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Author Topic: Road Stories...  (Read 16964 times)

Ike Zimbel

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Road Stories...
« on: September 21, 2020, 01:16:23 PM »

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~Ike Zimbel~
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Ike Zimbel

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~Ike Zimbel~
Wireless frequency coordination specialist and educator.
Manufacturer's Representative (Canada)
Radio Active Designs
Pro Audio equipment repair and upgrades.
~416-720-0887~
ca.linkedin.com/pub/ike-zimbel/48/aa1/266

Tim McCulloch

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Re: Road Stories...
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2020, 11:35:44 PM »

Some of those early traumas, I've managed to mostly forget.

Disappearing help, intoxicated help, no help... no food, no water, the only thing the promoter did right was have our money ready on time.

I don't miss those days and find it difficult to rationalize any form of acceptability from the way they transpired.  In fact, they are probably why I can be such a dick about how badly catering and hospitality are sometimes handled for production providers and local crew.  That's my segue to:

Rob Zombie, close to 20 years ago.  I'm working as a local IATSE hand at the county arena.  Zombie carrying their own stage.  Everything has to ramp off the trucks, it's June in Kansas so it's 95°F with matching humidity by noon.  Rob is walking from dressing room to catering and takes a look in the arena at the sweating and slow hands.  He asked a couple of them if they were okay and he caught the brave smile and the lie of "we're okay."  He started yelling for the venue manager and demanded to know why there was no climate control.  Turns out the county only turns on the air conditioning or heat when the promoter pays for it.  Zombie demanded the promoter rep, who scurried to the arena floor.  He told the venue and promoter there needed to be cool air blowing in 10 minutes or he might have to cancel the show.  "Those people are the reason we can play tonight, why are you fucking them like this?  Get the air on, now."  He then went to catering and carried back cases of bottled water and started handing them out to the crew.  "Drink the whole thing, do it now."

The star turned a shitty day at work in a crappy, hot arena into a more civilized day.  Thanks, Rob!
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"If you're passing on your way, from Palm Springs to L.A., Give a wave to good ol' Dave, Say hello to progress and goodbye to the Moonlight Motor Inn." - Steve Spurgin, Moonlight Motor Inn

Justice C. Bigler

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Re: Road Stories...
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2020, 02:13:34 AM »

Rob Zombie, close to 20 years ago.  I'm working as a local IATSE hand at the county arena.  Zombie carrying their own stage.  Everything has to ramp off the trucks, it's June in Kansas so it's 95°F with matching humidity by noon.  Rob is walking from dressing room to catering and takes a look in the arena at the sweating and slow hands.  He asked a couple of them if they were okay and he caught the brave smile and the lie of "we're okay."  He started yelling for the venue manager and demanded to know why there was no climate control.  Turns out the county only turns on the air conditioning or heat when the promoter pays for it.  Zombie demanded the promoter rep, who scurried to the arena floor.  He told the venue and promoter there needed to be cool air blowing in 10 minutes or he might have to cancel the show.  "Those people are the reason we can play tonight, why are you fucking them like this?  Get the air on, now."  He then went to catering and carried back cases of bottled water and started handing them out to the crew.  "Drink the whole thing, do it now."
Truly one in a million. Most stars at that level won't even show up for sound check, let alone the middle of load in.
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Justice C. Bigler
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Tim McCulloch

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Re: Road Stories...
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2020, 12:50:00 PM »

Truly one in a million. Most stars at that level won't even show up for sound check, let alone the middle of load in.

Rob is a class act and his intervention on behalf of the crew was noticed and very much appreciated by them.

Another artist that "gets it" is Ringo Starr.  My shop did an arena show for the All Starr Band a couple years ago.  Ringo walked through catering and chatted up those present and added "if you would like a picture, now is a really good time."  Local crew and production are trained to NEVER ask an artist for anything, don't even talk to them unless they address you first, that kind of thing.  He stayed a good 15 or 20 minutes, open and kind, and came back through a couple more times.  It's gratifying when performers notice and acknowledge the people that make things happen.

Willie Nelson, ditto.

The Most Paranoid award is probably a tie between The Eagles and Prince.

« Last Edit: October 18, 2020, 12:54:11 PM by Tim McCulloch »
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"If you're passing on your way, from Palm Springs to L.A., Give a wave to good ol' Dave, Say hello to progress and goodbye to the Moonlight Motor Inn." - Steve Spurgin, Moonlight Motor Inn

Dan Mortensen

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Re: Road Stories...
« Reply #5 on: October 18, 2020, 05:32:28 PM »

The Most Paranoid award is probably a tie between The Eagles and Prince.

Add Art Garfunkel to that list...

Nice stories!
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Dave Garoutte

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Re: Road Stories...
« Reply #6 on: October 18, 2020, 06:19:23 PM »

Van Morrison was doing a pre-tour set up and run-through at a local (really nice) rehearsal studio and his manager instructed the employees not to look at or talk to Van.  I've called him Voldemort ever since then.
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Matthew Knischewsky

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Re: Road Stories...
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2020, 10:10:11 PM »

...and here's another one:https://www.prosoundweb.com/road-stories-a-moment-in-time-two-gigs-with-eric-burdon-circa-1982/

The Coronet was way before my time (I was only 5 or so years old when the original location closed) but knowing who booked that room I'm not at all surprised by the source of the crew!
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Chris Hindle

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Re: Road Stories...
« Reply #8 on: October 19, 2020, 07:27:55 AM »

I was doing a briefcase gig for the openers.
Robbie Krieger was the main act.
One of the waiters tells him "These guys do a smokin' version of "L.A. Woman"
Now, they weren't going to play it that night, but Krieger says "Forget it, no opener tonight."
A little insecure are we Robbie?
Chris.
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Ya, Whatever. Just throw a '57 on it, and get off my stage.

scottstephens

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Re: Road Stories...
« Reply #9 on: October 19, 2020, 10:35:22 AM »

Hey All,

   A couple of quickies...First is kind of like Tim's. Early 2000's Somewhere in middle of the country on a military base with Shania Twain, possibly Fort Riley KS. It was hotter than hell itself and someone came and put 2 giant cases of water in coolers in the middle of the stage.  The hands and the soldiers who were helping immediately trapped some and some self-important manager yelled that it was for "Shania and the band".  She came off the bus, yelled at the guy and said that the crew and the soldiers could have whatever they wanted, that they "were the show" and that she was just the "eye candy who sang".  Gotta give her the props on that.

#2, Traveling in the  southwest doing summer fairs and festivals with an oldies group that was completely self contained. Show went well, moving down the road, stopped at a gas station/store to refill the cooler and move on for about another 20-30 minutes and the boss's wife yells that she forgot her purse at the store and it had the cash from the show in it.  I've never been on a bus that has turned around that fast. Thankfully, someone turned it in and the group got the $10-$12K cash and her purse back. She wasn't allowed to hold the receipts after that.

#3. East side of Chicago, Same oldies group. Some guy robbed a bank or something and was being chased by the cops. While sitting in 6 lanes of traffic waiting to make a left turn,  the bad guy's Buick bounces off of the back of the bus, and  goes across the median. He proceeded to pull out a 9mm and fired down the entire left side of the bus. None of us were hurt Thank God. As we sat in the traffic jam, we turned on the tv a little later to watch the chase play out. They spike stripped his car and he tried to outrun 2 police dogs.  They took him down, PAINFULLY!!!

I have lots more but that's all for now. Maybe I will write a book.

Scott
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Re: Road Stories...
« Reply #9 on: October 19, 2020, 10:35:22 AM »


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