ASK A ROADIE - Vol 2: Answering YOUR Questions About Touring
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- Опубликовано: 10 июн 2024
- Touring Roadie answers your specific questions about what life is actually like on tour and working for bands.
00:00 Intro
02:16 Why do some shows sound like garbage?
04:40 What is a typical day on tour like for a roadie?
07:44 How do you go from working local to getting a gig on tour?
09:47 What gear is the most overrated/underrated?
10:46 What countries are your favorite to tour in?
12:03 Can shows get cancelled due to venue limitations?
14:14 Do you actually get to see the cities you travel to?
15:38 How do you handle language barriers while working on tour?
17:47 Do you prefer bands you work for to be hands on or off?
19:43 What is the most difficult/frustrating thing about touring?
21:41 Do you need to adapt/change your personality on different tours?
23:30 Do you get to enjoy the actual show?
25:07 Is backstage really sex, drugs, and rock n' roll?
26:37 Do you actually hang out with the bands?
27:47 Do big tours have multiple crews and setups?
29:33 Logistically, how much time do you need to make a show happen?
31:14 How do roadies know where the f*** everything goes?
32:50 Do bands provide road cases and workstations for roadies?
33:53 How do you know you have everything you need for a tour?
34:43 Do you have to provide the tools and cleaning supplies yourself?
37:32 What are the best tour pranks you've seen on the road?
39:41 Are you allowed to play around with an artist's instruments?
41:19 How does someone generally become a roadie/crew member?
43:06 Outro
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#askaroadie #touring #roadiereactions #tankthetech
I started working as a local hand in 2019. My starting pay was $15.50/hr with 4-hr minimums, so if the load out takes 2 hours we still get paid for 4. Any gigs that are over 8 hours are time and a half, and any hours worked between midnight and 7am are time and a half. My local management gave me raises often simply because I am reliable and a good worker. Now I am making over $30/hr with a 5 or 6 hour minimum for each shift, and I can work every day for several weeks or take as much time off as I want. That's a minimum of $1,400/week for a local stagehand.
I loved doing this back in the day. Mostly touring musicals and groups like The Chieftains, but it was great.
Scott, where do you live, I want in lol, I'm a drummer and guitarist, know PA, lighting, sound mixing, Im in Vegas, I have been wanting to get into this kind of work. Any kind of info would help alot.
are there local crews? i live in pa, just curious if you have any by name that are well known (or infamous for being good??)
Thankful for unions.
I have another funny language barrier story similar to yours.
I'm from Spain, and my band just played our first ever international festival in the Netherlands. There, we mostly communicated in English with everyone (which worked pretty well for the most part).
One time, an audience member said something to me that I couldn't understand.
I replied: "I'm sorry, I don't speak Dutch." Exactly with those words.
He said: "You're Spanish, correct?"
I said yes. He repeated the same thing but slower; it turns out, he was actually saying "Great music, great show" in Spanish to us, but his accent was so thick I couldn't understand it.
I was really embarrassed, but the guy didn't mind, he laughed it off.
T(h)anks! To the people for the questions and to you for the answers. It's really interesting to hear how these things work in practice. Have fun on the tour with EC!!🤘🏻
Thanks Eva! There's still a ton of questions in the queue, so if we get some different ones, there will definitely be more of these!
I appreciate the fact that your face in the thumbnail is twice as long as with other people, because of that epic beard! 🤘😎
Looking forward to the video!
I love listening to you Tank, because I’ve always been interested in anything behind the scenes. So looking forward to more “Ask a Roadie”! Love your reaction videos as well! 😊🤘
Tank! I appreciate the thoughtful response, and it's pretty much what I expected to hear and have heard from others as well, but I really appreciate your input. I'm gonna keep putting my head down and grinding, learning everything I can, and subtly dropping hints to the road crews I work with all the time. I hope I get to meet you when you come through town some time!
Back when I ran a local festival, I always had my own crew running. Bands rarely even brought their own sound guys or LTs, never any roadies, despite having some mid-level European Death Metal bands on. I basically banned the bands from the stage for setup and me and my guys did everything. (Thanks Tech Riders) It went flawless 99% of the time.
