"As part of our music tech course, we went on a visit to a local large multi-purpose venue (the BIC). On this trip we took a backstage tour around the BIC and discussed behind-the-scenes job roles such as the promoter, the stage technician, lighting and sound engineers and the tour manager. We met with the Technical Operations manager who explained these jobs and what they included. We were taken to the various concert halls where many famous people had performed and shown the dos and don’ts of the music business. We were shown the backstage layout in which the performer’s tour bus would go by and the dressing rooms where they would eat and change outfits.
In the Windsor hall of the BIC, we were taught about the stage how it is not fixed, so that bands can control how deep, and how wide the stage can be. In addition, we were shown what had to be worn health and safety wise, a hard hat and a hi-vis jacket when setting up and de rigging a show.
We were shown all the organisations involved in putting on a live event, and I was surprised at how many there were! My peers informed me that there were only the venue and the band itself. However, that is not the case. It seems that many different organisations are involved from the promotion company who books the acts to the agencies that provide security for a show down to the ‘humpers’ who are hired to unload the band’s equipment first thing in the morning and return at midnight to pack the equipment away again.
The highlight of the tour was a trip up into the roof on the Windsor hall gantry where we were able to walk 20 metres above the main hall and stage and see how all the equipment is hung from the ceiling. Not recommended for those who don’t like heights!"
By Peter Rowley year 10
Owned by: LDN | Last Published: 23/02/2017 14:52:33 | Next Update: N/A
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