 hours, at 10 degrees below zero, trying to tune it right away is just a bad idea.

the best part about a piano tuning is setting your foh sine wave gen at about 228 and playing it at just above audible, and watching the the piano tech go apeshait

====================
Yup. I've had fun with abusive prima donna singers by shifting their pitch (only slightly, only their mic, and only in their monitor)and changing the pitch every minute or so.

There is one problem with what you stated though. I WAS the piano tech at the time.

the best part about a piano tuning is setting your foh sine wave gen at about 228 and playing it at just above audible, and watching the the piano tech go apeshait


DPWbrc, you work with people out of Austin?

TommyymmoT: DPWbrc: TommyymmoT: Tucci:

and always keep a blow dryer handy

Without a doubt. People thought I was weird for travelling with one, but they're life savers.

As far as spills go, lots of towels, WD-40, contact cleaner, and household cleaners are good ideas as well.

At one point, I was piano boy. I used to open the case with the harp in it, toss in a blow dryer, and close it for 15 minutes or so.

When a piano has been bouncing around in the back of a truck for the last 36 hours, at 10 degrees below zero, trying to tune it right away is just a bad idea.

the best part about a piano tuning is setting your foh sine wave gen at about 228 and playing it at just above audible, and watching the the piano tech go apeshait

====================
Yup. I've had fun with abusive prima donna singers by shifting their pitch (only slightly, only their mic, and only in their monitor)and changing the pitch every minute or so.

There is one problem with what you stated though. I WAS the piano tech at the time.

yeah, primadonnas arent always the talent tho. ;)

i used to work for a modern dance company and used to pitch/speed + the prerecorded music slightly for those that were either a) prima or b) good sense of humor. (in rehearsals of course.....strictly professional on my part)

DrBenway: the best part about a piano tuning is setting your foh sine wave gen at about 228 and playing it at just above audible, and watching the the piano tech go apeshait


DPWbrc, you work with people out of Austin?

ive kinda settled here since 04. so i work with the locals( i guess that would be me now) on a regular basis, but i work with a local theater company that does some out of town stuff. not much but i like them and they are easy and fun gigs.

DPWbrc:

ive kinda settled here since 04. so i work with the locals( i guess that would be me now) on a regular basis, but i work with a local theater company that does some out of town stuff. not much but i like them and they are easy and fun gigs.


That's about the same time I moved up here. I had been in Austin since the end of '89 up until then, but for the most part had stopped playing much by the mid-90's. Still have a fair number of musician buddies down there, though, along with a few people over at SXSW and in radio. Miss the people, the music and the food, but not the long hot summers or the cost of living.

DrBenway: DPWbrc:

ive kinda settled here since 04. so i work with the locals( i guess that would be me now) on a regular basis, but i work with a local theater company that does some out of town stuff. not much but i like them and they are easy and fun gigs.


That's about the same time I moved up here. I had been in Austin since the end of '89 up until then, but for the most part had stopped playing much by the mid-90's. Still have a fair number of musician buddies down there, though, along with a few people over at SXSW and in radio. Miss the people, the music and the food, but not the long hot summers or the cost of living.

well, its all about the same here, except COL and SXSW have exploded even more.

/eastside

DPWbrc: TommyymmoT: DPWbrc: TommyymmoT: Tucci:

and always keep a blow dryer handy

Without a doubt. People thought I was weird for travelling with one, but they're life savers.

As far as spills go, lots of towels, WD-40, contact cleaner, and household cleaners are good ideas as well.

At one point, I was piano boy. I used to open the case with the harp in it, toss in a blow dryer, and close it for 15 minutes or so.

When a piano has been bouncing around in the back of a truck for the last 36 hours, at 10 degrees below zero, trying to tune it right away is just a bad idea.

the best part about a piano tuning is setting your foh sine wave gen at about 228 and playing it at just above audible, and watching the the piano tech go apeshait

====================
Yup. I've had fun with abusive prima donna singers by shifting their pitch (only slightly, only their mic, and only in their monitor)and changing the pitch every minute or so.

There is one problem with what you stated though. I WAS the piano tech at the time.

yeah, primadonnas arent always the talent tho. ;)

i used to work for a modern dance company and used to pitch/speed + the prerecorded music slightly for those that were either a) prima or b) good sense of humor. (in rehearsals of course.....strictly professional on my part)

===============

I used to do sound at a 2900 seater house, and we hosted probably the worst, most overrated ballet company ever.

It was pro stuff too, not local. They from like Sweden, or Holland or something, but they were so bad, at least one of them would hit the deck every five minutes, to gasps from the audience.

There was no orchestra. Easy gig. Just tape, and a couple of mics.

I got bored and started playing a tape that sombody gave me of cartoon music, and sound effects, over the com system, for the entertainment of the crew.

I don't normally laugh when somebody falls, but when they do it while you're listening to the bongos that they play when Fred Flintstone is trying to peel out in his car, it's priceless.

For those of you not in the business, the com system, is those headsets that all the crew wear to talk to each other. There is normally never idle chatter, and at times it sounds like something out of NASA.

