I find these videos a breath of fresh air. While I am not interested in working in the music industry, I find this very interesting and just a nice insight in what goes on behind the scenes. Thank you for that.
Thanks a ton, man! While I feel I'm not the best at delivering my thoughts over video, I really enjoy doing stuff like this and hope they just get better in the future.
@@TankTheTech I think you’re really good at expressing your thoughts. Especially with the drinking video which hit hard for me being an addict. Appreciate you and your vid’s, Tank.
@@TankTheTech I agree that you're really good at expressing your thoughts. I couldn't help but notice that, especially compared to many other UA-camrs/content-creators out there, you use very few cuts/edits while talking, and I think that's very commendable! While I think I've mostly gotten used to seeing so many cuts in UA-cam videos, it can still be a bit jarring to see 15 or more cuts for a paragraph's-worth of words when the creator is just speaking to the camera. So, it's really refreshing to not see that happen in your videos. So, good job! Your videos definitely get better and better with each video, and it's clear you put in a lot of work with each video. Thank you for that!
@@TankTheTech Don't sell yourself short! You have great content, good delivery, and a very pleasant voice. That last item is quite important! There are channels I don't follow even though the content is interesting simply because the host has such a flat delivery and/or mumbling pronounciation that listening is simply not fun …
Totally agree, even though I have no interest in doing a job like this the explanation was really interesting. Also, it was well delivered - clear but with character. Recognise your strengths, Tank!
I’ve always played in local bands, but have had the opportunity a few times to open for bigger/National acts, and I was always amazed by the professionalism and hard work of the road crews, they treated me well and took care of my obvious nerves. Roadies are truly the hardest working people in show business. Loved the video!
I just worked as load in/load out for Rammstein for 2 days at Soldier Field. I was part of the additional hires from my local. I have never worked harder in my life and have never seen people work harder.
I was a guitar tech from 1980 to 2004 touring all over the world and found that most roadies couldn't pay their bills because they put it all their money up their noses.
May have been true back then, but from my experience in touring (2006-present), I haven’t seen a lot of THAT specific kind of drug. Most tours are just rocking ridiculous amounts of alcohol and weed nowadays.
I was a guitar/bass tech from the early 80's to the mid 90's. I was 19 when I went out touring. Never put anything up my nose until I got to know some guys with the stage crew on a tour. I was asked if I wanted to try some meth , (P2P) old school kind. I tried it , we were loading in and I was lit up. After the show the manager and the band told me I did an amazing job that night. I did it often but I didn't let it get out of hand, good memories.
The industry has changed heaps since then man, I slightly remember them days because I was just starting in the industry back early 2000 and have to say industry done a 180 degree flip. Red tape and insurance everywhere, it's not worth taking the risk. Everything is run like big business and you just don't see it like you used to.
And I see all of you when your organs fail. There is no such thing as not letting it get out of hand. Keith Richards must have great PR ppl who are great at hiding health issues. I grew up with a roadie for the Grateful Dead. If ever there was a school for learning how to get addicted to drugs thst was it, but he didn’t. It is possible to be a fulltime roadie without doing drugs.
As a local musician that never toured i find these videos fascinating. I look forward to them and appreciate you letting us peek into that life. Helps to give more appreciation for the crews i see when I go to a show. Keep these coming and thanks dude. 🤘
If you have the ability, are single,and healthy. GO FOR IT! From a van band playing for gas money to big acts that treat their crew well The experience is amazing There will always be shiity days(like every job) but traveling meeting great people and assholes is so rewarding! Im 53 and went out with a few mid level bands in the late 80's ,mid 90's and look back at it and as a whole it was full of great experiences! I would do it again in a heartbeat! Just dont get caught up in the party scene Iknow alot of bands travel healthy now and back then temptations were everywhere! Learn your craft and do it well and you will have a blast! Thanks for the video sir Brought back alot of memories!
I’m 24, currently working as a night guard at a factory, playing in a couple of bands for fun. This does seem like a dream job and I’d love to try it someday.
I work as a "vendor" as an entertainer coach driver or "bus driver". We get a day rate, but we get it 7 days a week, whether we worked that day or not. Our buses are on a contract with the band or production company for a certain number of days and the driver is included in that rate. Fuel is often negotiated and either the bus company pays it and charges the band/production or the band/production pays for fuel directly. We are responsible for everything on the bus, including maintenance as best we can. Some things a driver just can't do as we aren't all mechanics. We clean, we change bedding, we service our generator and basically keep whoever is on our bus happy (sometimes this is easier said than done). In my opinion, from what I've seen, we have it better than most. We get a hotel every night, even if band/crew sleeps on bus. We don't load, unload, or really do anything physical for that matter lol. Plus, from what I've seen and heard, get paid quite a bit more than most, unless they hold a significant spot on the tour. Again, all from my perspective and just wanted to offer some insight into being a touring bus driver. Love the videos! ***Update to original post***. I wasn't going to include this, but after watching your video again, I figured you were transparent and I guess I should be as well for anyone interested in being a touring bus driver in regards to pay. I submitted my payroll this morning as our two week cycle ended yesterday and I grossed $7,104 for two weeks. Some two weeks are a little more and some are a little less, but I would say this is an average for two weeks, ending up around $14,000 month. That is great money to me, but you should see the amount of taxes we pay on a paycheck.***
DUDE.. I love your way of just being .. you.. very straight forward, and no bullshit. You are probably one of the most humble and modest people I've come across on the net, and hope to one day cross paths just to say HEY..
Much appreciated, my man. I feel like I have a lot of moments of arrogance at times, but this comment makes me feel great and I can't thank you enough for it!
Hey man met you on an electric callboy show, I was venue FOH, didn’t know anything about your channel but that was one of the kindest and most professional crews I’d ever worked with and you were super polite and helpful to me when we interacted. I appreciate that we have someone like you representing production crews to the public
I love these types of vids where you go out of your normal react format to share info and knowledge over other stuff and/or make interviews and shit! Thanks a lot Tank, get better soon and keep excellent, mate!🤘🏻🤘🏻
I appreciate this video tank ,thank you. I toured for 27 years doing the same untill the pandemic. Being a crew member paid for 3 kids college home ect... 🤘🏻👀🤘🏻
Really cool Video! I actually ended up working at a Blind Guardian show two weeks ago. Normally I work for a manufacturer for mediaservers used for controlling Video/Led/etc. on stage, but that day I got a call from the vendor Blind Guardian are working with that something was not working with their system. So I took one of our servers and drove to the location. And I can say no matter if BGs own Guys, the vendor Guys or someone completely random like me, as soon as you are at the venue, no one asks who you work for, you are just part of the crew. Cool experience after being out of the whole roadie business for 8 years and starting a settled down local Job.
A stagehand job that definitely pays the bills is working directly with live nation. You can travel between all their venues and work. They give you the opportunity to choose what shows you'd like to work and give you a good time notice ahead of time. According to a few I know who work with them, they pay great and even have benefits
I’m a lead supervisor for an international flooring/barricade (these videos almost never mention flooring and barricade) vendor. I spent months on the road last year and I love it. I only wish I’d found this career 20 years earlier.
My life as a roadie begun as a stagehand tor a Lights and sound company in the North of Sweden. Had my gigs connected to weekends and worked my ass off because i loved the music. I got noticed by a few bands that got home or on their way thanks to me and the crew i worked with. That later led to some amount of tours with some bands. Touring was as fun and exciting as i tgought it would be BUT. I became a dad and my body started to give in. No amount of money could ever keep me doing what i loved at that time. Beng a roadie takes a toll on you. Respect to the people willing to do it because without them there wouldnt be any of the concerts or festivals we all love.
No joke, man, that's kinda where I am now. I became a dad, my body is starting to fall apart, and that has led me to being extremely selective about what I'm taking nowadays.
@@TankTheTech Ha! 30 years of constant gigs ( peak was 250 a year) definitely does that! I hear ya bro! If I saw some newbie jump off the stage, I would tell them “ Hey, watch me walk across the room……that’s what happens to you from jumping off stages.”. My favorite tool now is my Hurry-cane! Peace bro!
