What do you think, inconsiderate or not?

[lowfreq33]

My group had the opportunity to open for Bruce Hornsby when he first broke into the big time. We arrive at the venue after they had sound checked and there was a huge grand piano taking up most of the smallish 4' high stage. Our manager talked with his and they refused to even push the piano back 2' so we could stand in front of it. They said we could setup on the floor in front of the stage. We declined. I don't blame them for not wanting to move the piano, but it would have been nice to know before we drove 3 hours to the venue.

That actually makes sense from a performance standpoint. Moving the piano could knock it out of tune to a noticeable degree. But they should have planned ahead if they knew there was an opener.

 

[Dave W]

And for those few commenters who say, well they are the headliners and they should get to do whatever they want, it sounds like you are condoning acting like a jerk as long as you are a big enough act.

I wouldn't say that. When you've got a ton of stuff to set up and need to be ready to play in 20 minutes, it's just easier from a logistical standpoint to leave everything in place just as it was for sound check.

It sucks for everybody that isn't the headliner.

 

[callofcthulhu]

D-bag move for sure. My band opened for Dio back in the 90's and he had his guys start setting his crap up during the middle our set. Not his bands gear mind you,but his own little 'riser' for lack of a better term. It was a series of short bench-tops that ran behind the monitors for him to stand on so he could be six feet tall on a stage already four feet above the crowd. It's pretty hard to play well and keep your cool when a handful of goons are pushing you and your gear all over the stage during your set to appease Napolean's ego..

Wow this is really disappointing to hear.

Dio's such a hero, and always seemed so genuine and nice in interviews and the like.

I can forgive needing the apple crates, but to be setting them up during a band's performance? That's just classless...

Did you get to talk to the man himself about it? It may well have been some dickhead tour manager's decision that Dio knew nothing about.

 

[bassinplace]

I'd probably be slightly annoyed, but I've never played a show that big so I'd probably be stoked just to be playing! Being able to roll with the punches while delivering high quality goods is what being a professional is all about.

 

[xUptheIronsx]

one of my bands opened up for Howard Jones back in the late 90's. He had a Leslie cabinet that took up most of the stage in the medium sized club. When we got there, he was there to meet us, and personally apologize. He said that they had tried to put it behind or in front of the stage, but it didn't work.

We were already appreciative that we had got the call for the show there would have been no problem, but it was just cool that he hung around himself (as well as other members of the band) to chat when we arrived. In fact, the whole entire group stood directly behind me for most of the show, which was nerve wracking to say the least...

 

[deathsdj]

one of my bands opened up for Howard Jones back in the late 90's. He had a Leslie cabinet that took up most of the stage in the medium sized club. When we got there, he was there to meet us, and personally apologize. He said that they had tried to put it behind or in front of the stage, but it didn't work.

We were already appreciative that we had got the call for the show there would have been no problem, but it was just cool that he hung around himself (as well as other members of the band) to chat when we arrived. In fact, the whole entire group stood directly behind me for most of the show, which was nerve wracking to say the least...

If it has to happen that is a very cool way to handle it.

 

[pipFunk]

I think most people don't set out to be obnoxious.

You can be sure that if the TM insisted that the kit be left in place, he had a reason for it. You better believe that reason wasn't just to p*ss you off!

Given the configuration of the headliner, it must be something that has occurred before, and perhaps the band do have a riser but couldn't use it because of space restrictions in the club? Was the kit miced? If you spend an hour or two micing and sound-checking, are you really going to tear it down to make way for the support?

There'll be a reason this happened, that was nothing to do with setting out to disrespect you. Maybe you'll get more mileage out of finding out what that reason was instead of taking offence where, almost certainly, none was intended...

$0.02

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

My previous band opened for The Nimmo Brothers (not sure how known they are in the States - in Europe they are building quite a following in the blues circuit) and THEY actually kept asking us permission to move this and that, cos they wanted to set up their gear alongside ours already.

They kept asking me: is it okay if I put my amp here? Go ahead, dude. Mind if I put my pedalboard over here? Not a prob, man. They were the nicest bunch of guys ever and it was an honour and a pleasure to open for such a group.

 

[DwaynieAD]

move it anyway, fight them later as needed.

 

[funkingroovin]

Wow this is really disappointing to hear.

Dio's such a hero, and always seemed so genuine and nice in interviews and the like.

I can forgive needing the apple crates, but to be setting them up during a band's performance? That's just classless...

Did you get to talk to the man himself about it? It may well have been some dickhead tour manager's decision that Dio knew nothing about.

You know how they say "Never meet your heroes"? It applied that gig. I figured he was probably having a bad day or stressed from the touring,but truth be told,he was a complete ass to everyone within sight that day,his own crew included..I commented about the riser thing after our set with a "Really? You guys couldn't wait 15 minutes?" Ronnie told me to piss off and waved with less than all his fingers. His roadies helped us load up after they did their set up and said "Sorry guys,it's another one of those days"

 

[fastplant]

I've opened for a good number of big name acts, and some are awesome to work with, some have even just let me use their rig to make things easier (got to play through some epic rigs), and some are just awful people. I don't get the notion of being rude to your opening band(s). In that case, why even have openers? If you're so amazing why can't you play all night, or hold the crowd until your set time? Pettiness between bands is something I'll never understand.

 

[strummer21]

I think most people don't set out to be obnoxious.

You can be sure that if the TM insisted that the kit be left in place, he had a reason for it. You better believe that reason wasn't just to p*ss you off!