The question about bands pranking each other on the last day of tour, I saw Unleash the Archers last fall of their last day of touring and midway through the set Aether Realm and Seven Kingdoms came out and the show erupted into a giant light saber battle with the bands. It was quite a sight.
Super fun and interesting to watch and learn, thank you Tank! Your personal stories and anecdotes are very fun to listen to, you are a good storyteller! I personally like these kinds of vids even better than reactions, and half an hour to an hour is the perfect length for me. I wasn't planning on watching this vid in one sitting but the time flew by, I could do with one of these every week!
Thanks for the enjoyable content 💚
Loved this. Also, a bunch of really good questions that I had no idea I needed answers to. Looking forward to the next one!
Yeah dude this type of content is great!! This was really fun to hear you talk about this! I would love for you to do a longer video and go through all the questions. The ones that were asked were great questions!
I stumbled across one of your videos and thoroughly enjoy all the ones I've seen so far! Fascinating and insightful....keep it up, Tank!! Your channel kicks ass!
This was super fun. I like this content better than reactions and the like. This is really, really informative and you're a great source of information on a topic that a lot of us wonder about but don't have a place to go to get answers.
I agree with you about the country bands thing. Ran stages in Sturgis for 11 years and now I run a venue here in KC and yeah they party hard. Also at my venue we have a laundry room with 10 sets of washer and dryers. Everybody loves coming to us.
Pretty sure I know exactly what venue you run. Hahahaha
That was a great video!! I always love to hear about the things behind the scenes and how logistics and do and don’ts of things!! Thanks for a great video!
Great video! I've been interested learning about these things. Lots of hard work goes on before, during, and after the shows we love. Thanks for the video Tank! I enjoyed the longer video too
Hey man thanks for picking up my question!
Super interesting to hear you mr view on all of these things.
Watching this during my lunch break so the length is great to relax to~
I think that was the perfect length for this kind of video. I slowly started wondering, if I want to watch sth. else when you said you would stop at this point for now (not because I thought it was boring, but because after work my attention span just was used up). Really cool and interesting video! I would be happy to watch another one of these :)
I absolutely love longer videos. And I'd be down for a Vol 3
There's a video of Mick fleetwood's drum tech sitting in a couple songs for him because he gotten sick. It always pays to know the songs you never know.
This video was outstanding!! Learned a lot from you and the questions. Every answer was a good answer.
Hell yeah, I like the longer videos! Keep it up Tank, love the channel!
This is an excellent video. I was a guitar and drum tech for the Wailers in 2003 and 2004 and I always find it interesting to hear how some of the experiences for other roadies were. I left the work to go back to school, but it was some of the best years of my life. You have a new subscriber.
Having been involved in some of those Florida "festivals" from the electrical supply end, I'm not surprised a stage down here wasn't braced at all.
Enjoyed this and learned a lot. Keep doing them. I'm down for longer vids!
Absolutely loved this video, super interesting! Definitely would be interested in more content like this 😊
Love the long format. Just found your channel yesterday as a matter of fact from this video. Been A1 for various venues and companies in the NJ area since 2014.
Nice, man! Thanks for checking it out!
Thank you for making this! You can make 10 hour videos on this topic. I have followed you for a few years. And this is very interresting! Good going
Just happened across your channel and must say I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing your insight, knowledge, and experiences.
thank you for these videos!!! It is hard to find people discussing the specifics and details of touring
I dig this content alot, the 45 minutes flew away and it feelt like I could see atleast the double amount of time before getting restless, and trust me im not a man with patience.
Thank Tank for this vid! 🙏
Dude, thanks for doing this! Feel free to make longer videos. Remember, the viewer can always pause it to go grab a bite or something and come back. Your stories are fascinating and I can listen to them for hours, personally. So keep on rocking your bad self! I'm down with it!
Perfect video for a long drive I'm on. Appreciate the content!