I've always been interested in players pay and/or salary but you guys are the ones that really put it all together so the "show can go on" as they say. Really admire how upfront you are with this. Very interesting. Thanks Tank
My good friend that I grew up with started as a local crew member. Then hooked up with a local band that fairly made it and toured with the band. Met people on the road and just loaded the gear. Then he was setting up the big screen and changed what cameras that were showing on the screen.Then was head of road crew for AC/DC for a tour. Long story short he worked his way up to working for Van Halen full time, touring and working in between tours, this was late 80's early 90's. Started around 1981 and worked his way to being very close with Sammy Hagar. When they were not touring he would be in studio setting up equipment. I am leaving out many of the bands that he toured with going to Europe and really hustled and made it so he could an would do so many rolls, the more things you could do the more you were worth to the band. When Van Halen broke up with Sammy they cleaned house and he settled down and lived in Tampa and worked the Arena in Tampa got tired of the road.
Tank youre the man bro. This content is A++! Also, I think you single handedly launched the youtube roadie/tech genre. Im seeing tons of these channels popping up now but i think you are the OG lol
18:05 lol I'm Canadian so no problems there. Tank man, great video. Very informative and I thoroughly enjoyed watching. Sounds like you've had some pretty great experiences. I'll be honest I found you through Stevie T's channel, but love watching either way. I subscribed!
Something I want to add, the money you make on tour you really aren't eating into while you're out. Transportation is paid for, food is paid for, lodging is paid for. If you have a show heavy tour, you really don't eat into the per diem because you dont have a lot of days off. More savings. Another addition is retainer. Much like lawyers, tours will pay a half rate to keep you from going on other shows and other tours. It's a "please dont leave and stay put until we call you". Not always the case but it does happen.
I'm not gonna lie these types of videos are some of my favourite on the platform, never mind just on your channel. It's an industry that's just not spoken about, and I have no desire to work in it but I did have a few experiences being in a band when younger and it's interesting to see what the wider industry is like. I could listen to you just talk about experiences for hours!
Always been a fan of your roadie life videos, Tank. I have a career in touring but in the motorsports industry, and after making connections in the music world, I’ve realized that our jobs are just two branches of the same tree. Great content - best wishes to you 🤝🏻
Neil Pearts Drum Tech was with the band from the start , He started out as a carpenter then got hired as Neil’s tech I am sure Neil looked after him very well .
Skip Gildersleeve was a tech with Rush for years…he was a friend of mine from our childhood days until he passed. Didn’t see much of him in the later years just in passing here & there.He loved what he did & did it well for many big name bands…RIP Skip/Slider
I was a roadie for Dick Dale from 94 to 97. It was amazing. And he was a great mentor in my life. I was paid well back in those days. I was 18 and made $700 a week at first. And than by the time I was 21 it was a lot more. I guess it depends on the rockstar your work for. It’s better to be a single roadie. Than a company.
I saw him at the Imac Theatre in Huntington , NY and later at Boulton Center in Bayshore , NY . You may have been on the first tour , and possibly the second . Great shows . And the crew definitely contributes to the performance going off WITHOUT issues .
@@billsmith2212 yup. That was me. Skinny guys than. Lol. We did the Virgin record store there too in NY. The 9:30 club in DC was my favorite on the east coast
Dick Dale wasn't the most pleasant person back when he owned night clubs in calif. It was a slow night in Dec. So friends sat in playing top 40. He walked in told us you'd better get some people in here or you'll never play hear again. The bands been packing the place on previous nights. Some how our bar tab exceeded our pay and we owed money is what we were told. This was about the time he was accused of molesting a 13 year old
I toured as a guitar tech in the late 90's to early 2000's. I always got weekly rates and it fluctuated from $700-1500/wk Canadian. Working for US bands was always great because I got the same numbers, but in USD.
Fantastic video by you 'Tank'. Lifelong questions answered for me, and so very welcome. How about a video from your perspective on a Band's pre-planning for a major tour.
I worked in Charlotte, NC in the early 2000’s and our company was contacted and asked if they had anyone who was interested in helping set up a show. Two friends and I volunteered and ended up setting up for Godsmack and Metallica. After “joining” the union and paying our dues, we didn’t make much money but we got to see an awesome show!
Where i am from (Denmark) at the smaller places (up to 600-800 seats) the local crew is always volunteers except the the soundtechnician and perhaps the lightstechnician. I volunteer at a place for 14 years where the lighting was done by volunteers, it was a place primarily run by students and several of the persons who handled the local lighting, have since droped the education and become professional sound and light technicians.
I worked local crew a lot back in the 80s. I wasn't in a union, not sure if that was taboo or not, but knew a local promoter and got hired for lots of stuff. I worked everyone from Madonna to U2 to local club shows. I think I usually made about 30-50 bucks, which was pretty good money for a college guy scrounging for whatever muscle work he could find to pay the bills, or sometimes I'd work just to get in and see the show and a tshirt. I'd usually work load in and load out, and sometimes I'd get to go in and see the show in between, sometimes not. Sometimes I got fed, sometimes not (getting food was almost as good as getting cash back in those days). Just depended on the venue mostly. It was a good time, and a good way to earn a few bucks.
Some good transparency there, As you say it is all dependent on skill level and demand, For a long time euro truckers were very poorly paid and it’s only since covid that the wages have become a good standard. I remember the biggest fear of all techs I have worked with was cancelled shows or losing there slot on a tour. You could be scheduled up for a 3-6 month tour, get one week in and get sacked off or have the tour cancelled. That puts you in a very sticky situation because most of these big tours are done during the big summer season and people book up in advance so you may now have all that time unable to find another gig all unpaid, I had a very good friend get sacked off a tour famous for sacking off crew and band members it was a 5 month tour that he cleared his slate for and it was peak summer season. The gigs he could find last minute he couldn’t join due to not having the correct visas in time. It’s a nightmare for any freelancers
Awesome video. I worked for a local band on and off for a total of 10 years. Wish I could have done a couple of traveling tours but never got that chance. Always was something I thought would be fun.
Super interesting stuff. I think the health insurance is a huge one for me. One of the only reasons I still have my state job. Having 99% of your health insurance paid for is just a golden benefit. Saves so much money in life.
I was a roadie for Patti Smith in 1976 at CBGBs. She paid me 75 bucks a night for a 2 week gig. I was young and didn't care about the money. It was the prestige of the gig itself
🚌💭 My cousin Timmy, tho he's not a roadie, he was a bus driver for bands for 25 years, and while it didn't make him a millionaire lol, it did help with him living very comfortable. He bought a couple acres of land out in the country, built a house and a garage big enough to fit his bus if he ever had to bring it home.. Idk where he kept it otherwise.. And he always drove nice cars. So if that's something one of you all might be interested in, it's a pretty nice career to into to❤
W-2’s from multiple states will only impact the rate of withholding from each state but it will also require you to file a tax return for every state where $ was withheld. Each state has its own rate of taxes so you’ll need to know what it is to get an idea of what you can expect. If you have to deal with something like this I would suggest enlisting the aide of an accountant who can guide you through the maze of taxes and filing requirements.
I was on tour and remember seeing him with us I am a stage truck driver. Being on tour is not really what you think it is. It’s a hard long day from 7 am till 12-1 am sometimes then we do it all over--
Hey Tank! A few years back I used to be a volunteer for a local music promoter in Romania and they would actually use volunteers for stagehands and other stuff (backstage people, ticket scans etc...). No clue if this is a common practice anywhere else but basically all that stagehands had to do is move stuff about. No previous experience of any kind was needed and most of the people doing it where teenagers/students. All we got is a free meal and free access to the show for ourselves and a friend, and given that I got to load gear for Children of Bodom, Slayer, Whitechapel and Dark Tranquility and see them live, with no pay, that was pretty cool for me altogether. It was all a work of passion. Not sure if what I used to do is exactly what you meant by stagehands, but regardless it's very heartwarming to see you shout them out! Tour crews are awesome from my experience, they were always (most of them) very appreciative, and the guys from Slayer's crew even trusted us with moving their pyro and gave us guitar picks at the end of the day! You people are great! I've been way more aware of how much work goes into shows since doing that, and it's a huge part of why your channel landed so well with me! Cheers!