Given the configuration of the headliner, it must be something that has occurred before, and perhaps the band do have a riser but couldn't use it because of space restrictions in the club? Was the kit miced? If you spend an hour or two micing and sound-checking, are you really going to tear it down to make way for the support?

There'll be a reason this happened, that was nothing to do with setting out to disrespect you. Maybe you'll get more mileage out of finding out what that reason was instead of taking offence where, almost certainly, none was intended...

$0.02

Hmm, I don't believe they were trying to piss us off or anyone. It was just really arrogance and laziness. The sound staff at the venue mic'd the kit and set everything up and they were prepared to move it (I wish I could show you a picture so that you could see how obnoxious it was at this spot) and even they were kinda puzzled as to why anyone would leave that there with other performers going on. It's a drum kit for a loud rock band not a Stradivarius. This band tours all over and has to have support acts (they don't do a 4 hr. show!) everywhere they play. This was absolutely a big F you from their tour manager who was asleep on the couch in the green room the entire time. All ended well, we had a great show picked up a lot of new fans from the sold out show and I got over the situation before we even played. You will just have a hard time convincing me that this wasn't a d!#k move.

 

[southshoreconor]

move it anyway, fight them later as needed.

there was a time in my life when i would have handled it this way, taken our pay and left without performing.
i'd like to think if it happened to me today, i'd spend the majority of our time between songs making fun of the wannabe rockers who can't fill a small club without local support and peeking under the black sheet.

 

[pipFunk]

Yeah, I take your point, it certainly comes across as a d*ck move... But, what I'm saying is that people rarely do things without having, to them, a good reason and generally that reason is because it benefits them, not because it inconveniences you.

And maybe that's a lesson right there: If you're asking for something, let everybody know why you want it, so they know your not just being an ass.

As to TM being sacked out in the green room; the last TM I spoke to had driven the band van 32+ hours in the last 60 across Europe, hit ferry deadlines, sorted out hotel reservations, helped the band load-in/load out at 2 venues, acted as guitar/bass tech for the gigs, set up the merch table, done the stock control/security for the merch and liased with the venue staff/management, making sure the band got their rider and pay and delivered the very best show they could. All this as well as generally looking after the welfare of the guys in the band - a task he compared to herding cats. And, he loved every minute of it - he was heading for his first ulcer, and running on fumes, but loving it.

Now your guy may have been different, perhaps he is just a lazy ass s.o.b. My guy, on the other hand, I reckon he deserves a chance to catch some ZZZZs knowing the band's set-up and ready to go!

 

[mellowinman]

My original band opened for the Little River Band one time. Their roadies wouldn't let us touch any of our gear. They were a bunch of Australian or Kiwi fellas, and were extremely friendly and helpful in every way. The guys in the band were every bit as nice.

It was GREAT.

 

[BurningSkies]

When I've played with bandmates who are unaware of how the 'opening' gig working around backline situation can be, I've usually warned the band that such-and-such-band may leave their backline planted and we may have to be 'flexible' about our setup.

Some bands have been more than cool, moving keyboards off to the side, making sure there's room for another kit on stage or space for amps. Other times, not so much. You really have to learn to smile and roll with it or face the idea that you may not be invited back. I always think the opener is there to be as 'invisible' to the production crew as possible. The fewer the demands the more likely you're going to be invited back.

 

[callofcthulhu]

You know how they say "Never meet your heroes"? It applied that gig. I figured he was probably having a bad day or stressed from the touring,but truth be told,he was a complete ass to everyone within sight that day,his own crew included..I commented about the riser thing after our set with a "Really? You guys couldn't wait 15 minutes?" Ronnie told me to piss off and waved with less than all his fingers. His roadies helped us load up after they did their set up and said "Sorry guys,it's another one of those days"

Wow. I'm at a loss.

Was this in the 80s? I don't doubt he was on an ego trip back then, but he seemed to have mellowed in the latter part of his life...

 

[ggoat!!!]

Yeah, I don't buy the Dio story either. In the early 90's, right after Dio left Sabbath for the 2nd time on the "Strange Highways" tour, at a gig in New Orleans it was literally sweltering. I was totally parched, and hadn't had the opportunity yet to get myself a drink. Dio didn't know me from a hamburger, didn't have a clue as to who I was. However, seeing how thirsty I must have looked, Dio instantly offered me his personal drink and a handshake. Imagine my surprise when it was pure Vodka (and I don't drink ha ha)...

Dio from that moment on seemed to me to be a truly caring down-to-earth person. I already respected him musically, but his untimely compassion and concern in the moment made me completely respect him as a person.

RIP.

 

[jugglingfreak]

You will just have a hard time convincing me that this wasn't a d!#k move.

Well, two things:

1) I agree, I think it was a d!ck move.

2) You already had your mind made up so, why did you bother posting to ask this question?

Seriously, just curious.. not trying to start anything.

 

[BurningSkies]

I've had the luck of meeting with and occasionally playing with some of my idols over the years, and I'm pretty happy to say that most of them have been really great in real life. Frank Zappa took the time to talk to me as a 18 year old kid. Later I used to talk with him or Gail on the phone (Barking Pumpkin), and he was still a chill dude.

Some of my all time heroes in the reggae world, the guys who originated the music, made it a household style and name have also been cool and awesome and supportive. One night in NYC I looked up while on stage to find the Skatalites sitting at the bar, chilling for our set. They were in town and saw our name and came out. Yellowman invited me to stay with him in Jamaica and that he would 'show me the island!'.

They're not all asses.