Wednesday, August 03, 2005

What would you say?


OK. So I'd like a little audience participation on this one. I'd like to hear what your dream job would be, if you actually have it, and any other relative stuff pertaining to it. It doesn't matter what it is, let me hear it. I'll start it off.

Well as you know I'm in the military and that's real nobel and all but I'm retiring in 2 yrs (whoo hoo). It has been great to me, but has run its course and it's time to go. My part time job is my dream job. Live music production. Yep, with all of my years serving my country, my college degrees and all the other main stream crap I've acquired, I am most fulfilled being a roadie.

For me there is no greater achievement than walking into a huge empty coliseum (ours seats 10,000 ), going through a process of building a bare stage, hanging truss, lights, speakers, and creating an artists set. Then seeing thousands of people getting into whatever artist is playing and knowing that I contributed to that artist being on that stage, and when it's over taking it all back down to an empty cold coliseum. The whole process for me is zen like.

My first concert was Cher and it was a sell out. She has a huge spectacular production and when we were done loading her out at like 1:30am, I just stood in the middle of the empty coliseum in a trance totally oblivious to the world. I've been hooked ever since.

It's not all a bed of roses though. Since we are the "local crew" and are not union, we sometimes have a tough time dealing with an artists crew. They make twice my $10.00 hr wage and do setups every night. Therefore they are much more skilled. Local crews are comprised of whoever can lift heavy objects and can listen to directions. Really that's all the requirements. So you can imagine some of the people I work with. But then there are others that are sharp and really dig what they are doing. Those are the people that partner up for the night. After a show or two my boss introduced me to the crew and has guided me to the right partners (thanks Charlie). He has even trained me on the spotlights. I haven't gotten to work the spots at a show yet, but I did operate the house lights for a Pat Green show (Pat sings Wave on wave). Pat's crew was super. His people catered our lunch and Pat sent pizza after the load out. The Lighting director (I forget his name) was very cool and knew it was my first time on lights. It's hard hearing cues and directions over the head sets while the artist is playing. He was very calm and clear with directions. Again the LD was very cool.

So that's my dream job. If I could make it any better, I'd like to do it by going on tour with an artist (KISS to be exact). Ahh but domestic commitments wont allow that, so I'm happy getting my ego fix at the Wichita Falls Kay Yeager Coliseum. The picture above is the truss being hoisted for the Pat Green show. I know it's a crappy cell phone pic. It shows a bare bones point. We made it to that point in about 1.5 hrs.


So that's today's post. Let me from you. Thanks to everyone who has visited and commented. Little brother checked in and gave a nice compliment (thanks again Chris).

6 comments:

Wendy said...

I always say in my next life I'm going to be an Olympic Athelete. Sprinter...but, if I could do anything I would sit at the VLA(see my post on the VLA at my blog) and watch the stars.

Scott said...

Rock singer my friend, but NFL quarterback first. You said dream, you got dream.

John said...

Hmm...I'm not actually sure what my dream job is. I like writing, but if I ever had to do it for a living it might take all the fun out of it. Too many deadlines.

It'd be cool to entertain people in some capacity, but I'm way too shy and generally terrified by crowds to do anything that would involve standing in front of people.

Guess I'll figure something out eventually.


(found you on Mr. Schprock's blog, by the way)

That dude Paul said...

Wanted to say thanks to all of u guys that have commented.
Peace,

Phil said...

I would love to have a job with the Forestry Service. I like the outdoors and I always wanted to do that.

ida said...

Mermaid. Think tank director. Sailboat maker. Cartographer. Old book seller. Farmer. Dagny Taggart.