Very sad to hear of a country so backwards that people are happy to labor for free…listen jack, doesn’t matter Romania Antarctica or AMERICA…know your worth and get paid for your work.
Lynard Sknyrd were recording Freebird and had just decided it needed a piano solo when a roadie, I think his name is Billy, said “I’m a classically trained pianist”. He played wonderfully and joined the band and there’s a live Freebird from a stadium in 1977 and you can see just how brilliant he is.
I have my mom's ticket stubs from their performance at the Fernandina Beach Rec center performance when Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special performed when their uncle was running for Nassau County Sheriff against one of my Uncle's
Roadied w skynyrd in 96 BP at sound checks was unreal to hear the steinway w no crowd...hit it off w Leon Wed stay up 3 days.. cracked him up that I got really good at pool the more I drank tequila and other supplements...everything I saved was given was lost in a fire of all possessions those things still sting the most..
I wish you had some name drops. You come across like a pro because you never one time dropped any band or artist names. I enjoyed the the content. Not a clue how it came up in my feed but I will check out some of your other videos to figure out what bands you worked with. You got me in going down a rabbit hole now. Fascinated by the Roadie lifestyle.
The part about knowing your worth is so true and it applies to every industry. The only one benefiting from people not talking about their salaries is the employers. We need to get rid of this stigma.
3 million times over. I've never actually encountered this and been in pretty much every part of the industry, but I have heard about it. Ridiculous...its like telling someone not to talk about the correct tire pressure on the tour bus
Absolutely. I've had employers that have said you will be fired for talking about your salary with your coworkers, which is actually against federal law for them to do.
I like your expanded definition of a "roadie". In my mind (from the term used in context all my life), it was basically just ppl dealing with the equipment on or near the stage - lol.
You can buy your concert shirts online for 1/2 the price from the bands themselves. Don't pay the venue that much when you already got scammed for your tickets!
I sort of agree with what you mean and don't know entirely how much they might be now, but in my town which is a small city, usually at shows shirts were way cheaper and direct from the band. It seems dirty to me to have the venue taking a cut from merchandise but I guess when I think of going to shows in big cities I know what you mean. I think your comment is valid totally depending on the venue
Great video. Worked as house crew at the University of Toledo from 1978-1981. Loved the work. Spotlights too when they were carbon arc rods. Great part of my life
Watching this, I'm reminded of Jackson Browne's The Load Out/Stay, The Grateful Dead Movie and The Song Remains the Same where Peter Grant threatens a merch vender. Cool vlog, thanks for sharing!
As a local I have to first say thanks for the shout out and then comment on local pay rates. Where you are and who you're working for can have a huge effect on how much you make just like being a roadie. In addition, the better you are and the harder you work the more gigs you get. I do quite well by any standard and get health and pension.
As a lighting tech in a medium sized theater in Slovakia, I can only envy those number of yours even after 12 years of doing this. We have so called "table salary", which means that for a specific position there is a set of salaries that depend on how long you´ve been doing your job. Of course there is a "performance bonus", but still I max out at 800 euros per month after all the taxes and insurances are paid. No way I could afford to buy my own home, I had to start a side job: I translate books from English to Slovak for a publishing company, and I´ve been doing that for 8 years now.
I always talk to my friends and co workers about their pay. I just say politely “I make X. Are you comfortable telling me what you make? It’s cool if you aren’t.” And if they share with me, I share what others make without saying their names. If I hadn’t gone around sharing that info, I would have had no idea what my worth was or how it would grow with X experience. I went from 50k a year to 6 figures in less than a year with the knowledge I took from that. I don’t work in music, but it’s the same for every industry in the value of knowing what you are worth
The U2 road manager, in charge of stage setup, roll-in, and tear-down, lives in my upper middle-class neighborhood, he's doing just fine. He also works with other bands when U2 is not touring, like Journey.
Thanks for the local crew love! I've been a stagehand here in Germany for a bit more than a year now as a so called mini-job (everyone can take on a job and earn up to 520 Euros tax free). I usually work evenings and weekends a couple of times a month for the shows of a local promoter in town. More often than not it is fun to work with the tour crews, wherever they come from. It might always be the same to-do's but it doesn't get boring.
This was brilliant, not only informative! But reminded me of great times I had doing it! So going on what you've said.... I was getting £10 pd(paid daily) +£100 per week when travelling Europe in the early 90's! Perhaps I missed my calling in life? Never realised how much the band thought of me? Oh well..... that's half a lifetime ago! Cheers, As always much love from across the pond! England! 🏴
Very informative! I was lucky enough to be friends with a local area concert promoter/producer in Jackson,Ms back in 1996. He was able to get Sammy Hagar(right after his split from VH), Iggy Pop,The Bloodhound Gang, Sponge..and some other bands to play a Memorial Day Weekend concert. I was his"right hand man" and was able to just "get things done" for him. From putting up the barricades, security, errands, even load in. Iam a huge VH fan especially Sammy..and meeting him was awesome..he comes across as never meeting a stranger,down to earth, lets all have a drink and party guy..couldn't have been any nicer or funnier. I also was sent to another show that was getting set up down the street. Patti Labelle was in town and I met her assistant and had to go get Patti's laundry from the bus and take it to get dry cleaned.
Good info and solid advice. My Best friend is a touring tech and has worked with a number of major acts. (In Europe right now playing 25 shows in 30 days). He is still on Day rate (But he gets paid for travel days as well - I think it is 1/2 his day rate.) Per Diem for him is like $50 per day. His day rate is pretty high but he is well known in the circuit. He also fills in and plays the same instrument he techs for. Either way… good info.
I made a full time living on the road in the late 80s into late 90s. Always joined local crew (loaders here in Oz) between tours. Stopped for health reasons (I was going mad constantly touring) but I made a decent living out of it. Unfortunately, I also fell prey to the sex, drugs and R&R lifestyle, so saved not a penny. I think I had a good time - it's all a little fuzzy now. That experience has led to so many other career and life opportunities since. After 38 years in the workforce, I've spent 23 (60%) as a freeelancer negotiating my own terms on every gig. You get a feel for what to ask for / accept / reject over time. Good stuff Tank.
dude if his per diem alone is $350 a week that dude has to be making like 1500 a week, DAYUM. That's that per diem where u eat a decent breakfast and a shitty cheap dinner everyday and u save over half your per diem and add it to your paycheck lol
I do miss changing strings on 20 guitars every show, some in different tunings, handing him the right one for the song, his little joke as I walk away, he tosses me his Rolex watch quite a distance, always caught it. Fun times.
Living outbof a duffle bag is rough. But its how i paid my house off by 33. I used to setup production lines. Last big job was setting up a bottling line for sweet baby rays in marlboro mass. Was making about 150/200k yr.. now i stay at home and make half on a good year, and only work a maximum of 40hrs a week. Life is good
LOTS of good, straight talk. And yes, depending on band/gig, market, etc, hands can earn decent money - assuming proper skills, attitude and work ethic are present. 😃 Locals can earn decent $ as well, but its a different world. I traveled a lot when I was younger, but do local work today. And (essentially) part time, taking gigs AS OFFERED (we're a hiring hall, tier 2 market), working of course odd hours and holidays as needed, Local hands gigging ahoqs CAN earn as much as the upper end of what you mention here. It all deprnds if course on attitude, skills set and availability, but that's true for any stagehand worth hiring.
Magic as always, Tank. Great info for the younger generation looking to start out. It would be good to know what a $75.00 first pay rate 15 years ago, would be in todays dollars. Just to give the young'ns more of an idea of current expectations.
I mean, it all depends. Even now, and in recent years, I know people starting out that still got similar pay or even less. Hell, I did a tour quite a few years ago that we literally had a guy that was an "intern", and only got paid in Per Diem. I guess it's all about how bad you want to tour and what you can handle financially.
Been local crew for 35 years and the things that have changed in my time are staggering , there never used to be any health and safety and i remember climbing massive speaker stacks with no safety harness and whoever could drive the forks just did it ...good times ...the only thing that hasnt changed really are the wages and i have usually been paid a flat rate , done everyone from the stones to tiny corporate gigs and enjoyed it immensely...