Man watching your videos is making me nostalgic as hell. I haven't toured since 2010. I quit and went to college and have regretted it ever since.
Knew this channel existed for a little bit but i'm just now getting around to watching some of it. You've mentioned in other videos about working with FKAC and Red... I also toured with both of them on Winter Jam a handful of years ago as an audio tech. The industry really is a small world. Stay safe on the run with EC!
Thanks Tank. Personally, I prefer 15-20 minute videos, but this one just flew by! Really interesting stuff!
it's funny when you get to the question of what have you seen on tour(i.e. sightseeing)...my band is a small band on an independent label with 3 records released, working on our 4th....on our tours we see a lot of cheap hotels...usually about an hours drive towards the next city we are playing in so we don't get our gear ripped off from our trailer....we get to the venue...load, set up, sound check right before we go on...play our set...tear down and load the gear back in the trailer...hit the hotel for a couple 3 hours sleep and do it all again the next night...like i said...we see a lot of cheap hotels, gas station bathrooms, and McDonalds(or what ever fast food is available in whatever town we are in....i think the only sight i ever saw was the Alamo when we played San Antonio....you know what tho....i wouldn't want to not do it...
Dude, been there. Spent years in a band in a van and trailer and that was all we saw: shitty hotels, truck stops, venues, and roads. That's it. Hahaha. Totally feel you, and like you, I wouldn't NOT want to do it. Some of the best times ever.
You're the man Tank, keep up the wicked work!
Felt too short. But I listened while cooking. Maybe that's why. Time flew by for sure.
Loved this format. More of this please 🥰👍
I love the behind the scenes , evey show I've ever been too , I'm always watching and friendly to the crew , they are the reason , the show goes as smooth as it does .
I'm not the type of person to watch a normal reaction video. I subscribed to your channel because I love the gear breakdowns in your videos. I totally like longer videos such as because I can turn them on while working. I look forward to the next video.
LOVING THE VIDS!!!!!!!
Great content. I'd love to see more of these!
This was interesting and informative I enjoyed getting insight on behind the scenes
Great video, I love behind the scenes shit. Thank you.
Nice video, Tank! It's really interesting to hear your perspective. A really underrated piece of gear (especially for guitar) is an EQ pedal. It fixes frequencies that don't fit, eliminates feedback issues and can solve all kinds of problems at all stages in the signal chain.
Good stuff man! Thanks for sharing.
What it seems many people miss, or don't seem to understand/think about, is that, from what I've noticed, is that the band members (especially in bigger named bands) is that while the crew are doing their jobs with set up and what not, are usually doing press or appearances, etc.
I think Cypress Hill in "Rock Super Star" put it best: "it's a job, a fun job, but still a job".
omg im so enjoying ur show i only discovered u only little over 2weeks. Love ur talk and knowledge.
Long videos are great. Good stuff.
One of the few shows a group I used to tour with got over seas was cancelled around 1 in the afternoon that day due to part of the shows. The venue said they couldn't do a certain feature of the show that is something through the whole set. So we had to then load back up to leave. The venue knew about this piece of the show well before hand and tried to pull some bs on it cause they didn't like the idea of clean up after. The venue didn't like the response of "Ok we'll pack up and head on home then.". A few of the crew were advised to head out and start telling people in line what was going on. Even in Europe juggalos get very.....ambitious? about their abilities to destroy things when they feel they've been wronged.
Oh man. Hahahaha. Every venue knows damn well what's going on during that show. That's like saying you didn't know a GWAR show was going to be messy.
I knew within the first sentence or two you were referencing ICP. I was at their show in Albuquerque when they got banned. Plus, I had business at the Convention Center the next morning where they had preformed the night before, and it was wrecked! There must have been a hundred gallons of sticky syrup left over from the what must have a thousand gallons of Fargo sprayed on the crowd. ICP wasn’t just a concert, it was fucking crazy.
I did really enjoy this video getting some of the behind the scene details
Lenghtwise it was both good and bad. I was hesitant to click on the video due to its length, but when you came to the last question my reaction was; "Is that it? It should have been longer".
