The best sound techs get the sound check done within 20 minutes, in a relaxed fashion, without high screeching feedbacks. They smile and they are not sweaty. They make a few micro adjustments during the first few songs, and bob thier head like they dig the music. They move away from the board for most of the night, and perhaps only occasionally come back to it, to turn off the reverb for when I talk to the audience between songs. We pray that they do NOT have a fidgeting problem or try new things mid song. We cringe for days when our dynamics are robbed from us by a sound tech who rides the faders and adds compression as we MAKE MUSIC.
Most sound tech and stage experiences have been great. Not having your own sound tech on tour adds some wonderful surprises, but also some wonder-why-we're-being- tortured experiences.
Playing on a stage in the lobby of a 4 star spa hotel, is when you feel like the 80's t-shirt that reads: LIFE IS GOOD, or LIFE's A BEACH, ...or best yet..."LIFE'S A SPA!" Thank you Seehotel in Neurrupin, DE.
Pushing your own tour bus down the streets of Neu-Ulm, DE while wearing a florescent orange safety vest, sends a lot of blood through your heart. Kind of like a stab wound, I imagine. The key won't turn the starter motor. Parking positions become an essential and collective decision. In Plauen, DE we design our own sign for the windshield: (something like) auto kaputt, sorry we are parked here. I really like the cave-like cellar concerts a lot! So, the concert was cool.
Gifts from fans can be awkward, but every time they are sweet and dearly treasured (mostly), and remembered. This week, I got a knit soccer scarf with my name and Canadian flags on it from a fan, and we have displayed it every night since. The new roll up banner makes it look like one more person is sitting in the crowd and how cool is that !? and the red wine, dark chocolate, cards and bundles of flowers give the tour bus a feminine and fairy tale like luxurious vibe.
Opening acts otherwise known as support acts are like the little appetizer you didn't order at a restaurant that are presented compliments of the chef. Sometimes you get a delicious 'n mysterious like nothing-you've-ever-had before 'bite'. Other times you get something that was boring and just made you restless because it delayed 'your' order, and other times you get something too experimental and almost appetite destroying. Recording artist
David Blair was our surprise opener in Tailfingen, DE. He was a delight, not to mention he has two piece 'it's business time' pajamas...which I have blackmailing photos of now :).
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