| Depending on the size of a live concert tour, many | | | | sets up in front. This band is referred to as the |
| people are employed behind the scenes to produce a | | | | "opener". It is not uncommon to have multiple openers |
| successful show. Have you ever gone to a concert | | | | and depending on the size of the stage, the first band |
| and wondered, "how do they get this whole stage set | | | | to perform sets up last, in front of each band playing |
| up, and torn down in one day?" | | | | after them. If the stage is too small to fit every bands' |
| Typically, a live concert production arrives at the venue | | | | gear, some of the middle openers will have to move |
| between 7 am and 12 noon and is ready for showtime | | | | their gear off stage. They will move it onstage right |
| at 7 pm. After the show, the entire production is | | | | before their performance. This is called "striking". For |
| loaded back into trucks and is headed off to another | | | | instance, if the second band's gear is not able to fit on |
| city by 2 am for another load-in the next morning. This | | | | the stage, it must be striked. If any gear is set up |
| incredible feat is made possible by the hard work of | | | | during a sound check, and then striked, it is important to |
| several small crews that travel with the tour, with the | | | | mark the exact spot that piece of gear goes when it |
| help of larger local crews. Touring crews are broken | | | | is brought back onto the stage. this is usually done with |
| down into categories and can include production, audio, | | | | small pieces of colored tape and is called "spiking". It is |
| lighting, rigging, video, pyrotechnics and backline. Here | | | | rare that a headlining band will be expected strike any |
| we will discuss what a backline technician does, and | | | | of their gear. |
| how to become successful. | | | | A well run show will have what is called a "day sheet" |
| A backline technician is someone who travels with a | | | | posted in multiple locations around the venue. This day |
| band and sets up their guitars, drums, keyboards, and | | | | sheet will outline the load-in times of each band, the |
| any other instruments or band gear being used. They | | | | sound check times, and show times for each act. It is |
| are responsible for keeping everything in tune and | | | | important to pay close attention to the day sheet and |
| working properly. At the end of the show, the backline | | | | make sure you are in the right place at the right time. |
| technicians pack up the band gear and load the trailer | | | | Always be courteous to the stage manager and try to |
| or truck. | | | | stay out of the way as much as possible. |
| When you see a large concert in an arena or stadium | | | | Most likely you will start out working for an opening act |
| you must realize that in most cases the band you are | | | | and won't get a sound check. You will have to test |
| seeing started out touring in small clubs and theaters. | | | | and tune your guitars, drums, and amps off stage and |
| Large touring acts will have huge crews traveling with | | | | do a very fast check right before your band goes on |
| them on multiple tour buses, and semi trailer trucks filled | | | | stage. It is still a good idea to watch the headlining act |
| with sound and lights. Keep in mind they probably | | | | do their line check and sound check to learn how this |
| started out in one van pulling a small trailer with only | | | | works. |
| their instruments and band gear. And their first crew | | | | Before the artists come in for a sound check, the |
| members were probably a couple of inexperienced | | | | backline technicians must perform what is called a "line |
| backline technicians! | | | | check" with the audio crew. Each instrument is |
| So in order to figure out how one becomes a backline | | | | individually sent out to the speakers and monitors |
| technician, lets break it right down and start at the | | | | through lines. These are either microphone lines, or |
| beginning. Just like anything else in life, getting into this | | | | direct input lines also know as D.I. lines. Each line is sent |
| industry means starting at the bottom and working | | | | to a channel on a mixing board where the audio crew |
| your way up. Let's first discuss what skills you need to | | | | will adjust levels and frequencies according to the |
| become backline technician. This is where you are | | | | acoustics of the room. If the band does not have any |
| going to begin, and this is what you are going to need | | | | technicians they will have to do this themselves. |
| to know! | | | | To fully understand what a line check is, one must |
| A big misconception is that a backline technician must | | | | realize there are two audio systems involved with a |
| be a really good drummer or guitar player etc. This is | | | | live music performance. The large speakers hanging |
| simply not true. Being a good musician is definitely a | | | | from each side of the the stage pointing towards the |
| huge asset, but it is not as crucial as you might think. | | | | audience are operated by a "front of house" engineer, |
| That being said, you must have a fundamental | | | | often called FOH. There are also smaller speakers on |
| understanding of these instruments. If you have never | | | | the stage pointed towards each band member called |
| picked up a guitar, played a piano, or sat behind a drum | | | | "monitors" or "wedges" that are operated by a monitor |