Yes, more videos like this! Thanks.
Thanks for the video - super interesting!
Watched the whole thing while working. Very interesting
Are you a local tech wanting to tour? Pro Tip: Have a business card ready to hand out to key people on the touring crews that come through. Have a current resume on PDF that’s ready to be sent at a moment’s notice. Have a basic tool kit / box that’s ready to go.
Be professional and network!
Love shows like your,s behind the scenes.thank you paul
I love your channel - I was originally drawn in by your Band Maid reactions. You come across as very genuine. I wish I was an expert on Band Maid but I’m still learning. Great idea though.
Good Afternoon,
As far as I'm concerned you can make these videos as long as you want.
Thank you very much for your content.
Link to Episode 1 of ASK A ROADIE: ruclips.net/video/M9btbfZg2sc/видео.html
Love your videos Tank. I would love to see a NCAA tournament style bracket of favorite places you have teched and share stories like you did with the favorite bands you teched for.
Would really love to know about your upcoming tour with Electric Callboy ie the preparation involved for it considering its your first tour for a while. Thanks for the awesome content Tank! 😁🤘
Just Watched the Vid ... Very interesting on Your outlook of the Touring Scene ... Lucky Guy doing That kind of Work Sir ... Cheers Take Care
I enjoy your videos! I think they are great! The longer the better! 😎👍🎸
Went through the whole 45mns in one seating. Very interesting questions and answers 🤘🏻
I could have listened to that for 2 more hours and not get bored. Very interesting video, I would love to see more of those, where you talk about touring, all that's needed in order for those shows and tours to happen and maybe some anecdotes here and there.
One usually doesn't get this kind of insight, you talking about it almost feels like a big 'behind the scenes' documentary.
(I apologize for possible grammar mistakes, I'm one of those german viewers😂)
Great video dude, very interesting, I always wondered how it went on the road
Love these videos
I’ve been on the performer side, but the tech/stage hand side is such a cool insight!
Dude your channel rocks!! I love this content...
Thanks!
My experience doesn't go any further than the regional bar circuit (and occasionally more than one region of the US) but pranks usually became a thing when we were playing a place which had three people in it and two of them worked there. In a couple of the cover bands we would have singers who had lyric sheets for new songs we were learning. I usually did those lyrics sheets. From time to time when we knew the gig might be less than optimal I would change some lyrics to something goofy just to get a laugh. The singer would turn around and say something like "dude why am I singing about cheeseburgers right now?" or "Knocking of Heavens Door" became "Knocking on McDonald's Door" with something like
"take this ice cream machine away
I can't use it any more
the machine has broken down
feels like knocking on McDonald's door"
or it would just be setlists and "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" became "Dirty Deeds Done With Sheep" or "You know I'm a Believer" became "You Know I'm a Golden Retriever". I don't think the bar scene in the late 70s, 80s and early 90s when I played is anything like it is today. In fact I'm sure cover bands aren't as prevalent now as they were then. I imagine it's much easier to do original material now than it was then and maybe there is no regional bar circuits any longer just bands writing their own stuff and posting on the internet, playing locally when they can. I know for a fact nightlife in my town isn't what it used to be.
Awesome insights, thank you!
Talking about also knowing the songs of the band, I think that's how James Hetfields tech stepped in to play for the band when James got burned by pyro.Pyro.
I was at a show where In this moment was opening for Ozzy and all I could hear clearly was the bass drum but when Ozzy started it sounded great.
I was commenting about that at an Ozzfest long ago - the bands before Ozzie sounded muddy and just bad. Ozzy came on and the sound all of the sudden was crystal clear. I made my own judgments of character based partly on that.
Love these
Not too long at all. The info and your delivery is great and it's nice to put on a video long enough where you can do something as it plays. More of these absolutely \m/
We saw GnR when they started touring again, the reunion, it was at the Cowboys Stadium, we were on the 2nd or 3rd level, sound was so echoey, the best sound was in the bathroom speakers 🤪
Being a rodie sounds really cool. I was on the band side of things and honestly it was the most fun. I’m not in that band anymore for a lot of reasons that made it a nightmare. But getting ready for a show and playing was the best part.
