Every couple years I decide to go back on the road and live on a tour bus. It generally takes me about 72 hours to realize why I stopped doing this. But then I look at the money coming in and realize it’s a good thing.
Plus it gets me back in good physical shape…, if I can just stay away from the donuts. Like other things I know that are bad for me, I just can’t leave these alone. They’re like a drug to me. Out of site out of mind, but put them on a table in front of me and I’m dead. I can’t let other people load in while I sit in catering staring at them. I gotta work. Even if I’m just running out chain motors or setting up the front truss, I gotta do something to stay away from the donuts.
Many tours carry their own catering company. The caterers set up at the same time as the lighting crew. So the techs generally don’t see breakfast. Unless someone goes and gets them a cup of Joe and a donut. Often enough that’s my gig. I don’t mind helping my crew keep from starving at a load in, but every time I go to get someone a coffee, I have to look at the damn donuts.
By noon the lighting rig is generally up to trim. It’s time for lunch. The crew is usually lucky to get 15 minutes off to scarf down some chow. In the summer one can usually find something to eat other than a deli tray. But if you are late, you may not be pleased with what is left on the table. There’s always some mystery meat sliced from some sort of olive loaf that is there for no obvious reason. Or a pile of cheese that has withered into a soup like form with flies settled along the edge of the platter. And if you’re really hungry and can’t wait there’s always my personal fave: the leftover donut. By letting these babies sit out for 4 hours one gets a nice crisp crust to bite thru. Yum.
I had a day off yesterday. Actually woke up in a hotel instead of a shelf on a tour bus.
It was nice. They didn’t offer donuts at the hotel breakfast bar. I shook it off. Had to conquer my grease fix with some biscuits and gravy. Glad I don’t drink coffee. If I add that to the mix I can just imagine what my intestines would feel like in a few hours. I actually end up working on most days off while on the road. It keeps me from missing my family, and staying ahead of the next gig. If I have time, I head to the gym and for a swim, but most nights will find me in the hotel bar having dinner while drawing some light rig for a distant show. Or snacking on a late nite donut.
