Roadies

[rth_discos]

I can really see the benefits of having a roadie.

However, my biggest fear is they won't respect my equipment as much as I do when setting up / taking down.

But there's lots I could do if I had assistance.

So, a few questions if you have a roadie:

1: How useful are they?
2: How much do you pay on average?
3: Where do you find one?

Do they tend to stick around - or do you have to keep replacing them?

[Excalibur]

Do they tend to stick around - or do you have to keep replacing them?

They don't last forever. Eventually you have to take the decision to end their suffering. Only trouble is, vets fees for this are soaring.:(

[Daryll]

Well I need to explain a few things, and sorry to go a bit off subject..........
My health has gone down the pan since april , I am convinced that St richard's Hospital in Chichester has enough X-rays of my chest to wall paper a ward....lol
I have sarcoidosis on my lungs , now some people can go through their lives with this condition and never realise it , murphy's law says I am the odd one out.
it is chest infection followed by 2 to 3 days of good health , followed by yet another chest infection , I have just got over a common cold , in the past 24 to 48 hours following a cold and I was as right as rain , not this time
the cold has gone to be replaced with another :Censored: chest infection , I took the decision to have a roadie , a local lad who loves his music , to the point of making suggestion`s to me ( we all have a mental block now and again)
He really is worth his weight in gold , so stairs and long carries are no longer a problem , if there is such a thing as a typical venue , we can end at midnight and be packed up and on the road in 20 minutes.
Time for a bit of trumpet blowing...................I love this job , and I like to thing I am good at it , so I am not letting a health issue get in the way.
I have been forced to give up my day job as a painter and decorator , a recommendation from my doctor , something to do with dust and fumes (despite wearing a mask) , so I splashed out for my hackney licence , and I am a taxi driver.
( Fantastic.....as the go compare ad goes)Problem being , the busy times for the taxi`s is friday and Saturday night..........er that's when the disco`s are , so I just do day shifts , money is less but my chest loves me...:) , and now I realise that money is not the be all and end all of life , and as a side note , typing this at 08:25 in the morning , the sun is shining, all I can see out the window is the south downs , and the sound of bird song , any one care to put a price on that.

Daryll

[yourdj]

The guy who comes out with me has been with me since the age of 15 and is now a very good DJ (he won the NADJ first award thingy at Pro Mobile). I would say his benefit in order of preference is:

1: company
2: quick set up and great for all day equipment management
3: knowledge of music and help during the set
4: backup should something happen
5: someone to boss about and feel superior. :p

Unfortunately he is getting very busy with his own work, I don't think I will find another replacement. I put an ad in a professional recruitment site and either got complete muppets, thinking it would be a walk in the park, or over qualified people with music degrees etc. I pay him £25 a night, but I would say £50 would be a good figure if you want a proper roadie. I pay him £50 for the Photo Booth and £75 for all day. £100 all day and with Photo Booth, which is not a lot with my fees, depends on affordability. If your charging £250 then £25 would be more realistic. :)

[Excalibur]

and now I realise that money is not the be all and end all of life , and as a side note , typing this at 08:25 in the morning , the sun is shining, all I can see out the window is the south downs , and the sound of bird song , any one care to put a price on that.

Daryll

Not possible. I know where you're coming from. ( Except I don't look out over the South Downs, obviously ) :D

[yourdj]

a local lad who loves his music
Daryll

Thats what you want. The last thing is someone who looks bored all night.
My guy is phenomenal on what he has picked up. In many respects he outstripped me a year ago. ;)
I always like to keep him on his toes though and surprise him every so often.

To add my roadie is my best friend, god father to my son and an all round great confidant.
Being 19, he is very ahead of his times. :)



Any one care to put a price on that.


£00.00 - http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/south-downs-way
£15.95 - http://birdworld.co.uk/times-and-prices/

:p Hope your health improves.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Daryll, sorry to hear about the health situation mate. It makes me appreciate the bookings you cover for me much more.
I've never had a 'roadie'. It's just not the way I work. I prefer to do everything myself where possible.
There have been times (this past week and a half) where I'd have been better off having one due to a dodgy back but I just get on with it.

I think Daryll summed it up nicely.

[CRAZY K]

I can really see the benefits of having a roadie.

However, my biggest fear is they won't respect my equipment as much as I do when setting up / taking down.

But there's lots I could do if I had assistance.

So, a few questions if you have a roadie:

1: How useful are they?
2: How much do you pay on average?
3: Where do you find one?

Do they tend to stick around - or do you have to keep replacing them?


Yes the rate of pay is always the issue--generally you get what.......you know the rest.:rolleyes:

I havent yet had to resort to a roadie because by deliberately avoiding venues with stairs (unless a lift available) difficult access and very quick turnarounds as found in Wedding Venues which I dont frequent really much these days:D

I also avoid sound limiters--( that keeps my blood pressure under control :daft: )

I tend to do some enquiries about venues I dont know and the internet is your friend--unlike years ago when you could not find much out about anything unless by word of mouth.

