I try not to take gigs in Vegas. Long story — but there is a bag of cash, a couple of wiseguys a stripper and a broken down XL4 involved. If I told you they would have to take me out of witness protection, so there you go. Anyway, through a string of dubious events, I found myself working a freelance gig in Vegas. The gig was designed to help bring people in for a much larger event. It seems to me that if you need small events to "spruce up" the larger event then more than likely the main deal needs to be re thought — That's a whole other thing — Anyway, my job was production manager for the live concert portion of this "big event". The client booked several "A list" national acts for this show ranging from metal to country. Originally to be put on two stages, everything suddenly summed to one! That's right — Head Bangers Ball meets Punk followed by country….A REAL crowd pleaser….
So three "headliners" and an "opener" who seemed to think they where a headliner too. More on that later.
Several weeks before the show, the booking agent/promoter told me the line up. He also made it my job to inform the acts who was headlining the stage.
Having a previous working relationship with the country act chosen to headline, it was pretty easy to call them and ask for their cooperation in regards to losing some set carts because of limited stage space. (The stage was 32 by 30 deep, we added another 8 ft to the back as well)
Moving to the next act (Alt Metal) They also where flexible in responding to my request for sacrifices. In fact, all three big name bands where very helpful and flexible. (I would love to tell you who they are, but it would give the whole gig/story away)
The opener is an act from the UK. Apparently kinda big there, I was hard pressed to find anyone who had ever heard of them in the good ol’ US of A. I tried for over a month to advance the show, get someone to even call back. Finally about six days out, a call from the NEW tour manger! I get his backline handled, tell him his soundcheck time, and send him the stage plot — to scale — of how and what we are doing (layer & peel). It sucks, I tell him, no matter who you are but you have 10-feet by 24-feet ft to work with.
He signs off and we are ready to go!!
We load all three headliners in the day before, sound check the main act that night. Start at 9 a.m. day of, giving each act a couple hours to set up and sound check. All is well. The opener tour manager for the Brit act no one has heard of shows up and demands that the headliner lose their drum riser!! Oh yeah, and he wants all of the other acts to strip their backline off!
"We cant do a show with 10 ft of stage! I feel like we are being shit on!" he says to my stage manger. He follows with, "We are the only band making a sacrifice!" My stage manger quickly points out that the headliner gave up all of their set carts (except drum riser) and so did the other two acts as well. And one didn't even sound check so they could give the opener more time. "So EVERYONE has sacrificed" my stage manager says.
"Well", opener bitch says," I guess I will just tell the promoter he failed to give us what we need as per our contract, we have been paid but we won't play."
My stage manager says to him, you know you are an opener right? I loved opener bitch’s response, "OH no, we are co-headliners!"
Now, I have heard enough. He is now cutting into MY dinner break with this nonsense. I step up to the conversation introduce myself as the "Head Prick In Charge". And ask him…Where did you get that information?? He replied, “We are big in the UK!”
“You ain’t in the UK any more TOTO!” I said. “Are you aware that the other three acts have about 15 Grammy's combined?? And they have sold about 10 million records combined? And they are big in the UK and the USA too? Don't you think you are being pretty arrogant considering the company you are keeping today? The promoter told me he was doing YOUR band a favor to get them in the States….WELL???
“You are the opener. You can cancel if you like, we will just do three bands, as we have been paid too. But I would be forced to give the promoter the stage plot YOU signed indicating how much space you would get. It would at that point be up to him if he wants to sue you. Have a nice day.”
That bitch's response? The stage is fine. We will play. I wonder if I had him at hello???
Insult to injury? About 300 people where there for the "OPENERS" set. With almost 25,000 sold out for the rest of the night.
Later that afternoon the promoter, stage manager & I did a walk thru from backstage past monitor world and to a VIP area in front of the stage. The VIPs were all celebrities and their entourage. We made a clear and safe path,and were told to expect around 50 VIPs total.
As the VIPs where being brought thru…..Where to start….Hmm…It was closer to about 150 VIPS, and they walked THRU monitor world smoking and drinking and tripping over cables! The promoter actually said (in reference to the split snake) "Does this equipment NEED to be here? its in the way" Oh yeah as he says that a drunk VIP trips over the snake and stumbles into a Yamaha PM 5-D. NICE!
Another drunk VIP climbed the truss!!
Didn't we do a walk thru just an hour ago??? What the hell? Promoter boy responds…"They are celebrities,what do you want from me?? " So what are you implying they are not smart enough to follow directions? I mean lets face it YOU can't count anyway………