Another Opening, Another Show

Picture this, a hundred or more, all working stupid long days, all to get an event together that we won't take part in, nor will we even appreciate. Why do the 18 hour days? or 19,000 steps? why work so hard for others?

Simple, in our core, we long to make a show happen. We get a rush out of the wow we get from others, when they walk in and see for the first time, the event, the movie, the play, or show. We live for the audience reaction.

I worked with 30 or so techs, I haven't seen them in 2 plus years. And it was like last week. the smiles, jokes, laughter and groans, were still there. Like seeing family, for the 1st time a a while. I saw another 30 or more from the hotel, that I haven't seen in forever. Chatting like it was only a few months. How to explain? the madness in the rush to get seats set, and curtains hung,and microphones dialed in, and lights focused, and projectors tweaked just so... all for a speakers who do not know us, and an audience who barely remembers the stuff.

Hard to explain, that when I grab my radio and call, dozens come out of no where, to scramble and fix a problem the audience doesn't see, and then the all black disappear again, no one the wiser.

In fact, ask us, and our biggest thrill, is when the audience leaves, and doesn't notice the lights, or microphones or projectors. If they DO, we feel we've made a mistake. We're NOT there to be seen. we wear all black.

Let the roadies take the stage
Pack it up and tear it down
They're the first to come and the last to leave
Working for that minimum wage
They'll set it up in another town! - J. Browne, B. Garofalo

I do like the business, a lot.