This is the first time I've learned you worked with Red! Been a fan of theirs since their first single came out!
More questions please
This is really cool 😎 😊
Watched in one sitting at 2 am and have to be at work at 8. Well worth it, could have watched for hours more. Really looking for part 100. :)
Rammstein is a 5 day build with a 2 stage leapfrog, they travel with a artist village of modular buildings for safe store and prep etc.
this current tour the stage and lighting is pretty much fixed the only variable has been the wing big screens which is varied according to venue size.
Touring logistics is a whole different story when it comes to roadies, I have worked tours from a single van size to full on 80+ truck mega leap frog tours and they are all so different.
Tour prank day is great but sometimes goes far too far
More of this please! I stagehand and run FOH locally, but have low key wondered what life is like on the road.
I like this guy, I think he's probably a great tech. I was a tech from '77 till '89. I was 15 and in a really bad situation at home and "ran away" and joined the touring life as a stagehand, and later as a guitar tech, I'm 60 now and work as a Luthier. I like this guy's answers, seems like a great guy.
Thanks, Fred!
@@TankTheTech No worries nice to see a channel for techs.
I would come back for more videos like this. I think around half an hour to 45 minutes is a nice sweet spot.
Thanks for this. Super helpful for the novel I'm writing :D
I don't carry too much clothes , I figured out the Truck Driving was the best job, so that's where I stay now.some tours are busy with tight time schedule.
But if it's a long drive...find a huge laundry mat so everyone can get access.
It seems like a cool life and cool job. Seems like you love the work and that must make it so much more enjoyable. Id love to find what I love and be able to do it.
I dig this. I personally dont care if its a long podcast style video, or multiple shorter videos like this. I did arena/event security for 5 years woth the artists, so i know that side of things, including my longest being the eagles 21.5 hour day for me, then coming back shortly later for an 18 hour day with a few hours of sleep betwren the 2. So learning what you do is fun for me
To be honest... i could listen to this for hours ^^
I thought it would be pretty much hell except for when you're playing but it's surprisingly smooth most of the time!
Hey man just wanted to say thanks for the video, I love the longform content personally, I have a job where I can vibe out to it and listen while I'm working. One kinda odd question I thought of is for people with prescription meds, whether that be crew or band members. How is getting them filled while on the road navigated? Do members of the crew help out with picking up scripts for band/crew?
Loved this video, on my way home to Milwaukee from Northern WI so this was a good listen in the car. I would love to get the opportunity to guitar tech or even help run a merch stand. Your videos are extremely interesting and I appreciate that you talk in depth about your job.
for me it doesn't matter if it lasts 1 hour or 2 hours or more I enjoy hearing about it
very entertaining man, thanks for sharing the stories. You might have worked w/ an old co-worker of mine, FOH E-ROCK. I'd love longer videos, however with the short term attention span a lot of us have 20-30 minutes is probably a bit long already. I'd bet you're seeing some of that in the analytics. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to more.
Yeah, I've toured with E-Rock.
great video
ok so ive stumbled across here, watched about 4 videos....Is it just me or is this guy the most humble person on youtube?
This is so interesting
Taking about the tech knowing the artists parts makes me think of when Hetfields guitar tech covered for him.
Would love if you came to Norway with a band! I would buy a ticket, travel to wherever the show is and see it to get to meet you. Love your content and your channel! Keep on creating :D
Good job dude! I recently found your channel and I'm digging! I have 1 question and 1 suggestion.
First: I guess the answer will vary but, how do you charge for your work? Is it more like a day of work or tour period? I'm very interested in the backstage world.
Second: Dude, if you make a *"what's in my workbox"* type of video would be SO cool!! The community loves that stuff!
Take care bro, keep going. Greetings from Brazil! 🤘🇧🇷
Every tour is different, especially with pay. It's rarely ever the same from tour to tour. Most tours will usually pay you a flat rate per show or per week, and in some cases bands will actually put you on a yearly salary.