Flight959 Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Guy's, Whats the score the guys that turn the stage around at big concerts? The road crew people..are they musician/band members or friends of the band that are playing? And why do you always recognise one of them even if you dont know them..? Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepblue Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I worked with a guy who was a roadie for Supertramp, Gino Vanelli, Triumph to name a few. He told me he was asked because he was good with tools and got in via a friend. Then his reputation grew and he was in demand. I asked him what happened?....How do you go from being a roadie to an electrician? He said you burn out from it...the money?....and I quote. "It all went up my nose" Not the life for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Depends on the venue. Big acts have a core group that travels with the band from show to show. Places like Madison Sq Garden have a contract with the local labor unions to provide. Electricians Carpenters Riggers Laborers ect...That do the bulk work. Productions like KISS can use from 50 or so contract rodies. The Stage and production managers are like the choir directors. Hope this helps some. Mick would know more about it as he has been knee deep in it before. My only experience has been with smaller production set ups where there isn't a whole lot of "Flash". Just lights and sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 It's just a job I did it for years. there is a road crew and they manage a local crew who is contracted in each city. theatrical staging. unions and all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Do you mean the stage like the one on U2s current tour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 We did everything from small clubs to stadiums And yes I did U2's POP tour stage almost lost a finger on that. When you walk into a concert hall there is nothing each group brings their own sound, light stage ect... There can be from a box van to a hundred of 18 wheelers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 stones set up time laps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VwpQWGYiyo&feature=related Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted September 20, 2009 Author Share Posted September 20, 2009 Thanks guys... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 interesting vids mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Depends on the venue.Big acts have a core group that travels with the band from show to show. Places like Madison Sq Garden have a contract with the local labor unions to provide. Electricians Carpenters Riggers Laborers ect...That do the bulk work. Productions like KISS can use from 50 or so contract rodies. The Stage and production managers are like the choir directors. Hope this helps some. Mick would know more about it as he has been knee deep in it before. My only experience has been with smaller production set ups where there isn't a whole lot of "Flash". Just lights and sound. +1... and we used friends to do what we didn't do ourselves. There never seemed to be a shortage of folks who were willing to help out with hauling and setting up, and my best friend was actually quite a natural with the lighting. When I used to do the IT training thing, I got a lot of transitional folks leaving the music biz for a job with less road time. From what I garnered from talking with a guy who was a working roadie for a very prominent country music star, it was a great job, paid very well, he just wanted to be home more. Side note: He also said it was very difficult to advance himself as a musician while working that position. He said you have tons of access to folks in the biz, but that you become very keenly aware that their interest in you, as a musician, can be a very fragile thing... and it doens't take very much at all to be written off as sub-par. (i.e. one song that YOU think is great, but they think is crap can kill any future opportunities.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
six-string Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 as far as big concert productions go....there are a number of companies like Upstaging in Chicago and StageCo in Colorado Springs ,CPI Varilite in Dallas, ShowPower in Los Angeles and others who provide equipment and experienced crews for travelling acts. of course there are also speciality companies that provide stuff like pyro crews and giant stage props, show merchandising (t-shirts and souvenier sales which can account for 1/3 of a tours profits!) etc. but it is true that some venues have union contracts that require some if not all of their crews are employed in any production happening there. many bands hire a certain number of "local crew" to help with load-in and load-out too-depending on the amount of equipment involved regardless of where they play. many guys who start off "helping out" with local bands, may move up to work as staff at a local music hall, theater, arena or whatever. from there, it is not uncommon for guys who are reliable and experienced to get offered jobs by touring companies. of course it helps to have a professional attitude and a good work ethic. forget the mythology, working for a band can mean long hours and hard work. one month its Metallica and then the Russian Kirov Ballet, from the Rolling Stones to the Phantom of the Opera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 I think the riggers have to be licensed. If it hangs from the ceiling, you don't want a 19 year old kid with an AC-DC tee shirt doin' the work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitargreg1993 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I think the riggers have to be licensed. If it hangs from the ceiling' date=' you don't want a 19 year old kid with an AC-DC tee shirt doin' the work.[/quote'] hahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brundaddy Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 [YOUTUBE] [/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 as far as big concert productions go....there are a number of companies like Upstaging in Chicago and StageCo in Colorado Springs ' date='CPI Varilite in Dallas, ShowPower in Los Angeles and others who provide equipment and experienced crews for travelling acts. of course there are also speciality companies that provide stuff like pyro crews and giant stage props, show merchandising (t-shirts and souvenier sales which can account for 1/3 of a tours profits!) etc. but it is true that some venues have union contracts that require some if not all of their crews are employed in any production happening there. many bands hire a certain number of "local crew" to help with load-in and load-out too-depending on the amount of equipment involved regardless of where they play. many guys who start off "helping out" with local bands, may move up to work as staff at a local music hall, theater, arena or whatever. from there, it is not uncommon for guys who are reliable and experienced to get offered jobs by touring companies. of course it helps to have a professional attitude and a good work ethic. forget the mythology, working for a band can mean long hours and hard work. one month its Metallica and then the Russian Kirov Ballet, from the Rolling Stones to the Phantom of the Opera. [/quote'] Excellent post! Notice the post count. More ain't better... just sayin'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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