@galgorah said:
Every city I go to people remember my name. Many of whom want to buy us drinks, talk for a while, etc.
Cool, so the memory of the great Roadie whose blood greased the rock and roll machine won't be forgotten. Good for you!
@galgorah said:
Many people aspire, for some strange reason, to live the roadie life. While I do agree that most of the public at a show only vaguely realizes we're there, People often ask us questions about the job.
Yes I guess you listen to kid say stuff like:
"Daddy, when I grow up I want to be a roadie"
"Daddy, when I grow up I want to be a volleyball referee"
"Daddy, when I grow up I want to be a city bus driver"
"Daddy, when I grow up I want to be a hooker"
"Daddy, when I grow up I want to be a consultant"
@galgorah said:
We Keep the entertainment machine running.
Answer 1: With blood, sweat and tears. Go Soldiers of Rock!
Answer 2: I thought beer, sex and other drugs was what kept the
entertainment machine running.
@galgorah said:
You wouldn't have the quality of show without us.
Sure, and you wouldn't have quality circus shows without the guys that feeds the elephant and cleans it's shit.
@galgorah said:
We know many many people in the entertainment industry. And are very much appreciated for our work. And While things do change depending on if its an arena tour, mid level (large club) tour, or a small travel in a van tour, The whole traveling show is basically family.
Like the Carnies and Renaissance Fairs.
@galgorah said:
Do a search on amazon for roadie and you will find lots of memoirs.
Memoirs only read mainly by other Roadies. Just like this site is only read mostly by programmers, geeks and closeted fat vegan homosexuals.
@galgorah said:
Also Brutal legend is a video game who main character is a roadie.
All right, and your point is? I mean did that game ever came out? Also, the main character might be a Roadie, but the game it's not about roadies, it's a guy fighting. You could make a game about a nurse, that goes into another dimension to kill giant bacteria, but I wouldn't call it a Nurse Game.
@galgorah said:
Roadies are family, as in everyone else on the tour. if a touring support band fucks up then myself or one of my roadies gets to chew them out. basically it works like this. headliner and their crew own the venue. Then down the line (as I specify). In the rider (which each promoter signs) it states that I have final say on all matters relating to the event (except for things like hall fees, ticket price, etc which are negotiated in the contract).
Dude, I've been teasing you, but you are way to uptight about this. I know what a roadie does. I've worked as a Roadie, and I've been on the road as musician too. And Roadies are nobodies. Sure we all have drinks and drugs and dirty sex, and become friends and during the tour we are like a family (incestuous disfunctional one). Sure without roadies the show falls apart (not completely true in small bars tours), But the only moment of glory is when you are onstage making music. The rest is just a job.
And sorry but nobody remember roadies, as nobody remember programmers, or nurses, or the waterboy. They might remember you on a town because you are friendly or whatever. But noone is going to ask your autograph, no one is going to have a picture of you on their room, nobody is going to come to you 15 years after a show and narrate you exactly how you played a show, that you had forgotten long ago. While in another Country where you have never been before, no one is going to recognize you on a bar and buy you beers for the rest of the night.
You'll might have great memories, and great life experience (if that), but you will never have glory. Glory is for the ones onstage, the ones that get remembered. You are just a roadie. And roadies are nobody. (unless you start a blog and a twitter page).
Also, dude, try to grow a sense of humour, at least you are not a drummer. (are you?).