| Before I begin, I would like to
thank all of the pros out there on the highways and byways,
who bring the shows to the venues and make them happen.
To quote Jonie Mitchell....' I have looked at life from both
sides now...'. Please bear with me while I explain.
I work in-house at "Concrete Street Amphitheatre",
in Corpus Christi, Texas as the production manager/backstage
manager/grounds manager/1941 anti-aircraft search light tech/operator/ad
infinitum...ad nauseum.....suffice it to say that I wear a
multitude of hats on my grey head.
My first experience working in the rock and roll industry
was with a local band in San Antonio, Texas in 1967. Their
biggest claim to fame was writing 'ZZ Tops' hit "Francine".
I knew how to fix their amps and cords and could make the
eclectic collection of parts, which comprised the p.a. operate,
since the U.S. Navy had given me the education and experience
to do the job. I was the equipment-man. I transported the
gear in my 1953 Cadillac hearse, until it died leaving a gig
in Dallas on the way home to Houston.
Through the years, I worked with touring show bands....live
theatre shows....film...television....radio....as a tech/hand/photographer/hairdresser/teacher/actor/comedian.
Having the lights shine in your eyes is more fun than just
setting them up for someone else...just my opinion.
Fast forward.....the current chapter.
As a member of 'venue-management' I now have another view
of the industry. No longer am I the young dog, out there running
the roads, but the old dog, sitting on the porch, in the shade,
watching as the action happens in the yard at my house...just
hoping that all of the little ducks that I have set into rows
do their jobs correctly, in the proper order and that I have
no surprises sprung on me.....I am not fond of surprises!
Show days, for me, begin just like any other, at 4:30 am.
I begin my daily caffeine and nicotine consumption, while
checking my emails and the weather reports. If the call is
for 9:00 am, I am unlocking the venue at 7:00...getting the
caterers going, more caffeine...waiting for the stage/crew
manager and the hands to show by 8:30 and trying to get the
promoter to feed them a little something before you guys roll
in and begin eating everything in sight. I anxiously await
the prevailing mood of the day of the road crew, which is
usually inspired by the previous nite's gig, which I always
hope went well, so that no one has a knot left in their knickers
from the nite before and is still a bit cranky...the pros
know that it is a new day in a different place and go about
their business...others are still angry about something that
happened last week and will just not let it go...these folks
make my day uncomfortable.
As the day progresses and little fires are extinguished and
items do not turn into issues, everything is up and operating,
sound check is complete, we hope....the gates swing wide and
the thundering herd makes it way across the expanse of concrete,
shrieking and squealing with delight and visions of being
right up against the barricade to see the show up close and
later being passed over the same barricade to the security
guys who then take them to the ambulances for oxygen and treatment
for heat prostration....what fun.
Dinner has been served and enjoyed by most. We cook each
meal fresh, although, it seems that there is always someone
whose palette has not been titillated properly, usually from
the band bus...{sorry, was that out loud?}...then it is show
time, and the magic happens.
Show's over...lights go down....crowd shuffles home...and
the out begins. The trucks are packed...you guys get your
showers, mount up into your chauffeured coaches and flee off
into the night, bound for wherever the next gig is, and it
is my hope that I have done my job well enough so that you
are going to the next gig happy with the experience that you
just had at my house...will you have a positive image to recall
the next time that you get out of the bus and find that you
are back at my house? I hope so.
So, you guys are rolling down the highway and I still have
two hours to go...using my whip and chair, to make sure that
the hands get the venue gear put away...making sure that catering
is squared away...checking for damage in the dressing rooms
and disposing of the perishables that were left out...collecting
the x-dozens of towels...getting the clean up crew underway,
'cause there may be a show loading in at 9:00 am.
As you guys travel in your Mobile universe, doing the same
jobs in different venues with different built in problems
to overcome, please remember that those of us who live in
and work those venues, do our best to make it all work out
as well as possible....at least, I do.
We all have arduous tasks to accomplish in a day's work and
as pros, we must endeavor to do them to the best of our abilities.
We are all in the same boat on show day and if we all pull
together and grunt together and try not to stress out, we
can make it a lovely day.
Thanks again guys/ladies,
Rich Moore
Production Manager
Concrete Street Amphitheatre
Corpus Christi, Texas
361.884.8085
www.concretestreet.net
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