THE REALITIES AND STRUGGLES OF POST QUARANTINE TOURING
THE REALITIES OF TOURING IN 2021
By August 2020, the world began to resemble a zombie apocalypse movie. In the parking lot of every tour bus company, weeds had forced themselves through cracks in the pavement. Without vehicles coming and going, there was nothing to stunt their growth. In production warehouses worldwide, spiders spun elaborate webs, their silky threads stretching between stacks of speakers and rows of truss. And the heavy layer of dust that had gathered on every flat surface offered further proof that all this equipment had sat untouched for months.
While nature was slowly taking over, nearly every technician who earned their living in touring and live production sat at home. Some on the couch, binging their way through the Netflix catalog. Others were catching up on all those “if I ever find the time” projects.
A year later, in August of 2021, the weeds again sprouted up through the cracks in the concrete. However, this time, their uncontrolled growth was because every motor coach was busy on the road, hauling bands and their crews back and forth across the country. Every lighting fixture, video panel, and loudspeaker had been put to use. And with nothing to disrupt their work, spiders once again spun elaborate webs, this time spanning empty shelves instead of unused equipment.
Every industry professional who had sat at home the year before, concerned about paying their bills and feeding their families, was now busier than ever. Some turned down work because of schedule conflicts; others juggled multiple jobs with several clients. Everyone that wanted to work was working, sometimes more than they wanted to. After a few months, these same people began to wish for a break, although usually only to themselves for fear of sounding ungrateful.
The events of 2020 made everyone realize how grim life can get when we’re unable to work and generate an income. And most of us fortunate enough to return to work in 2021 were grateful for the opportunity. But working on very little sleep, or pulling double and triple duty due to labor shortages, is not only unpleasant; eventually, it becomes unsafe. There is a balance, and overworking to the point of exhaustion can be more detrimental to one’s wellbeing than being overcome with anxiety due to a lack of income.
LABOR SHORTAGES
After so many of us had sat home for an extended period of time, wanting nothing more than to go back to work, the labor shortages caught most of us off guard. I fully expected everyone to jump at the opportunity to get back on the road and earn an income. But many people were still concerned with the dangers related to COVID. They didn't feel comfortable being surrounded by thousands of people. Others had moved on; some started their own business, or found work in other industries. Whatever the case, there weren’t enough people to fill all the necessary positions, and these unexpected labor shortages came at a cost.
Most concerning to me was how difficult it was to hire the necessary security personnel. With no one to stop them, anyone could enter a venue unchecked, and several people did. Entry without first paying admission meant no income generated, but the genuine concern was the lack of safety this presented. People entering on their own free will do not have their pockets or bags checked by security. This oversight allows anyone who enters a venue with bad intentions to simply enter a venue with the necessary tools in hand to carry out these intentions.
Also disturbing was the lack of personnel in the barricade each night. I saw multiple instances in 2021 where an understaffed barricade resulted in injury. With no one to catch crowd surfers as they came over the rail, they fell to the ground. And security staff members, eager to help, sometimes wound up injuring themselves when they didn’t have the support they needed.
Unfilled labor calls for stagehands also caused problems, requiring everyone who did show up for the early morning load in, and the touring personnel who counted on these locals, to shoulder the burden. Everyone was often so busy and overworked that a simple break for a drink of water in the summer heat slowed progress. Lunches often went uneaten to ensure things got done before the doors opened. An overworked, dehydrated, unfed workforce is good for no one.
EQUIPMENT DISREPAIR AND SHORTAGES
When equipment malfunctioned, getting a replacement proved a difficult, if not impossible, task. Every vendor in the industry was over-extended, and there wasn’t enough gear to go around. There wasn't always a replacement available when a tour bus broke down. In this case, tour and production managers had to find an alternate way of getting the band and crew to the next tour stop. But of course, rental vans were also in high demand and short supply, so this wasn't always a simple task.
Fears around the spread of COVID had caused factories worldwide to shut down for an extended time, and suppliers quickly ran out of replacement parts. With labor shortages making an immediate return to full production impossible for most manufacturers, technicians were forced to leave broken equipment in disrepair without the necessary parts.
SHIPPING DELAYS
Because everyone on tour is constantly moving, placing orders for delivery on the road has always posed a unique challenge. But the difficulty was magnified this year as shipping companies also experienced labor shortages and struggled to meet promised delivery dates. Overnight shipments sometimes turned into a two- or three-day affair. We learned to plan even further ahead than usual when placing orders, allowing at least a week for anything to be delivered, longer if possible. That did help our chances, but on several occasions, our items arrived after we had already passed through a venue, forcing us to follow up and coordinate a re-route.
FRUSTRATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES
I had a feeling it wouldn’t be business as usual when live music returned. Still, I don’t think anyone who sat at home waiting to get back to work could have foreseen the problems we experienced in 2021. Unfortunately, I don't believe any of this is going away in the foreseeable future. And with that reality comes both frustrations, as well as opportunity.
It can be tough to staff a tour with competent industry professionals these days; it seems that everyone has already committed to something else. You can find qualified personnel, but it will take time and effort, and you'll probably have to reach beyond your inner circle of trusted colleagues to do so.
On the other hand, if you have some experience and want to take the next step in your career, now is your time. For those who have only considered a job in live production, the current labor shortages within the industry provide an excellent opportunity to get a foot in the door and begin learning. You’ll probably be thrown into the deep end, but opportunities for those who want in are available now. If you’re willing to work hard and prove yourself competent, you're on your way.
A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER
I managed to work in five countries outside of the United States in 2021, which still seems far-fetched after rarely leaving my home during quarantine in 2020. But this wasn't business as usual; this was a year like no other I have experienced. During a show in the Caribbean, a young woman fell from the second level of a scaffolding tower that had been constructed without proper fall protection, landing on her back in the gravel near me. There was theft and a show cancellation because of a drive-by shooting on the West Coast. And more than ever before, I saw artists stop shows in the middle of a song because something was wrong in the audience.
People often speak of a return to "normal", but I feel that our industry and the world will never again feel the same as before the pandemic. That said, the lessons taken away from this year are invaluable, and I hope that we all continue to stay busy. I hope we’re allowed to work at a pace that will enable people to get rest and take breaks, so we can stay healthy and happy and continue to do what we love.
I also hope promoters act responsibly and prioritize safety and wellbeing above their bottom line. If it's impossible to get the proper staff and equipment, wait until the time is right. Inadequate security is a deal breaker, bike rack is not an acceptable substitute for barricade, and four stagehands shouldn't have to do the work of eight. Employees, bands and their crews, and the patrons at every show, are all in danger when shortcuts are taken. We should do everything we can to reduce risks, and if we can't mitigate them enough, we shouldn’t do a show.
Of course, this year hasn't been all bad, and there are many things for which we should be grateful. Bank accounts are transitioning from red to black, reducing the anxiety and uncertainties surrounding cash flow. And we all learned that the next rainy day could happen at any moment, completely unexpected, so we should save for it now. Weeds will always grow, spiders will always spin webs, and dust will always collect. If we’re lucky, it will be because we’re all out doing something we love.
Be safe, be grateful, and look out for one another.