opening band treatment...

[sir funkytown]

I should probably clarify the situation.

I was most definatly NOT blaming the famous 80's band...they were really quite nice.
The sound company was hired by the client NOT the famous 80's band (I think the band had a guitar tech there and that was it)
There were plenty of tarps
The gig was a private adult party that we had been hired for specificly...quite a differant thing from an all ages gig that you sell tickets to

That is a major bummer, but were there any plans or agreement with the stage crew of what happens if it starts pouring down rain?

Where were you guys? Why didn't you take care of your gear yourself?

Not to put to fine a point on it...if they are called STAGE CREW , and they work for the client NOT the headliner...I don't think it's asking too much to move a little STAGE GEAR out of the pouring rain, no matter who it belongs to...I mean, really...it's not like we asked them to set us up and do our soundcheck for us.
We don't have the luxury of a road manager and we had been there for about 4 hours waiting for the PA to get set up and the F 80's B to finish their soundcheck...so we went and got a bite to eat.
I should note...all MY gear was fine.I took my axe with me and my amp was back with the drummer.It was really the keys players and the front guitarists that took the worst of it.
....I totaly forgot to mention, The F 80's B was using some of our gear...something that we had no problem with.

....I would never open for Men Without Hats...."safety dance" is a crime against music!

 

[tommyindelaware]

live & learn........

 

[roballanson]

True Tom.....

one piece of advice I was given when I started the journo game (and it may apply to rock journos too ) was never p*ss off the people around you, above you, or below you - you never know when you might run into them again or need their help.

just my folksy 2p worth.

 

[Rano Bass]

live & learn........

+1 there's always something to learn, even on the worst gigs

 

[strummer]

So...we were opening up for a famous 80's rock band(well, they were world famous here in Canada...and no, I'm not telling you who).It's an outdoor corporate event for a huge financial planning company...lots-a chedder being thrown around on this event, top notch all the way.The weather, she isn't very good, but, the stage is covered. We do our sound check and go to eat .While we are gone it starts to pour down, horizontal rain just drenching the stage.The sound company quickly covers up the amps and pedals of the famous 80's pop band...and....can you hear it coming....they let our stuff get soaked , didn't even try to cover anything.When we mention it to the monitor guy we get that blank "who the hell do you thing YOU are? " stare that all PA guys seem to practice in front of a mirror every night just in case they happen to meet a musician on the street that day.

Fortuatly....as you all know , because you follow my posts religiously, my new Double hum SR was in the case , with me in, the Hard Rock Cafe.
The rest of the band got off lucky.No explosions or Johnny Thunder type mishaps...although , striking the stage in a frenzy so that the F.80'sB. could get on was a little unnearving.

man, that sucks! I have never been in a situation like yours, but I have shared stages with band considered both bigger and smaller than ourselves. And us bands have always looked out for each other.
Also, wasn't the stage the responsibility of the stage crew? Who told them what stuff to take care of? Maybe they were included in the deal with the famous 80's band, and if so you f*cked up, but if they were hired as a stage crew they must certainly be to blame?
Glad your stuff wasn't harmed