There is one band i know of that pays their crew a Yearly salary, they have had the same crew for over 20 years. The only thing they hire out and that is for a Merch person usually 3 or 4 and usually the same people in the countries they play.
No body pays yearly anymore. I have a couple buddies on the Metallica audio crew right now. They are on 2 year contracts that are really one sided contracts, where the band can cancel them at any time, but the crew is kind of locked in, I be it well paid. I'm a audio engineer with 20 years experience in both live production and sound design. For FOH or system tech, my weekly minimum is $3,500. Several bands I work with pay me 5K/week. For one off fly dates its $1000 for show days and $300 for travel or non show days. Going the Vendor route is the best, fastest, easiest, and usually best paying position. (at least working for an audio company) I do also work for a local AV company when home and my day rate is $550, that can be as easy as showing up and plugging in some drive lines into a pre rigged system, or could be up to 12 hours of flying a big line array in an arena. Sometimes mixing, sometimes not. Just depends on what is needed. Local crews if non union usually pay about $15/hour, union houses about $25/hour. Don't work for nothing. You screw yourself and everyone else when you drive the price down. On tour they have to pay you for giving up your life for that amount of time. At least if they want someone at my skill level. Very few people tour full time (except maybe Broadway people, which I did early in my career and you can expect anywhere from 1,200-2,500/ week for those shows, but it is usually like 9-10 month runs and if your good; there is always another show to go to.) For most people they have production jobs in their home market and tours are extra money that happens sporadically. Talking about pay is necessary to keep employers from taking advantage of people and keeping all of our pay at a livable level.
As an ex stage hand. It was a hella fun job! Just really chaotic at first when you first get into to it. But once you learn who to listen to and the basics of break down or building up the stage its easy! I would do it again if my back would let me.
Absolutely true that production companies and shows will ask for specific people by name. Getting known is huge. I do the lighting design, programming, and installation. In a pinch, I relieve the FOH for festivals and fairs when the day is staked back to back with performances. The FOH guy dials in the sound, and when he needs a break for dinner, I often fill in on the FOH, since there is not much to do with the lights for most of the day at outdoor events. Upstage lights are on for color, but the real show starts in the evening. When bands are hiring, and they can use just anybody, then yes the pay is lowball. However when you are known, and they call you for your skill, then you tell them your rate expectation and then negotiate. A good LD can do well if the band needs your specific talent to make the show. Not all shows want someone to just push play on a chaser for the show, but want lighting themed for specific songs. These are the better shows.
Local crew in North Florida get paid $20 or more starting an hour. First you join the Union, then you go on a list they will call you, if you say yes you go to work if you say no you go to the bottom of the list. Eventually you will make it to the top and be a working stage hand. You need to have some knowledge of general band and stage stuff but not much. The union will interview you so try to be ready for that.
I was local crew in London for a while before an injury due to working 70 hour weeks for 2 months. That's right 2 months. The pay was not amazing £8-£10 per hour (2010) but the job was grueling but loved it. Worked Elton John, Green day and loads of other shows. You work for 10 months out the year as much as you can the the quiet season (april) you would hardly work so you either take 2 months off or work else where. It's a great way to get contacts for audio and visual companies. Great way to start but make sure you look after your body and know when to say you need time off.
In college I did work as local stage crew and worked some big shows, KISS when they played the Superbowl in Miami, Korn & Rob Zombie a few times etc... Man, it's brutal work! All I can say about pay... is that it's not enough! I did many shows where I was doing load in, worked all day, like assembling the stage / coffin-keying the stage, building sets etc... and then load out. 20 hour days. I feel like I was always a part of crews that were understaffed. I honestly don't think my experience can be considered the norm, I believe I was taken advantage of (which is why I stopped doing it). Not all companies are fair, the one I worked for certainly wasn't.
Have done load ins. It’s not fun but you get first look at the behind the scenes if that interests you. Best way to describe the work? You help someone move into their new home, watch a concert, and help them move out immediately to their next home like they got evicted.
@@TrevyTrev-andTheFunkyPets Yes, not a fan. Getting to help set up Rob Zombie's props like giant robots etc... was cool, but that was the easy stuff. But that part of my life is over. Part of doing that work is why I'm disabled now. That and my full time job as a filmmaker. It's all loading in and tearing down and carrying, lifting heavy equipment like lights and c-stands and sand bags. Red camera's & dslr's with cages and lenses and accoutrements are heavy! Generally we balance the weight with actual weights behind the shoulder, but it's always on the same shoulder. 10 hours of that over decades will cause problems! Stage crew had it's good moments, but I'd take it all back to be in better health today. Not the film work though, that's what I really love to do. That's my career. I love camera work, but I prefer directing (easier on the back too). Stage crew work was just that, work, a paycheck... and we didn't earn enough... nowhere near enough for the abuse we were put through. My boss, looked like Sid Vicious (the wrestler) back when I watched wrestling in the 80s, but on twice the steroids. I'm 5'11 and 160lbs. This guy once lifted a rectangular (idk the tech term) piece of stage (that's coffin keyed together). Which is easily 100lbs or more and tossed it at me from a few feet away expected me to catch it. I backed up and let it drop. I was like WTF? He just laughed and walked away calling me a pussy. Now, I could lift over 100lbs with a barbell, but I sure as hell can't catch it! Let alone a piece of stage as big as I was. Dude, F*** that guy, and F*** that job! I did it for a bit, and left as soon as I found something else with no regrets. Yes, it has its moments and even perks (swag), but I would never recommend it to anyone.
a lot of what you say could apply to just about any industry really, especially realizing you have to start at lower rate sometimes and then also knowing your worth very important. But the best advice was the insurance and taxes. Not a fun topic but potentially devastating if you aren't careful. good stuff
I worked for a local stage crew company in Washington state in the early 90's. I only worked a dozen or so gigs with them, but back then, they paid me around $8-9 an hour if I recall correctly. Mind you , this was close to 30 years ago now.
I find these videos a breath of fresh air. While I am not interested in working in the music industry, I find this very interesting and just a nice insight in what goes on behind the scenes. Thank you for that.
Thanks a ton, man! While I feel I'm not the best at delivering my thoughts over video, I really enjoy doing stuff like this and hope they just get better in the future.
@@TankTheTech I think you’re really good at expressing your thoughts. Especially with the drinking video which hit hard for me being an addict. Appreciate you and your vid’s, Tank.
@@TankTheTech I agree that you're really good at expressing your thoughts. I couldn't help but notice that, especially compared to many other UA-camrs/content-creators out there, you use very few cuts/edits while talking, and I think that's very commendable! While I think I've mostly gotten used to seeing so many cuts in UA-cam videos, it can still be a bit jarring to see 15 or more cuts for a paragraph's-worth of words when the creator is just speaking to the camera. So, it's really refreshing to not see that happen in your videos.
So, good job! Your videos definitely get better and better with each video, and it's clear you put in a lot of work with each video. Thank you for that!
@@TankTheTech Don't sell yourself short! You have great content, good delivery, and a very pleasant voice. That last item is quite important! There are channels I don't follow even though the content is interesting simply because the host has such a flat delivery and/or mumbling pronounciation that listening is simply not fun …
Totally agree, even though I have no interest in doing a job like this the explanation was really interesting. Also, it was well delivered - clear but with character. Recognise your strengths, Tank!
I’ve always played in local bands, but have had the opportunity a few times to open for bigger/National acts, and I was always amazed by the professionalism and hard work of the road crews, they treated me well and took care of my obvious nerves. Roadies are truly the hardest working people in show business. Loved the video!
I just worked as load in/load out for Rammstein for 2 days at Soldier Field. I was part of the additional hires from my local. I have never worked harder in my life and have never seen people work harder.
I was a guitar tech from 1980 to 2004 touring all over the world and found that most roadies couldn't pay their bills because they put it all their money up their noses.
May have been true back then, but from my experience in touring (2006-present), I haven’t seen a lot of THAT specific kind of drug. Most tours are just rocking ridiculous amounts of alcohol and weed nowadays.
