post jazz meanderings, part two
Whew! I am more awake now than I was when I ended the last post...
I realized there may be some questions about the previous post. And today I feel like explaining a few things.
Artist hosts are provided by festivals - the good ones - to be liaisons between the festival and the artist. We make sure they have their credentials, are transported to and from airports and stages and interviews, that they know their rehearsal schedules if they have them, where artist hospitality is, and any other legitimate requests the artist might make. You tend to work with the road manager if they have one, and that makes it easier. Road managers are pretty organized, and they are pretty specific in their requests. For example, I'm at the stage just before the performance, and I'm informed that one of the (locally-hired) band members is playing in another band on the opposite end of the festival 15 minutes after they finish this gig. My job is to arrange transportation to get him there on time so the show starts on time. The temperature's dropped 30 degrees and the artists are in cotton and sandals, I think to ask for a van instead of the golf carts for the return to the hotel so they don't get sick and lose their voices. I play bodyguard at times when there's need, and try to get the artist whatever they need for their performance that wasn't mentioned in the contract rider beforehand. Like an iron and ironing board in the dressing room. Looking for my artist for the interview they're scheduled to give? I track them down and get them there. Essentially, I'm an adjunct tour manager for those bands who have one, and one-time tour manager for those who don't. While I haven't had to do so recently, I've tracked down checks for them (jazz performers get paid before they hit the stage) - and I have to say, Harold from the festival has done a fantastic job of getting the artists their money since he took over the task. (Three of us [artist hosts] started celebrating a little early Monday night and loudly toasted Harold as he completed his final mission for the day... Letting people know they are appreciated is important.) It's a way to make the festival run more smoothly, make artists happy, and it presents the festival in the best light possible.
Mind you, it's not like we're the most important part of it - but we DO make it better. Having really great stage managers and stage hands, a good and flexible transportation department (Mary Rocks!), and all the other pieces of the behind-the-scenes puzzle - together we all make it work. And I'm serious about that. Everybody puts their hearts into this festival, and does whatever it takes to make it successful. That's why I keep coming back.
So, since I've been home, I'm slowly remembering the rest of my life ;-). Making tomato sauce from the garden, etc. - domestic, grounding things.
And coming up with new ideas and possibilities. Got some interesting things in my head right now, and I'm pretty happy about it, especially since it looks like I'll be putting it together with some of my favorite people ;-). Let's hope what's in the head translates into reality.
Which means, of course, that I have to start making lists again. Meetings, lists, projects... what fun!
I realized there may be some questions about the previous post. And today I feel like explaining a few things.
Artist hosts are provided by festivals - the good ones - to be liaisons between the festival and the artist. We make sure they have their credentials, are transported to and from airports and stages and interviews, that they know their rehearsal schedules if they have them, where artist hospitality is, and any other legitimate requests the artist might make. You tend to work with the road manager if they have one, and that makes it easier. Road managers are pretty organized, and they are pretty specific in their requests. For example, I'm at the stage just before the performance, and I'm informed that one of the (locally-hired) band members is playing in another band on the opposite end of the festival 15 minutes after they finish this gig. My job is to arrange transportation to get him there on time so the show starts on time. The temperature's dropped 30 degrees and the artists are in cotton and sandals, I think to ask for a van instead of the golf carts for the return to the hotel so they don't get sick and lose their voices. I play bodyguard at times when there's need, and try to get the artist whatever they need for their performance that wasn't mentioned in the contract rider beforehand. Like an iron and ironing board in the dressing room. Looking for my artist for the interview they're scheduled to give? I track them down and get them there. Essentially, I'm an adjunct tour manager for those bands who have one, and one-time tour manager for those who don't. While I haven't had to do so recently, I've tracked down checks for them (jazz performers get paid before they hit the stage) - and I have to say, Harold from the festival has done a fantastic job of getting the artists their money since he took over the task. (Three of us [artist hosts] started celebrating a little early Monday night and loudly toasted Harold as he completed his final mission for the day... Letting people know they are appreciated is important.) It's a way to make the festival run more smoothly, make artists happy, and it presents the festival in the best light possible.
Mind you, it's not like we're the most important part of it - but we DO make it better. Having really great stage managers and stage hands, a good and flexible transportation department (Mary Rocks!), and all the other pieces of the behind-the-scenes puzzle - together we all make it work. And I'm serious about that. Everybody puts their hearts into this festival, and does whatever it takes to make it successful. That's why I keep coming back.
So, since I've been home, I'm slowly remembering the rest of my life ;-). Making tomato sauce from the garden, etc. - domestic, grounding things.
And coming up with new ideas and possibilities. Got some interesting things in my head right now, and I'm pretty happy about it, especially since it looks like I'll be putting it together with some of my favorite people ;-). Let's hope what's in the head translates into reality.
Which means, of course, that I have to start making lists again. Meetings, lists, projects... what fun!