| kit, you have some work to do before even | | | | engineer. Larger acts often use in-ear monitors |
| considering this line of work. If you are serious about | | | | connected to belt packs that transmit their mix |
| becoming a backline technician I would recommend | | | | wirelessly through headphones. This eliminates the |
| taking some guitar, drum and piano lessons in your | | | | need for wedges on stage and gives the artist a |
| spare time. Learn how to tune a guitar and play the | | | | much more controlled and isolated mix. These |
| basic chords. Learn how to play a drum beat and tune | | | | systems are becoming more common and affordable, |
| a drum. Learn how to play some scales on a piano. | | | | but you will most likely only encounter traditional |
| You don't have to become a pro, just learn the basics. | | | | monitors in small clubs and theaters. |
| 4-8 weeks of half hour lessons can be done in your | | | | While the large FOH speakers are a master mix of |
| spare time. I have worked with many successful | | | | the entire band that the audience hears, the monitors |
| technicians on large scale tours who have very little | | | | on stage pointed at each artist are individually mixed |
| playing ability. This hasn't stopped them, so why should | | | | according to what that artist needs to hear during the |
| it stop you? | | | | performance. The singer might want to hear his voice |
| The next thing you are going to need to do is become | | | | louder and have less bass, the bass player might want |
| educated on the maintenance of these instruments | | | | to hear more kick drum in his mix. The technician will |
| and gear. For this I would suggest contacting local | | | | know how each artist likes his monitors mixed. During |
| musical instrument repair shops and asking if you could | | | | a line check, the technicians will run through each |
| volunteer. Find out who the guitar and amp repair | | | | instrument line, and work with the monitor engineer to |
| technicians are and try to meet them. Explain to them | | | | make sure levels are correct. The technicians will also |
| that you are interested in becoming a backline | | | | work with the FOH engineer making sure each line is |
| technician and would like to learn some basic skills of | | | | getting to FOH properly. Once the line check is |
| guitar setups, guitar repairs, amp repairs, and drum | | | | complete, the band can then come on stage for the |
| repairs etc. Ask if you could come in for a couple of | | | | final sound check to make sure they are comfortable |
| hours and watch them work. Maybe offer to sweep | | | | and make any adjustments. The band will usually |
| the floors, or clean up the shop in exchange for | | | | perform a few songs so the FOH engineer can make |
| lessons on instrument repairs. As long as you are | | | | sure everything will sound good to the audience. |
| courteous and show interest in their profession you | | | | The most important part of being a backline technician |
| might be surprised how eager these people will be to | | | | is preparation. Make sure you have all the tools you |
| help you. You might even get a part time job and get | | | | need and always be thinking ahead! You need to be |
| paid to learn! You do not need to be a professional | | | | aware of how much time you have and then prioritize |
| musical instrument repair person, but you need to have | | | | accordingly. Be aware that your main goal is to do |
| a good understanding how the instruments are set up | | | | everything in your power to make the artist |
| and repaired. If you live in a larger city there might be | | | | comfortable onstage. They shouldn't have to worry |
| backline companies that rent gear out to local venues | | | | about anything but performing. Always make sure the |
| for events. This would be a great place to volunteer | | | | gear is working properly first. It doesn't matter if you |
| and gain a better understanding of backline gear. | | | | changed strings on every guitar in the rack if the guitar |
| Once you have acquired some of the basic skills | | | | amp doesn't work. It doesn't matter if you polished all |
| mentioned above you will be ready to start looking for | | | | the cymbals if the kick pedal is broken. Make a routine |
| some hands on experience. Living in a large city is | | | | of always checking every battery, and that every jack |
| going to make this part easier, but this can be done in | | | | is properly plugged in. Learn to anticipate problems. |
| smaller urban areas as well. Don't think you have to | | | | Tape cables to the floor so they don't become |
| live in New York or Los Angeles in order to get into | | | | unplugged when they are kicked. Then move on to |
| the music industry. Successful bands come from all | | | | less important tasks depending on how much time you |
| over the map and the goal here is only to get | | | | have. Try to understand what is most important to |
| experience. Once you become an experienced | | | | each artist and make sure you perform those tasks |
| backline technician it doesn't matter where you live | | | | first. |
| because you will be working all over the world, and | | | | Before and after the sound check is your time to |
| never in your home town. | | | | prepare. Always make time to get a bite to eat. You |
| You will need to make some flyers to post on bulletin | | | | need to be thinking clearly. Working on an empty |