I was a guitar/bass tech from the early 80's to the mid 90's. I was 19 when I went out touring. Never put anything up my nose until I got to know some guys with the stage crew on a tour. I was asked if I wanted to try some meth , (P2P) old school kind. I tried it , we were loading in and I was lit up. After the show the manager and the band told me I did an amazing job that night. I did it often but I didn't let it get out of hand, good memories.
Yikes 😬🥴
The industry has changed heaps since then man, I slightly remember them days because I was just starting in the industry back early 2000 and have to say industry done a 180 degree flip.
Red tape and insurance everywhere, it's not worth taking the risk.
Everything is run like big business and you just don't see it like you used to.
And I see all of you when your organs fail. There is no such thing as not letting it get out of hand. Keith Richards must have great PR ppl who are great at hiding health issues. I grew up with a roadie for the Grateful Dead. If ever there was a school for learning how to get addicted to drugs thst was it, but he didn’t. It is possible to be a fulltime roadie without doing drugs.
Did my first tour in ‘98. Pay was $325/wk with a $20/day per diem. Loved it
As a local musician that never toured i find these videos fascinating. I look forward to them and appreciate you letting us peek into that life. Helps to give more appreciation for the crews i see when I go to a show. Keep these coming and thanks dude. 🤘
If you have the ability, are single,and healthy. GO FOR IT!
From a van band playing for gas money to big acts that treat their crew well
The experience is amazing
There will always be shiity days(like every job) but traveling meeting great people and assholes is so rewarding!
Im 53 and went out with a few mid level bands in the late 80's ,mid 90's and look back at it and as a whole it was full of great experiences!
I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Just dont get caught up in the party scene
Iknow alot of bands travel healthy now and back then temptations were everywhere!
Learn your craft and do it well and you will have a blast!
Thanks for the video sir
Brought back alot of memories!
I’m 24, currently working as a night guard at a factory, playing in a couple of bands for fun. This does seem like a dream job and I’d love to try it someday.
I work as a "vendor" as an entertainer coach driver or "bus driver". We get a day rate, but we get it 7 days a week, whether we worked that day or not. Our buses are on a contract with the band or production company for a certain number of days and the driver is included in that rate. Fuel is often negotiated and either the bus company pays it and charges the band/production or the band/production pays for fuel directly. We are responsible for everything on the bus, including maintenance as best we can. Some things a driver just can't do as we aren't all mechanics. We clean, we change bedding, we service our generator and basically keep whoever is on our bus happy (sometimes this is easier said than done). In my opinion, from what I've seen, we have it better than most. We get a hotel every night, even if band/crew sleeps on bus. We don't load, unload, or really do anything physical for that matter lol. Plus, from what I've seen and heard, get paid quite a bit more than most, unless they hold a significant spot on the tour. Again, all from my perspective and just wanted to offer some insight into being a touring bus driver. Love the videos!
***Update to original post***. I wasn't going to include this, but after watching your video again, I figured you were transparent and I guess I should be as well for anyone interested in being a touring bus driver in regards to pay. I submitted my payroll this morning as our two week cycle ended yesterday and I grossed $7,104 for two weeks. Some two weeks are a little more and some are a little less, but I would say this is an average for two weeks, ending up around $14,000 month. That is great money to me, but you should see the amount of taxes we pay on a paycheck.***
Love that you were so transparent about this. I should been a bus driver. 😂 Stay safe out there, man!
Thanks for the deets buddy, ima put my CDL To work!!
DUDE.. I love your way of just being .. you.. very straight forward, and no bullshit.
You are probably one of the most humble and modest people I've come across on the net, and hope to one day cross paths just to say HEY..
Much appreciated, my man. I feel like I have a lot of moments of arrogance at times, but this comment makes me feel great and I can't thank you enough for it!
Hey man met you on an electric callboy show, I was venue FOH, didn’t know anything about your channel but that was one of the kindest and most professional crews I’d ever worked with and you were super polite and helpful to me when we interacted. I appreciate that we have someone like you representing production crews to the public
I love these types of vids where you go out of your normal react format to share info and knowledge over other stuff and/or make interviews and shit! Thanks a lot Tank, get better soon and keep excellent, mate!🤘🏻🤘🏻
I appreciate this video tank ,thank you. I toured for 27 years doing the same untill the pandemic. Being a crew member paid for 3 kids college home ect... 🤘🏻👀🤘🏻
Really cool Video! I actually ended up working at a Blind Guardian show two weeks ago. Normally I work for a manufacturer for mediaservers used for controlling Video/Led/etc. on stage, but that day I got a call from the vendor Blind Guardian are working with that something was not working with their system. So I took one of our servers and drove to the location. And I can say no matter if BGs own Guys, the vendor Guys or someone completely random like me, as soon as you are at the venue, no one asks who you work for, you are just part of the crew. Cool experience after being out of the whole roadie business for 8 years and starting a settled down local Job.
A stagehand job that definitely pays the bills is working directly with live nation. You can travel between all their venues and work. They give you the opportunity to choose what shows you'd like to work and give you a good time notice ahead of time. According to a few I know who work with them, they pay great and even have benefits
I’m a lead supervisor for an international flooring/barricade (these videos almost never mention flooring and barricade) vendor. I spent months on the road last year and I love it. I only wish I’d found this career 20 years earlier.
Danke!
I love your videos about what you or roadies do on tours. It gives so much insight on what happens behind the scenes.
My life as a roadie begun as a stagehand tor a Lights and sound company in the North of Sweden. Had my gigs connected to weekends and worked my ass off because i loved the music. I got noticed by a few bands that got home or on their way thanks to me and the crew i worked with. That later led to some amount of tours with some bands. Touring was as fun and exciting as i tgought it would be BUT. I became a dad and my body started to give in. No amount of money could ever keep me doing what i loved at that time. Beng a roadie takes a toll on you. Respect to the people willing to do it because without them there wouldnt be any of the concerts or festivals we all love.
No joke, man, that's kinda where I am now. I became a dad, my body is starting to fall apart, and that has led me to being extremely selective about what I'm taking nowadays.
@@TankTheTech Ha! 30 years of constant gigs ( peak was 250 a year) definitely does that! I hear ya bro! If I saw some newbie jump off the stage, I would tell them “ Hey, watch me walk across the room……that’s what happens to you from jumping off stages.”. My favorite tool now is my Hurry-cane! Peace bro!
I've always been interested in players pay and/or salary but you guys are the ones that really put it all together so the "show can go on" as they say. Really admire how upfront you are with this. Very interesting. Thanks Tank
My good friend that I grew up with started as a local crew member. Then hooked up with a local band that fairly made it and toured with the band. Met people on the road and just loaded the gear. Then he was setting up the big screen and changed what cameras that were showing on the screen.Then was head of road crew for AC/DC for a tour. Long story short he worked his way up to working for Van Halen full time, touring and working in between tours, this was late 80's early 90's. Started around 1981 and worked his way to being very close with Sammy Hagar. When they were not touring he would be in studio setting up equipment. I am leaving out many of the bands that he toured with going to Europe and really hustled and made it so he could an would do so many rolls, the more things you could do the more you were worth to the band. When Van Halen broke up with Sammy they cleaned house and he settled down and lived in Tampa and worked the Arena in Tampa got tired of the road.
Tank youre the man bro. This content is A++! Also, I think you single handedly launched the youtube roadie/tech genre. Im seeing tons of these channels popping up now but i think you are the OG lol
18:05 lol I'm Canadian so no problems there. Tank man, great video. Very informative and I thoroughly enjoyed watching. Sounds like you've had some pretty great experiences. I'll be honest I found you through Stevie T's channel, but love watching either way. I subscribed!
Something I want to add, the money you make on tour you really aren't eating into while you're out. Transportation is paid for, food is paid for, lodging is paid for. If you have a show heavy tour, you really don't eat into the per diem because you dont have a lot of days off. More savings.
Another addition is retainer. Much like lawyers, tours will pay a half rate to keep you from going on other shows and other tours. It's a "please dont leave and stay put until we call you". Not always the case but it does happen.
How is your food paid for?? Does the band buy your dinner??
