The artist is the one that gets 90 percent of the attention at a show. The band, the crowd and other elements of the visual presentation make up the other 10 percent. It's time to give some extreme credit to the crew... The roadies, the techs, the guys with the black shirts, mag lights and laminated backstage passes. On the 'Dance With Me' tour, we've had a great crew. Warren Dieno and Ken Turta have shared the front of house duties (the sound which the crowd hears). Alex Livland is at the monitor desk (the sound which the band hears). George Gorton is the guy who runs all the lights. These guys are the crew which travels with us on every date. However, the local crews (who are provided by the venue or local sound company) round out the people who work on the show - setting up the stage, rigging, putting up the lights, the speakers, 'hucking boxes', setting it up, breaking it down... Etc etc. . They operate the spotlights, they drive the trucks and buses, they provide security, they cater our meals ..... I'm thankful for every one of them!
Jackson Browne was far more eloquent in praise of the 'common' roadie than I could ever be... But let it be known the roadie rules. Bill Henderson said 'if there's no audience there just ain't no show'. There wouldn't be a show without the roadies either. Next time you're at a show and the monitor guy says 'Check, check' into a mic.....give him a round of applause! All hail the roadie!
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