Ah yes didnt you know about that flight of 34 stairs.:mad:

I would say in reply firstly try if possible to work the business around your circumstances as Darren obviously has--and myself--maybe downsize heavy equipment if lugging stuff around is the issue--Im not convinced a roadie is much use to you other than the physical lifting and rigging aspects of the job which when you reach the age of Peter and myself MIGHT be an issue.:D:D:D

Incoming fitness update from Peter.:beer1:

We have plenty of experience here as my sons Wild West Business HAS TO HAVE several Olympic sized weightlifters for some gigs.

It involves heavy lifting, in awful conditions outdoors and is really only physically demanding--unless you consider plugging in the mains and running a shooting gallery requires entry level MENSA qualifications.:rolleyes:

The rate these guys get paid is £8 per hour usually and dont forget George Osborns idea of increasing min wage will impact.

BUT its door to door so if you have an early set up and a late finish getting home 3am ( as I did Saturday) means maybe 12 hours so £50 goes nowhere im afraid.

Saturday I took one of these guys in my Galaxy /Trailer to the gig and he ran a Shooting Gallery--while i did the Music, Lights and Dancing--he got paid over £100 for the whole thing by my son who was employing him.

Some people pay a lower rate when in the van ( ie travelling) but min wage increase will wreck that.

Most of my sons temps are only TEMPORARY and probably wont last long--2 years--by which time other things come along--you could get someone interested in learning the business to work for you at low rates BUT AT ALL TIMES you are subject to Minimum Wage legislation AND you would need Employers Liability Insurance UNLESS they are immediate family.

The other problem with people who dont get paid well is they cry off for various unlikely reasons just when you need them--after all they arent losing much---its a general problem so you need several on tap just in case---it happens here quite frequently.

We advertised in the local shops and did find some useful people--they in turn knew other people like students and people in part time work which is where you will probably find them.

Hope some of these actual facts might be useful.

[CRAZY K]

Daryll, sorry to hear about the health situation mate. It makes me appreciate the bookings you cover for me much more.
I've never had a 'roadie'. It's just not the way I work. I prefer to do everything myself where possible.
There have been times (this past week and a half) where I'd have been better off having one due to a dodgy back but I just get on with it.

I think Daryll summed it up nicely.

Yes its a shame more people in this Country dont have Darylls attitude and get on with it--:rolleyes:

[DJColsie]

I have used members of the family previously, daughters and nephews, who were grateful to earn the money. However, that supply dried up and I did try one son of a friend. He got "a better job" and only worked two gigs.

I now work on my own and enjoy setting up (if given enough time) but do miss the help once the last record has finished.

[mark@pegasus]

Well I need to explain a few things, and sorry to go a bit off subject..........
My health has gone down the pan since april , I am convinced that St richard's Hospital in Chichester has enough X-rays of my chest to wall paper a ward....lol
I have sarcoidosis on my lungs , now some people can go through their lives with this condition and never realise it , murphy's law says I am the odd one out.


Feel for you Daryll I was diagnosed with it about 12 years ago, back and forth to hospital for 18 months of lung function tests and X-rays and an MRI. I came to accept that aside from doing my best to avoid people with colds I knew it would just take me an extra week to recover

[TONYTIGER]

I have always used a assistant ,and i have just had my second stroke from doing to much i really do appreciate the help at the moment i have two so they can have nights off .one is only 13 and the other is 16 both are very keen to learn all aspects of the job and they get paid £ 40.00 per night for local and up to £ 60.00 if there is some traveling .Never had any trouble finding them but i find the youngsters are best and though the money is not great it not to bad for your first job.

[ppentertainments]

Sorry to hear about your health Daryll, time like these make you reevaluate things and good to see you still have a positive mindset.


I pay him £25 a night

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Minimum_Wage_Act_1998

:whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whis tle:

To be honest that amount is just extracting the urine. It is no wonder people look down on this industry with things like that going on.

cue the - 'but he is learning and in training excuses' :mad::mad: My son is 16 and gets 4 times that amount just for helping out on a Photo Booth and even I pay him more than that when he helps me out.

[Excalibur]

I pay him £25 a night, but I would say £50 would be a good figure if you want a proper roadie.




To be honest that amount is just extracting the urine. It is no wonder people look down on this industry with things like that going on.


" The labourer is worthy of his hire".

[Benny Smyth]

My current roadies are Mrs. B and/or my 14 year old nephew (well, the latter during the holidays and the odd Saturday night gig, assuming his school work is all up to date).

I used to have a list of people I could call on to help me, but progressively they have become more and more a pain in the backside. I like things done a certain way and I like it done quickly.