@@Scorned405 tour catering, festival catering, or the tour promoter pays for it if it's offsite which doesnt happen all that often in my experience
I was on a setup and tear down crew for 2 rock concerts. Was fun and I enjoyed the work.
I'm not gonna lie these types of videos are some of my favourite on the platform, never mind just on your channel. It's an industry that's just not spoken about, and I have no desire to work in it but I did have a few experiences being in a band when younger and it's interesting to see what the wider industry is like. I could listen to you just talk about experiences for hours!
Always been a fan of your roadie life videos, Tank. I have a career in touring but in the motorsports industry, and after making connections in the music world, I’ve realized that our jobs are just two branches of the same tree. Great content - best wishes to you 🤝🏻
I like how you always give credit to the entire team (local crew, vendors, etc) when it comes to the production of a show.
Neil Pearts Drum Tech was with the band from the start , He started out as a carpenter then got hired as Neil’s tech I am sure Neil looked after him very well .
Now his tech is with Eric Singer from Kiss.
@@mjm8686 Lorne is Eric Singer's tech?
@@toddmorrissey8372 Yep
I met Lorne Wheaton back in 05. He's the most down-to-earth and genuinely nice guy.
Skip Gildersleeve was a tech with Rush for years…he was a friend of mine from our childhood days until he passed. Didn’t see much of him in the later years just in passing here & there.He loved what he did & did it well for many big name bands…RIP Skip/Slider
Great info, dude. I'm not involved with the industry, but the behind the scenes stuff is endlessly fascinating.
I was a roadie for Dick Dale from 94 to 97. It was amazing. And he was a great mentor in my life. I was paid well back in those days. I was 18 and made $700 a week at first. And than by the time I was 21 it was a lot more. I guess it depends on the rockstar your work for. It’s better to be a single roadie. Than a company.
I saw him at the Imac Theatre in Huntington , NY and later at Boulton Center in Bayshore , NY . You may have been on the first tour , and possibly the second . Great shows . And the crew definitely contributes to the performance going off WITHOUT issues .
@@billsmith2212 yup. That was me. Skinny guys than. Lol. We did the Virgin record store there too in NY. The 9:30 club in DC was my favorite on the east coast
Got to meet DD once super nice guy …
Dick Dale wasn't the most pleasant person back when he owned night clubs in calif. It was a slow night in Dec. So friends sat in playing top 40. He walked in told us you'd better get some people in here or you'll never play hear again. The bands been packing the place on previous nights. Some how our bar tab exceeded our pay and we owed money is what we were told. This was about the time he was accused of molesting a 13 year old
@@bobpugliese4428 what year was this?
My brother worked with the local crew here for about 2 yrs....enjoyed every minute of it.........
I toured as a guitar tech in the late 90's to early 2000's. I always got weekly rates and it fluctuated from $700-1500/wk Canadian. Working for US bands was always great because I got the same numbers, but in USD.
That's pretty decent for the early 2000s man That's like triple what minimum wage was back then down here in the states💯
Yea but that's not full time work.
Always love when you shout out and give love to us Locals, can't wait to meet you out on a stage in Tampa, Tank!!!!
Fantastic video by you 'Tank'. Lifelong questions answered for me, and so very welcome. How about a video from your perspective on a Band's pre-planning for a major tour.
I worked in Charlotte, NC in the early 2000’s and our company was contacted and asked if they had anyone who was interested in helping set up a show. Two friends and I volunteered and ended up setting up for Godsmack and Metallica. After “joining” the union and paying our dues, we didn’t make much money but we got to see an awesome show!
That sounds more like stagehand work, germain to a certain location.
@@jasonauric*germane
Germaine was a French mathematician who worked on Fermat’s Last Theorem.
Where i am from (Denmark) at the smaller places (up to 600-800 seats) the local crew is always volunteers except the the soundtechnician and perhaps the lightstechnician. I volunteer at a place for 14 years where the lighting was done by volunteers, it was a place primarily run by students and several of the persons who handled the local lighting, have since droped the education and become professional sound and light technicians.
I worked local crew a lot back in the 80s. I wasn't in a union, not sure if that was taboo or not, but knew a local promoter and got hired for lots of stuff. I worked everyone from Madonna to U2 to local club shows. I think I usually made about 30-50 bucks, which was pretty good money for a college guy scrounging for whatever muscle work he could find to pay the bills, or sometimes I'd work just to get in and see the show and a tshirt. I'd usually work load in and load out, and sometimes I'd get to go in and see the show in between, sometimes not. Sometimes I got fed, sometimes not (getting food was almost as good as getting cash back in those days). Just depended on the venue mostly. It was a good time, and a good way to earn a few bucks.
Cool info. Your videos have answered a lot of questions that I've always had. Thanks for sharing!
Some good transparency there,
As you say it is all dependent on skill level and demand,
For a long time euro truckers were very poorly paid and it’s only since covid that the wages have become a good standard.
I remember the biggest fear of all techs I have worked with was cancelled shows or losing there slot on a tour.
You could be scheduled up for a 3-6 month tour, get one week in and get sacked off or have the tour cancelled. That puts you in a very sticky situation because most of these big tours are done during the big summer season and people book up in advance so you may now have all that time unable to find another gig all unpaid,
I had a very good friend get sacked off a tour famous for sacking off crew and band members it was a 5 month tour that he cleared his slate for and it was peak summer season. The gigs he could find last minute he couldn’t join due to not having the correct visas in time.
It’s a nightmare for any freelancers
Awesome video. I worked for a local band on and off for a total of 10 years. Wish I could have done a couple of traveling tours but never got that chance. Always was something I thought would be fun.
Super interesting stuff. I think the health insurance is a huge one for me. One of the only reasons I still have my state job. Having 99% of your health insurance paid for is just a golden benefit. Saves so much money in life.
Excellent content, thank you very much for doing this
I was a roadie for Patti Smith in 1976 at CBGBs. She paid me 75 bucks a night for a 2 week gig. I was young and didn't care about the money. It was the prestige of the gig itself
Local crew from Indianapolis here. Thanks for the shoutout!
As a huge music fan & concert goer I have often wondered about this! Great video & I can’t wait to watch more of your videos.
🚌💭
My cousin Timmy, tho he's not a roadie, he was a bus driver for bands for 25 years, and while it didn't make him a millionaire lol, it did help with him living very comfortable. He bought a couple acres of land out in the country, built a house and a garage big enough to fit his bus if he ever had to bring it home.. Idk where he kept it otherwise.. And he always drove nice cars. So if that's something one of you all might be interested in, it's a pretty nice career to into to❤
W-2’s from multiple states will only impact the rate of withholding from each state but it will also require you to file a tax return for every state where $ was withheld. Each state has its own rate of taxes so you’ll need to know what it is to get an idea of what you can expect. If you have to deal with something like this I would suggest enlisting the aide of an accountant who can guide you through the maze of taxes and filing requirements.
I was on tour and remember seeing him with us I am a stage truck driver. Being on tour is not really what you think it is. It’s a hard long day from 7 am till 12-1 am sometimes then we do it all over--
Hey Tank! A few years back I used to be a volunteer for a local music promoter in Romania and they would actually use volunteers for stagehands and other stuff (backstage people, ticket scans etc...). No clue if this is a common practice anywhere else but basically all that stagehands had to do is move stuff about. No previous experience of any kind was needed and most of the people doing it where teenagers/students. All we got is a free meal and free access to the show for ourselves and a friend, and given that I got to load gear for Children of Bodom, Slayer, Whitechapel and Dark Tranquility and see them live, with no pay, that was pretty cool for me altogether. It was all a work of passion. Not sure if what I used to do is exactly what you meant by stagehands, but regardless it's very heartwarming to see you shout them out! Tour crews are awesome from my experience, they were always (most of them) very appreciative, and the guys from Slayer's crew even trusted us with moving their pyro and gave us guitar picks at the end of the day! You people are great! I've been way more aware of how much work goes into shows since doing that, and it's a huge part of why your channel landed so well with me! Cheers!
Wow they trick you guys into doing this for free in Romania?
