Tour: City + Colour
2016 Tour Dates: Feb. 7-28, Europe; March 24-April 9, Australia; April 20- May 8, South America; June 1- 20, Canada; July-October, North American festivals.
Design Approach: “Friendship. Our touring camp is a tight knit bunch, no egos from any band or crew member, there’s even a song on the new album about it called ‘Friends.’ So I designed a rig with trusses that curved and ‘hugged’ the band. I had to warn my crew before the tour that we weren’t going to use any pre-rig because of the curves, but they were all for it. It took more time to build and strike, but it was a great effect that the artist and management loved.”
BACKSTORY:
Home Base: Toronto
Years in the Industry: 16
Career Start: “I fell into the industry totally accidentally. After graduation from Texas A&M fire training school, I needed a summer job, so a friend suggested working with him as a truck loader at a Toronto production company. He got me the job. Three months later the lighting department needed shop staff and pulled me off the trucks. I haven’t looked back since.”
First Gig as an LD: “House LD at Toronto’s Mod Club. A great starting point to cut my teeth. I met touring LDs, talent managers, agents, promoter reps. Most of my work still comes from working and meeting people there. 300-plus shows a year for almost four years almost broke me, but made touring life seem easy!”
Heroes/Mentors: “Dave Fairfield — I will never stop learning from him. He took me out of my club gig many years ago and put me in front of large rigs to program and operate for live TV specials with international touring acts after working together one weekend, and we just clicked. I learned how to get what you want out of your design and not to compromise, even when dealing with difficult people. Ethan Weber — We were on a Weezer tour together eight years ago where I was lighting the opening band and he was lighting direct support. I’ll never forget how humble he was/is when he introduced himself without his last name, and after chatting for a while, I unknowingly asked who else he worked for and he said “a few rock bands,” which just happened to be The Rolling Stones and U2, but he wouldn’t tell you that.”
What do you like about what you do? “The people. I’ve been lucky to work/tour with some great people who have become great friends. The paid travel as well; I like to think of touring as vacation scouting.”
Words to Live By: “If you aren’t having fun, find something else to do. Life is too short.”
