I have worked in the music business my entire adult life. The last show I worked was Dustin Lynch on February 29th, 2020
I started working with local and regional bands in the ’80s. I traveled around the northeast with groups like Alpha Centori, T.E.A.R.S., Homel Alaniz Band, and Mad Jack. I still stay in touch with people from all of these bands. I moved to Denver in the early ’80s to work with a band and traveled up and down the Rocky Mountains. I toured the country with Savoy Brown as their tour manager. I worked at the Lost Horizon in the early ’90s. I relocated to Virginia Beach to travel with a corporate entertainment group, I stayed there for a decade.
In 2004 I returned to upstate NY to work for Oneida Nation Enterprises. I was hired to be the lead audio person for the newly constructed (5000 seat)
Event Center. After three back surgeries and a shoulder repair, I moved into a less physically demanding role. Initially as Production Coordinator and later as Operations Supervisor. In that role, one of my responsibilities was scheduling all of our staff. This includes both concert venues, the night clubs as well as Audio Visual. I also acted as the steward for the Event Center show. I was usually the first one there and the last one to leave. I typically worked with the touring Production and Stage Managers. It wasn’t unusual to work 18-20 hour days.
I loved every stressful moment of it.
Covid 19 changed everything. All of our venues were closed. Our entire staff was furloughed. I consider myself to be very fortunate. My employer gave all of us an additional two weeks of paid time off. They also covered my health insurance and health savings the entire time I was out of work. When the word came that we would partially re-open, I was given an opportunity to apply my non-technical skills to a different job. Today, I am supervising the day shift of our “Safer Together” team at Point Place Casino. We are the folks who screen guests and employees as they enter the building. It’s been a challenge. I figured if I can manage a 75 man stage call and deal with grumpy stage managers and temperamental artists, I can handle this.
I don’t know what the future hold for me or our industry. Our elected officials don’t seem to be concerned that, an entire industry disappeared overnight. Music and production has always been part of my life. I believe our industry has been forever changed. That being said, we are creative problem solvers. That is what we do.
In difficult times, arts and entertainment are what give us hope. It offers relief from the craziness of everyday life. The world needs that now.