Very sad to hear of a country so backwards that people are happy to labor for free…listen jack, doesn’t matter Romania Antarctica or AMERICA…know your worth and get paid for your work.
Great video man!
I wish I saw a video like this 20 years ago when I started.
Lynard Sknyrd were recording Freebird and had just decided it needed a piano solo when a roadie, I think his name is Billy, said “I’m a classically trained pianist”. He played wonderfully and joined the band and there’s a live Freebird from a stadium in 1977 and you can see just how brilliant he is.
I have my mom's ticket stubs from their performance at the Fernandina Beach Rec center performance when Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special performed when their uncle was running for Nassau County Sheriff against one of my Uncle's
That would be Billy Powell, RIP with your brothers in song.
@@cat_mama6767 yes they introduce him in a live stadium performance. Brilliant musician as they all were.
Roadied w skynyrd in 96 BP at sound checks was unreal to hear the steinway w no crowd...hit it off w Leon Wed stay up 3 days.. cracked him up that I got really good at pool the more I drank tequila and other supplements...everything I saved was given was lost in a fire of all possessions those things still sting the most..
Billy Powell
I wish you had some name drops. You come across like a pro because you never one time dropped any band or artist names. I enjoyed the the content. Not a clue how it came up in my feed but I will check out some of your other videos to figure out what bands you worked with. You got me in going down a rabbit hole now. Fascinated by the Roadie lifestyle.
The part about knowing your worth is so true and it applies to every industry. The only one benefiting from people not talking about their salaries is the employers. We need to get rid of this stigma.
3 million times over. I've never actually encountered this and been in pretty much every part of the industry, but I have heard about it. Ridiculous...its like telling someone not to talk about the correct tire pressure on the tour bus
Absolutely. I've had employers that have said you will be fired for talking about your salary with your coworkers, which is actually against federal law for them to do.
I like your expanded definition of a "roadie". In my mind (from the term used in context all my life), it was basically just ppl dealing with the equipment on or near the stage - lol.
You can buy your concert shirts online for 1/2 the price from the bands themselves. Don't pay the venue that much when you already got scammed for your tickets!
I sort of agree with what you mean and don't know entirely how much they might be now, but in my town which is a small city, usually at shows shirts were way cheaper and direct from the band. It seems dirty to me to have the venue taking a cut from merchandise but I guess when I think of going to shows in big cities I know what you mean. I think your comment is valid totally depending on the venue
Great video. Worked as house crew at the University of Toledo from 1978-1981. Loved the work. Spotlights too when they were carbon arc rods. Great part of my life
Watching this, I'm reminded of Jackson Browne's The Load Out/Stay, The Grateful Dead Movie and The Song Remains the Same where Peter Grant threatens a merch vender.
Cool vlog, thanks for sharing!
Brilliant video! Very informative look at the back end of an industry the brings us a lot of joy. Thanks!
Probably one of the most interesting videos I've seen in a long time. Thanks!
As a local I have to first say thanks for the shout out and then comment on local pay rates. Where you are and who you're working for can have a huge effect on how much you make just like being a roadie. In addition, the better you are and the harder you work the more gigs you get. I do quite well by any standard and get health and pension.
As a lighting tech in a medium sized theater in Slovakia, I can only envy those number of yours even after 12 years of doing this. We have so called "table salary", which means that for a specific position there is a set of salaries that depend on how long you´ve been doing your job. Of course there is a "performance bonus", but still I max out at 800 euros per month after all the taxes and insurances are paid. No way I could afford to buy my own home, I had to start a side job: I translate books from English to Slovak for a publishing company, and I´ve been doing that for 8 years now.
That was very interesting, thank you!
Sounds like an awesome job, wish i was 20 years younger 😁😁, thanks for another great video
I always talk to my friends and co workers about their pay. I just say politely “I make X. Are you comfortable telling me what you make? It’s cool if you aren’t.” And if they share with me, I share what others make without saying their names. If I hadn’t gone around sharing that info, I would have had no idea what my worth was or how it would grow with X experience. I went from 50k a year to 6 figures in less than a year with the knowledge I took from that. I don’t work in music, but it’s the same for every industry in the value of knowing what you are worth
Bingo!!!!! He ain't lying!!!!!
The U2 road manager, in charge of stage setup, roll-in, and tear-down, lives in my upper middle-class neighborhood, he's doing just fine. He also works with other bands when U2 is not touring, like Journey.
Excellent video. Thank you!
Thanks for the local crew love!
I've been a stagehand here in Germany for a bit more than a year now as a so called mini-job (everyone can take on a job and earn up to 520 Euros tax free). I usually work evenings and weekends a couple of times a month for the shows of a local promoter in town. More often than not it is fun to work with the tour crews, wherever they come from. It might always be the same to-do's but it doesn't get boring.
Thank you for this info, been wondering this for over 20 years
Love your videos buddy, very informative, answered alot of questions for me!!!
Hey Tank! Subscribed- Like your style and the subjects you talk about are right up my alley!
This was brilliant, not only informative! But reminded me of great times I had doing it!
So going on what you've said.... I was getting £10 pd(paid daily) +£100 per week when travelling Europe in the early 90's!
Perhaps I missed my calling in life?
Never realised how much the band thought of me?
Oh well..... that's half a lifetime ago!
Cheers,
As always much love from across the pond!
England!
🏴
My first PD was $10, ONLY on days off. Hahahaha. Love hearing other people's stories like this. Thanks, man!
Very informative! I was lucky enough to be friends with a local area concert promoter/producer in Jackson,Ms back in 1996. He was able to get Sammy Hagar(right after his split from VH), Iggy Pop,The Bloodhound Gang, Sponge..and some other bands to play a Memorial Day Weekend concert. I was his"right hand man" and was able to just "get things done" for him. From putting up the barricades, security, errands, even load in. Iam a huge VH fan especially Sammy..and meeting him was awesome..he comes across as never meeting a stranger,down to earth, lets all have a drink and party guy..couldn't have been any nicer or funnier. I also was sent to another show that was getting set up down the street. Patti Labelle was in town and I met her assistant and had to go get Patti's laundry from the bus and take it to get dry cleaned.
Good info and solid advice. My Best friend is a touring tech and has worked with a number of major acts. (In Europe right now playing 25 shows in 30 days). He is still on Day rate (But he gets paid for travel days as well - I think it is 1/2 his day rate.) Per Diem for him is like $50 per day. His day rate is pretty high but he is well known in the circuit. He also fills in and plays the same instrument he techs for. Either way… good info.
I made a full time living on the road in the late 80s into late 90s. Always joined local crew (loaders here in Oz) between tours. Stopped for health reasons (I was going mad constantly touring) but I made a decent living out of it. Unfortunately, I also fell prey to the sex, drugs and R&R lifestyle, so saved not a penny. I think I had a good time - it's all a little fuzzy now. That experience has led to so many other career and life opportunities since. After 38 years in the workforce, I've spent 23 (60%) as a freeelancer negotiating my own terms on every gig. You get a feel for what to ask for / accept / reject over time. Good stuff Tank.
dude if his per diem alone is $350 a week that dude has to be making like 1500 a week, DAYUM.
That's that per diem where u eat a decent breakfast and a shitty cheap dinner everyday and u save over half your per diem and add it to your paycheck lol
great video! thank you for sharing your knowledge!
I do miss changing strings on 20 guitars every show, some in different tunings, handing him the right one for the song, his little joke as I walk away, he tosses me his Rolex watch quite a distance, always caught it. Fun times.
great video.....thanks. PS: have you ever been to Saskatchewan Canada touring (Regina/Saskatoon)?
Yeah, man times!
@@TankTheTech I hope your experiences in Saskatchewan were positive.
Thank you for you're time and lessons
Living outbof a duffle bag is rough. But its how i paid my house off by 33. I used to setup production lines. Last big job was setting up a bottling line for sweet baby rays in marlboro mass. Was making about 150/200k yr.. now i stay at home and make half on a good year, and only work a maximum of 40hrs a week. Life is good
So fascinating. Good video and explanations.