My nephew gets £20 in his back pocket for every gig and another £20 goes into a savings account that I set up for him years ago. If he still wants to help out when he turns 16, then obviously his pay will increase dramatically. I've just been very wary of giving a 14 year old too much money. I think £20 is a good amount for that age - it's a lot of money for him.

As for Mrs. B, she get's £20 per hour.

[CRAZY K]

My current roadies are Mrs. B and/or my 14 year old nephew (well, the latter during the holidays and the odd Saturday night gig, assuming his school work is all up to date).

I used to have a list of people I could call on to help me, but progressively they have become more and more a pain in the backside. I like things done a certain way and I like it done quickly.

My nephew gets £20 in his back pocket for every gig and another £20 goes into a savings account that I set up for him years ago. If he still wants to help out when he turns 16, then obviously his pay will increase dramatically. I've just been very wary of giving a 14 year old too much money. I think £20 is a good amount for that age - it's a lot of money for him.

As for Mrs. B, she get's £20 per hour.

I see some of you are employing/working with minors --are there any CRB ( or whatever its called now ) type implications?

Just wondered ?

[Nakatomi]

Eee I remember back in t' day, when all a roadie needed for payment was half a pint of flat coke (that tasted a bit like TCP) and a lift 'ome.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I see some of you are employing/working with minors

If they aren't related, there are quite a lot of rules to do with working if you are under 16. You aren't allowed to work after 7pm for example...

https://www.gov.uk/child-employment/restrictions-on-child-employment

[Nakatomi]

If they aren't related, there are quite a lot of rules to do with working if you are under 16. You aren't allowed to work after 7pm for example...

https://www.gov.uk/child-employment/restrictions-on-child-employment

Damn I bet they've even got rules against sending under 16s up on overhead truss gantries to do rigging too!

[Benny Smyth]

Damn I bet they've even got rules against sending under 16s up on overhead truss gantries to do rigging too!

Put a bike helmet on them. They'll be fine. :p

[Nakatomi]

Put a bike helmet on them. They'll be fine. :p

Oh aye. I'd never send my truss monkey up there without one. Gotta be a Minions or Finding Dory brand one though. They're cheap at Tesco right now. Avoid the value range ones because while the helmet survived the last impact its occupant did not. I had to go get the backup from the cage in the van. Jees

[Benny Smyth]

Oh aye. I'd never send my truss monkey up there without one. Gotta be a Minions or Finding Dory brand one though. They're cheap at Tesco right now. Avoid the value range ones because while the helmet survived the last impact its occupant did not. I had to go get the backup from the cage in the van. Jees

Oh, yes. The backup roadie. That's the one that doesn't ask when they are unsure, but tends to stand there and waits to be shouted at for doing nothing. :rolleyes:

[CRAZY K]

If they aren't related, there are quite a lot of rules to do with working if you are under 16. You aren't allowed to work after 7pm for example...

https://www.gov.uk/child-employment/restrictions-on-child-employment

Just when the Disco starts :daft:

[ukpartydj]

My nephew gets £20 in his back pocket for every gig and another £20 goes into a savings account that I set up for him years ago. If he still wants to help out when he turns 16, then obviously his pay will increase dramatically. I've just been very wary of giving a 14 year old too much money. I think £20 is a good amount for that age - it's a lot of money for him.

As for Mrs. B, she get's £20 per hour.

I think thats the right thing to do. I worked at weekends with my grandad on his stall at the fairground for £5 a day for a while until my uncle said I should get more... So I was on £20 a day for a couple of years and I thought I'd won the lottery!

Ahh damn why don't I know any kids! Likewise Benny my fiancée charges £100... Rip off! I could get 5 of your nephews at that price!

[Benny Smyth]

Likewise Benny my fiancée charges £100... Rip off! I could get 5 of your nephews at that price!

Mrs. B gets cross with me every month when she asks me where her pay is, and I inform her that she can have it the moment she invoices me for it.

"Can't you just pay me now? I'll do the invoice tomorrow."

You'd think she'd be tired of me laughing at her every month. :lol:

[ukpartydj]

Mrs. B gets cross with me every month when she asks me where her pay is, and I inform her that she can have it the moment she invoices me for it.

"Can't you just pay me now? I'll do the invoice tomorrow."

You'd think she'd be tired of me laughing at her every month. :lol:

Haha, whilst that makes complete sense I find it a bit odd. I just give her the £100 and don't worry about invoices so I'll pay the taxman instead of her.
She earns more than I do as she's a clever one and didn't get into an industry which is riddled with cutprice competition. Doesn't make a sodding bit of difference though, I've always got more money and she's always got more handbags and shoes... serouisly though I buy a pair of shoes and they last like 3-4 years, she buys some and somehow they need a replacement in a few months!