Welcome to the jungle!
Or rather… welcome to load-in day!
Last week, in partnership with Live Nation’s Promoter Rep Ron Chamberlain offered, some lucky young members of our community received a behind-the-scenes look at what load-in is like for the legendary band, Guns N’ Roses.
Students representing colleges and universities from across the country including California State Los Angeles, Columbia College, East L.A. College, Loyola Marymount, and Providence College all met at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles at 11am to start their tour. The aspiring music industry professionals all were buzzing with excitement at the experience that they were about to embark upon together.
First up, was a VIP Lounge walk-thru where everyone got to see not only the type of access that can be enjoyed in the VIP section but also what it takes to run a VIP lounge seamlessly so that guests have a great time.
As the tour continued, backstage and on the field these aspiring music industry professionals also got some exclusive face-time from some of the on-site venue team and the production crew members for that night’s Guns N’ Roses show as they continued to learn about the pre-show and backstage inner workings.
Here were some of the highlights:
- Learning from the Talent Buyer how they work with an artist’s team
- The band’s Tour Manager also shared how coordinating a tour happens as well as how to troubleshoot when things don’t go as planned
- An exciting conversation around the technical set-up with Axl Rose’s Vocal Technician
All of these members of the touring and production teams echoed each other when speaking about the behind-the-scenes world of live music leaving us with the following tips as we pursue our careers:
- Don’t give up
- Always work hard
- Pursue your passion! You’ll always have a good time if you’re pursuing your passion.
A few of our fellow attendees shared their post-tour thoughts:
“It was a great experience for those who are looking for opportunities in the entertainment industry. Receiving more insight from people who have worked in various positions such as a tour manager, can get someone who wants to be in that position an idea of what to expect and what they should do now to reach that goal. Even if someone isn’t sure what they want to do it’s better to know something from an expert perspective rather than an assumption as it can guide you to what you should focus on more based on your own preference and career goals. ” — Daniel, California State University, Dominguez Hills
“I am a concert lover, so being behind the scenes was such a unique experience for me. I appreciated the guest speakers for their honesty and transparency throughout the day. I learned so much about the touring/event planning side of the entertainment industry that I just might consider volunteering at a festival/event in the near future. Thank you Music Forward for the experience!” — Leslie, California State University, Los Angeles
“Touring Banc of California Stadium was an incredibly eye-opening experience! I got the chance to learn what it is like to work as part of a crew for musicians and bands like Gun N’ Roses. Seeing what the stadium looks like behind the scenes inspired me to ask questions and ensure I did more research on various industry roles in production for live events. No question is a bad question, only the ones that go unasked! I was also able to connect with the staff and other Music Forward Foundation students who are passionate about doing the same type of work in the future. I am so glad I attended this event as it was a huge network builder.” — Estarlyn, Providence College
After having gone through a whole year or more without live music, everyone walked away with renewed motivation and excitement about a potential career in the music industry! Rock on!