Road Warriors: The Hard Work Behind Every Country Music Tour

Road crews workin' hard behind the scenes, makin’ sure the show goes off without a hitch.

Hey Folks - Tucker here,

When country music artists are big enough to take the show on the road, well things can get real interestin'. Touring's a whole different animal and I've learned a lot from folks who've lived that life. It's real easy to fall into thinking it's all about the music and the artist up on stage but let me tell you, that ain't the half of it. The real heroes are the road crews-the ones that make every show come together. Without them well there'd be no show to talk about.

I have heard that this is not any cakewalk to be on the road. They are out there hauling around stuff, equipment weighing more than any ordinary pickup truck putting up masts lights, sound equipment and everything under the sun. They got tight deadlines, tighter than a snare drum and they don't miss the beat. They don't just load up a couple of guitars in the back and hit the road. No this is a full-on operation and they're the glue that holds the thing together.

The one thing that has always stuck with me is the grind these crews go through when they've got back-to-back shows sometimes in cities hours apart. Sure you'd think that's ample time to get from one place to the next; rarely does it work out that way though. What with packing it in driving all night and setting up again at the following venue there ain't much room for rest. And if something goes wrong like a truck breaking down or the gear not making it on time that crew's in for a long night. But somehow they always get it done.

I've heard tales of crews flyin' across states in the middle of the night maybe catchin' an hour of shut-eye if that. It's not just drivin' town to town; sometimes it's planes buses trucks all movin' at once just to get to the next show. And you know what? When the doors open and the fans start floodin' in you'd never know how much work it took to get there. These folks make it look easy but I can promise you it's anything but.

What really amazes me though is just how much planning goes into a tour. We're talking months of work before a single note's even played. From what equipment to bring, to how to deal with a setlist change, everything needs to be nailed down. And let me tell you those setlists can change on the fly. The crew needs to be ready for anything. You can't just pack the essentials and hope for the best. You have to bring everything that might be needed as the show could literally go any direction.

Let me tell you this schedule ain't for the faint of heart. These guys push their bodies to the max-loading and unloading gear driving all through the night and setting up before the sun is even close to rising. Often enough they are working for 24 hours on nothing but coffee and adrenaline. But hell they work through it because they love it. There is a certain pride in pulling off the impossible night after night.

And then there are those curveballs that get thrown mid-show. You think it's all smooth sailin' and then a piece of gear decides to quit or the weather takes a turn. But the crew's always one step ahead. I have heard about folks fixin' amps or rewiring somethin' in minutes right in the middle of a show and you'd never even know anything went wrong. That's a kind of pressure one can only sustain after years of experience which these folk do in spades.

There's just this really specific kind of bond that occurs among the crew and artist. They're all out on the road together night after night dealing with the same brutal schedules-the same problems. That kind of shared experience forces a kind of trust that's deeper than most jobs. These people are like family by the end of a tour because they've been through everything together-the highs, the lows and everything in between.

What really gets my goat is the fact that most fans have no idea what these crews go through. They come have the time of their lives and then just leave without ever knowing the kind of blood sweat and tears that went into making that night a reality. But that's the way it is with the crew-they're not in it for the applause. They are there to ensure the show goes on no matter what and with a certain commitment you don't find anywhere.

The stories that have been told about road life made me look upon the people who actually make this thing run with a whole new respect. The struggles they go through aren't small and they face them with grit and professionalism. They never asked for recognition but they sure as hell deserve it. They are the ones that make the show go off without a hitch so the fans get what they came for.

Next time you go to a concert having the time of your life, remember that it's because there are a lot of people behind the scenes who made sure that every little light was perfect, every note was correct and every moment was spot on. Without them the stage would be dark and cold and the music would be silent. In fact, it is the crew who really make every tour tick, iron out all the kinks for yet another magical performance night after night.

I tip my hat to the crews out there doing the heavy lifting.

Thanks for doin' what you do best. Makin' sure the show goes on.

--Tucker Gentry