| boards advertising that you are looking to volunteer as | | | | stomach is never a good idea. You will probably have |
| a guitar technician, drum technician or a general | | | | to make set lists for the band. Set lists are a list of the |
| backline technician for local club and theater shows. | | | | songs the band plans to perform during the show. |
| Post your flyers with your contact information at local | | | | These can be written out with a sharpie pen, or typed |
| band rehearsal studios, music stores, recording studios, | | | | and printed out. Guitarists and bassists often use |
| coffee shops, anywhere you think musicians might | | | | different guitars for different songs, that are also in |
| hang out. You can even put out ads on various free | | | | different tunings. It is a good idea to plan in advance to |
| classified sites such as craigslist.com, or Most bands | | | | make sure all the guitars are tuned properly. You might |
| who are just starting out have very little money | | | | also have to get water, other beverages, towels, and |
| coming in, if any. They normally set up and tear down | | | | anything else the band members might need during the |
| their own gear because they don't even consider the | | | | performance. You will also have to make sure the |
| idea of having technicians yet. You can capitalize on | | | | band has extra sticks, picks, strings and any other |
| this fact by learning how to set up and tune all the | | | | supplies you might need during the show. |
| instruments and help them during the show. Most | | | | Once you have done everything in your power to |
| musicians dream of someday being able to have | | | | prepare for the show it is time for the band to hit the |
| someone set up their gear and you will certainly get | | | | stage. Your most important task is to pay close |
| some bites from your ad. | | | | attention to the band members at all times. If |
| Since you are working for free, for someone who has | | | | something goes wrong, try not to panic. Nine times out |
| probably never had a tech before, you will not be | | | | of ten the problem will be very simple to fix. If you |
| expected to be perfect. You will be making mistakes, | | | | loose your cool you will probably make it worse. Take |
| but you will also be learning a very unique trade. Just | | | | a deep breath and analyze the situation. If a problem |
| being in this environment will put you in a position to | | | | occurs, do your best to fix it. After the show explain |
| learn valuable lessons from the people around you. | | | | what happened to the artist, apologize, and most |
| Most likely some of these local bands will be on bills | | | | importantly, learn from your mistakes. Suppose a guitar |
| opening for national or regional touring acts coming | | | | stops working during a show and it turned out it was |
| through town. During the day you will be be setting up | | | | because a power cable was knocked loose from a |
| your band, and meeting the other headlining bands and | | | | pedal. You should explain later why the problem |
| their technicians. At this stage it is important to work | | | | happened, and accept responsibility. Then explain that |
| very hard, offer to help everyone, and show that you | | | | from now on, you will secure that cable before every |
| are a great person to work with. Make sure you meet | | | | show, along with every other similar cable in the guitar |
| everyone, especially tour managers for the headlining | | | | rig. The artist should appreciate your honesty and be |
| acts. Make business cards to hand out to everyone | | | | confident that problem will never happen again. |
| and make sure they know that you are an "all around | | | | Remember that you will be making many mistakes |
| backline tech" that can do drums, guitars, bass and | | | | when you first start out. Only once you learn from |
| keyboards. Being able to wear several hats makes | | | | these mistakes, will you become a valuable backline |
| you very valuable to a tour with a limited budget. | | | | technician. |
| Getting on a tour with a small budget is your next step! | | | | After the show it is absolutely imperative that you |
| You want to get gigs with several bands who perform | | | | carefully pack up every piece of equipment that came |
| local shows and get as much experience and | | | | into the venue, and make sure it all makes it back into |
| exposure as possible. This is the type of hands on | | | | the trailer or truck. Do not leave things laying around |
| networking that is necessary in order to start getting | | | | during the day as this will make it very difficult to find |
| paid to be a backline technician. | | | | everything at the end of the night. Keep your work |
| Once you have an offer to work your first gig, you | | | | station tidy and organized and make sure you know |
| are going to need to understand the procedure of | | | | where all of your gear is at all times. Make sure |
| setting up a band for a live performance. | | | | everything is labeled clearly. It is very common for gear |
| When multiple bands are performing, the last band to | | | | to be stolen from venues so you must be aware at all |
| perform is usually called the "headliner". The headlining | | | | times. When you load into a venue, count each piece |
| act normally sets up their gear first, and does a sound | | | | that goes in. When you are loading the trailer make |
| check. Then, the band that plays before the headliner | | | | sure you have the same amount of pieces! |