LOTS of good, straight talk. And yes, depending on band/gig, market, etc, hands can earn decent money - assuming proper skills, attitude and work ethic are present. 😃
Locals can earn decent $ as well, but its a different world. I traveled a lot when I was younger, but do local work today. And (essentially) part time, taking gigs AS OFFERED (we're a hiring hall, tier 2 market), working of course odd hours and holidays as needed,
Local hands gigging ahoqs CAN earn as much as the upper end of what you mention here. It all deprnds if course on attitude, skills set and availability, but that's true for any stagehand worth hiring.
Magic as always, Tank. Great info for the younger generation looking to start out.
It would be good to know what a $75.00 first pay rate 15 years ago, would be in todays dollars. Just to give the young'ns more of an idea of current expectations.
$110.45
I mean, it all depends. Even now, and in recent years, I know people starting out that still got similar pay or even less. Hell, I did a tour quite a few years ago that we literally had a guy that was an "intern", and only got paid in Per Diem. I guess it's all about how bad you want to tour and what you can handle financially.
@@TankTheTech very true I just saw the guy or gals comment and wanted to answer it for him
@@TankTheTech one quick question for you tank have you checked out more heilung since your last reaction to it
Yup, I listen to them all the time.
I toured with a major rock act in 2003. Their roadies made $1000 a week plus $25 per diem. They put in a long days work and deserve every penny.
That’s just 4K and a bit of change before taxes. Terrible pay to be on the road and away from family.
@@JJ-ze6vbdude 4 grand for a month seeing the country hanging with friends is just fine.... and u DO see what the fuck year he said, right dumbass?
Awesome stuff bro! Thanks.
Been local crew for 35 years and the things that have changed in my time are staggering , there never used to be any health and safety and i remember climbing massive speaker stacks with no safety harness and whoever could drive the forks just did it ...good times ...the only thing that hasnt changed really are the wages and i have usually been paid a flat rate , done everyone from the stones to tiny corporate gigs and enjoyed it immensely...
There is one band i know of that pays their crew a Yearly salary, they have had the same crew for over 20 years. The only thing they hire out and that is for a Merch person usually 3 or 4 and usually the same people in the countries they play.
thanks for the local shout out
No body pays yearly anymore. I have a couple buddies on the Metallica audio crew right now. They are on 2 year contracts that are really one sided contracts, where the band can cancel them at any time, but the crew is kind of locked in, I be it well paid. I'm a audio engineer with 20 years experience in both live production and sound design. For FOH or system tech, my weekly minimum is $3,500. Several bands I work with pay me 5K/week. For one off fly dates its $1000 for show days and $300 for travel or non show days. Going the Vendor route is the best, fastest, easiest, and usually best paying position. (at least working for an audio company) I do also work for a local AV company when home and my day rate is $550, that can be as easy as showing up and plugging in some drive lines into a pre rigged system, or could be up to 12 hours of flying a big line array in an arena. Sometimes mixing, sometimes not. Just depends on what is needed. Local crews if non union usually pay about $15/hour, union houses about $25/hour. Don't work for nothing. You screw yourself and everyone else when you drive the price down. On tour they have to pay you for giving up your life for that amount of time. At least if they want someone at my skill level. Very few people tour full time (except maybe Broadway people, which I did early in my career and you can expect anywhere from 1,200-2,500/ week for those shows, but it is usually like 9-10 month runs and if your good; there is always another show to go to.) For most people they have production jobs in their home market and tours are extra money that happens sporadically. Talking about pay is necessary to keep employers from taking advantage of people and keeping all of our pay at a livable level.
As an ex stage hand. It was a hella fun job! Just really chaotic at first when you first get into to it. But once you learn who to listen to and the basics of break down or building up the stage its easy! I would do it again if my back would let me.
Great video, really enjoyed your straight up approach!
Excellent presentation. Thanks.
Thanks for posting this. And yes you can defiantly make a good living. If you play your cards right and watch your money.
Absolutely true that production companies and shows will ask for specific people by name. Getting known is huge. I do the lighting design, programming, and installation. In a pinch, I relieve the FOH for festivals and fairs when the day is staked back to back with performances. The FOH guy dials in the sound, and when he needs a break for dinner, I often fill in on the FOH, since there is not much to do with the lights for most of the day at outdoor events. Upstage lights are on for color, but the real show starts in the evening. When bands are hiring, and they can use just anybody, then yes the pay is lowball. However when you are known, and they call you for your skill, then you tell them your rate expectation and then negotiate. A good LD can do well if the band needs your specific talent to make the show. Not all shows want someone to just push play on a chaser for the show, but want lighting themed for specific songs. These are the better shows.
Great tutorial. Aloha from Hawaii.
Thank you for mentioning the local crew
Local crew in North Florida get paid $20 or more starting an hour. First you join the Union, then you go on a list they will call you, if you say yes you go to work if you say no you go to the bottom of the list. Eventually you will make it to the top and be a working stage hand. You need to have some knowledge of general band and stage stuff but not much. The union will interview you so try to be ready for that.
I was local crew in London for a while before an injury due to working 70 hour weeks for 2 months. That's right 2 months.
The pay was not amazing £8-£10 per hour (2010) but the job was grueling but loved it. Worked Elton John, Green day and loads of other shows. You work for 10 months out the year as much as you can the the quiet season (april) you would hardly work so you either take 2 months off or work else where.
It's a great way to get contacts for audio and visual companies. Great way to start but make sure you look after your body and know when to say you need time off.
Similar to my own experience and im from Sweden.
@@rogerbehrendtz9750 Nice! Its a fun thing to do I do miss it
In college I did work as local stage crew and worked some big shows, KISS when they played the Superbowl in Miami, Korn & Rob Zombie a few times etc... Man, it's brutal work! All I can say about pay... is that it's not enough! I did many shows where I was doing load in, worked all day, like assembling the stage / coffin-keying the stage, building sets etc... and then load out. 20 hour days. I feel like I was always a part of crews that were understaffed. I honestly don't think my experience can be considered the norm, I believe I was taken advantage of (which is why I stopped doing it). Not all companies are fair, the one I worked for certainly wasn't.
Have done load ins. It’s not fun but you get first look at the behind the scenes if that interests you. Best way to describe the work? You help someone move into their new home, watch a concert, and help them move out immediately to their next home like they got evicted.
@@TrevyTrev-andTheFunkyPets Yes, not a fan.
Getting to help set up Rob Zombie's props like giant robots etc... was cool, but that was the easy stuff.
But that part of my life is over. Part of doing that work is why I'm disabled now. That and my full time job as a filmmaker. It's all loading in and tearing down and carrying, lifting heavy equipment like lights and c-stands and sand bags. Red camera's & dslr's with cages and lenses and accoutrements are heavy! Generally we balance the weight with actual weights behind the shoulder, but it's always on the same shoulder. 10 hours of that over decades will cause problems!
Stage crew had it's good moments, but I'd take it all back to be in better health today. Not the film work though, that's what I really love to do. That's my career. I love camera work, but I prefer directing (easier on the back too). Stage crew work was just that, work, a paycheck... and we didn't earn enough... nowhere near enough for the abuse we were put through.
My boss, looked like Sid Vicious (the wrestler) back when I watched wrestling in the 80s, but on twice the steroids. I'm 5'11 and 160lbs. This guy once lifted a rectangular (idk the tech term) piece of stage (that's coffin keyed together). Which is easily 100lbs or more and tossed it at me from a few feet away expected me to catch it. I backed up and let it drop. I was like WTF? He just laughed and walked away calling me a pussy. Now, I could lift over 100lbs with a barbell, but I sure as hell can't catch it! Let alone a piece of stage as big as I was.
Dude, F*** that guy, and F*** that job! I did it for a bit, and left as soon as I found something else with no regrets.
Yes, it has its moments and even perks (swag), but I would never recommend it to anyone.
a lot of what you say could apply to just about any industry really, especially realizing you have to start at lower rate sometimes and then also knowing your worth very important. But the best advice was the insurance and taxes. Not a fun topic but potentially devastating if you aren't careful. good stuff
great video!
I worked for a local stage crew company in Washington state in the early 90's. I only worked a dozen or so gigs with them, but back then, they paid me around $8-9 an hour if I recall correctly. Mind you , this was close to 30 years ago now.