So you’ve always wanted to be a roadie, and now you’ve decided to go ahead and see if you can get a job working with a band. Being a roadie may seem quite glamorous, but there is a lot of work behind the scenes, and you could potentially be working very long shifts.
This article tells you what every roadie should know. Having this information before you become a roadie can help you to appear a more suitable candidate for the job.
- Be prepared to do whatever it takes. If you need to set up equipment, make cups of coffee for the band, or even sort out the waste collection, go ahead and do it. The more useful you are, the better you will be.
- Be professional. Even if you’ve got a great job that involves spending time with your favorite band, or even with your best mates, you still need to be professional. Don’t mess about, make sure you get the job done, and have that ‘Work head’ of yours on, until you’ve signed off for the day, then you can relax.
- Be a good communicator. This is a key role of a roadie’s job, and it’s one that you need to take very seriously. You may have to talk with venues, management and health and safety professionals, and then relay the information back to your buddies in the band. This could occasionally involve telling the band that they cannot have a live tiger on stage with them, no matter how much they want to.
- You will have to travel a lot. If the band you’re working for is on tour, then you need to be prepared to travel. Traveling a lot is not always very interesting, and chances are you’re going to miss being at home.
- Be prepared to be bored. There will be times when there’s absolutely nothing for you to do, but wait until you arrive at a venue. If you get the chance, relax with the band, have a nap, or read a book. Being on the road a lot of the time can become quite monotonous, but spare time can also be a great opportunity for you to catch up on paperwork, make phone calls and do the bits of admin you’ve been putting off.
Life as a roadie can be hard work, and it may not always pay as well as you would think. If you’re happy to spend many months at a time working with and for a band, then you should think about applying for a roadies job, you never know what adventures lie ahead.