The crew are the only ones that could hear it, but you could hear the guys in the spot booths cracking their asses off, while the audience was still gasping.



I'm told their own stage manager was laughing to the point of tears, back stage.

HAH!

i said it before, ill say it again..."strictly professional"

/i wasnt drunk, i was just on headset!
//im sure ive worked with this co....

What's truly painful is to have a prior road mate step off the bus when you're doing pick-up work as local crew. You either go for a brew when it's quiet/cuttime or he works you to death in the truck. Loaded out eleventy-million 4 x 12 cabs three high with two other guys and my "mate" cracking the whip on the pushers. He found it amusing.

Tucci: Man, we could do a whole thread about road pranks, and this being April Fools' Day and all...

We're all ears! Keep 'em coming.

grinningdeamon: Heh... funny story:

My roommate is in one of the best bands in the area. They did a show at a local bar a few weeks ago, and we had after-hours at my place. Quite a few fans from the show were there. Of them, there was one guy trying to convince my roomie to let him and his friend help load and unload gear for shows. (ie, be a roadie). He then proceeds to try and convince his friend that this is what they are going to do. Somewhere in the pitch he actually says "We'll be like groupies, but without the sex!!"

That's like saying "we'll be like chauffeurs without driving". If that's what you really want, fine, but what the fark's the point?

mekkab: Tucci: Man, we could do a whole thread about road pranks, and this being April Fools' Day and all...

We're all ears! Keep 'em coming.

OK, I was working for this albino guy in the early 80s.
Being absolutely anal about mic placement, I used to stick my head in the kick drum, pound down the muffling material, and position the mic.

After a week or so, I started developing a rash on my face and hands, that was swelling so much, it was torture. We were doing all one nighters, so there was really no time for the hospital.

The day before I was gonna call in a replacement, I was micing the kick, and noticed this idiot (not too talented, or well liked), was using shredded fiberglass, and a sheet, as a deadener.

I jumped up and started screaming "do know what's in that thing!?"

"Yeah, I know".

"Whatta ya farking mean you know? Do you know what you did to me and how much it cost the tour!?"

"Fark that, just mic the farkin drums"

Oops, wrong answer.

"MIC THE DRUMS? MIC THE FARKING DRUMS? YEAH SURE, I'LL MIC THE FARKING DRUMS!"

At that point, I picked up the kick drum, with 2 toms attached, and threw it off the stage, on to the empty concrete floor.

He just sat there dumbfounded, and understandably alarmed.

"Yeah, I'll mic your drums" Then, I took his snare and kicked it so hard it hurt my foot.

Everyone traveling with us laughed and cheered, though I was somewhat less than amused.

Uh-oh, damage control. I went right back to the hotel to talk to Edgar.

As soon as he opened the door, he was giggling.
"Alright, what did you do to Jamie?"

I told him, and he couldn't stop laughing, and that he glad I found the reason why my face and hands looked like painful tomatoes.

Edgar: "Don't tell him, but he's fired after tonight. Chuck Ruff is flying in tommorrow. Please behave yourself".

Oops I digressed, and forgot he prank part.

That night, just before he sat down on the drum throne in his shorts (the drum tech was in on it) we blew (like 10 seconds before) 2 entire tubes of crazy glue on to it.

When he stood up for his bow, the stool came with him, and he had a very hard time navigating sitting back down.

/hadda buy the drum tech dinner on a night off to make up for it.
//"Damn Trubba Man, couldn't you wait until after the show to do that?"
///I would have helped you.

Touring is an experience everyone should be able to partake in - it's full of perspective unique to the business.

/Currently on tour with a band right now. Four bus/one semi - small theatre spring tour.
//2nd to last show of the tour (in Seattle at the moment)
///...am getting a kick out of these...

TommyymmoT: OK, I was working for this albino guy in the early 80s.

Now is the WINTER of our discontent...

/Damn. fiberglass. WTF. A blanket or throw pillow not good enough for 'em?!

mekkab: TommyymmoT: OK, I was working for this albino guy in the early 80s.

Now is the WINTER of our discontent...

/Damn. fiberglass. WTF. A blanket or throw pillow not good enough for 'em?!

Yup.

Tucci

Drummers usually tend to be the coolest guys in the band, not above hangin' with the crew.

Yeah, normally, but that guy treated everybody, even the band, and star like crap.

Obviously, you've been around a bit, so you know how important it is to get along with everybody. 40 hours on a tour bus, is torture if people aren't getting along with each other.

Wanna hear "not above hanging with the crew"?

We were opening for Stevie Ray Vaughn in Norman Oklahoma.
None of us recognised him for a few minutes, but he was helping us unload the truck.

1982. We all took turns between riding in, and driving the Wineabago (sp?), and being in the truck.

Man, I wish there was a school (no, fullsail sucks) closer to me. I've worked with a few local bands and I'm trying to get a sound job at a festival this year. All I really want to do is be around music, but I'd rather be backstage.

/suggestions?
//contacts?

Baumer: /suggestions?
//contacts?

See if the Farkers above have EIP. Then, buy them beer. Then, profit.