whats the diff between roadies and drum techs?

[drummerchick435]

So what is the diff between roadies and drum techs? or are they the same?

[gusty]

roadies carry the gear around
drum techs tune the drums and whatever else

[harryconway]

I'll elaborate a little further. The "tech" is a specialist. He probably knows as much or sometimes more about the gear than the artist he's hired to support. He might help out with lights and gear and such as well, but his primary function must or should always come first. Since we're talking drums, the "drum tech" will basically babysit the drums from the moment they come off the truck to the moment they get loaded back on.

[gusty]

I'll elaborate a little further. The "tech" is a specialist. He probably knows as much or sometimes more about the gear than the artist he's hired to support. He might help out with lights and gear and such as well, but his primary function must or should always come first. Since we're talking drums, the "drum tech" will basically babysit the drums from the moment they come off the truck to the moment they get loaded back on.

ok cool, as you can see by my response, my knowledge of the matter isnt tops either.

[Bernhard]

Perhaps you call a Drumtech "Roadie" - he will love you...

Bernhard

[Paul Quin]

About $30,000 a year!!

Paul

[Muckster]

About $30,000 a year!!

Paul

LOL

After the drums are setup and sound check is complete, you can't find the tech until showtime.

[mikeybbdrummin]

As stated above; tuning or hauling. From may-oct of 1990, 91 & 92 I was roadie, or as he puts it; cartage guy, for Gregg Bissonette, in excgange for lessons. I set up his drums to how he used them and Gregg would tune them. I set them up about 95% perfect every time. He would sit and usually make a minor adjustment. I didnt, and still dont damn it, have a great tuning ear. Gregg called me in the early 90's because Myron Grombacher (Pat Benetar) was looking for a "Tech" to go on the road. Unfortunatly I could not take on the task of tuning a set to sound incredible. Needless to say I had to pass.

[aydee]

...roadies lug the stuff, drum-techs stuff the lug.

[da cheese walks]

roadies drink more beer, and then fall over cables....

tech guys play drums as good as the drummers they work for sometimes...

[bermuda]

Roadie is an older term for anyone on 'the crew' who handled equipment.

In the 80s in particular when politcal correctness and descriptions became all the rage, crew personnel who had specific duties or expertise started being called "techs"... the soundman became a "front of house engineer"... the light guy became a "lighting designer"... guitars, drums and amps became "backline"... and so on.

So 'roadie' is regarded as an anachronism at best, and a bit derogatory at worst. It would be like calling a Certified Public Accountant a bookkeeper.

Bermuda

[Leadfoot]

tech guys play drums as good as the drummers they work for sometimes...
Far better in some cases, from what I've seen.

[da cheese walks]

Far better in some cases, from what I've seen.

sometimes man..... 20

[Class A Drummer]

Ive always thought the techs are the guys who set up the gear and tune them and get the mics goin and stuff, and i thought roadies are the guys who schlep/haul the equipment everywhere.

[razorx]

if you really want to know everthing i would ask steve morrison. hes on this sites. he was or is tommy lees drum tech. he has a thread but hasn't posted in ages.

[Skitch]

I think that the roadies are the muscle which put all of the heavy gear into the trucks. A drum tech is person whose main job is to make certain that the drum kit is in the best working and sounding condition as possible.


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[bermuda]

I think that the roadies are the muscle which put all of the heavy gear into the trucks. A drum tech is person whose main job is to make certain that the drum kit is in the best working and sounding condition as possible.

Trust me, 'techs' get to move their share of gear.

It's just semantics: today's techs are yesterday's roadies.

Oh yeah, one more description: 'local crew'. Those are basically staghehands (or 'hands') who work under the direction of the band's techs and stage manager. They do the bulk of the physical moving, but aren't directly involved in the production.

Bermuda

[Diaz]

do drum techs get paid at all? and if so how well?

[bermuda]

Like any aspect of the arts, it's very subjective. Normally a tech is paid, but the rate depends on a number of factors, primarily who the artist is and what they're willing to pay, and to an extent, the experience of the tech (and then only up to the amount the artist is willing to pay.)

The payscale varies widely. A buddy helping a club band can expect anywhere from $10-50, and it goes up from there.

Bermuda

[Robdrmz]

All the pro gigs that I've tech'd/schlep'd(another industry term) have been pretty much even. Except the money is not the only motivator. Reference 'CREW SLUT' by Frank Zappa

John is right. They, we, I are the same.

[rhythmjunkie]

Man, drum techs are the coolest! I've hung out with drum tech Magee (Potnoy, Mangini, Joy Kramer) who was in last month's Modern Drummer, and Terry Bozzio's tech Wayne. The drum tech is responsible for the care, maintanance, setup, etc. of the drum kit. A roadie is probably more concerned with the overall production. Techs change heads, tune (maybe?), repair, so all the drummer hopefully has to do is sit on the kit and play (in the most luxurious situations). That's cool. Let's honor all drum techs. Coolest guys on planet earth. I want one.