Has anyone driven for the entertainment industry?

Can anyone give me some updated info on driven in the entertainment industry! I'm thinking about getting in to that side of the biz, staying out is not a problem,I have 6 1/2 yrs OTR. Clean record, Any info would be help full,thanks.

 

Well, if you don't mind being gone from home up to 11 months at a time, don't mind driving at night, backing into places that you can barely get a straight truck into. Trying to sleep during the day when your parked on the street in Downtown Manhattan, Boston , LA. etc.
Entertainment does have it's up's and down's like every other job. Plus side if your on a music tour you will more than likely have catering, where can you can get 3 meals a day at a venue. Some of the food is 5 star cooking. Yes you can watch the show, but most times you'll be trying to sleep, as soon as the show is over it's time for you to start working.
If your late one time to a venue, it'll be your first and last time. you cannot be late.
Some tours are *all's to the wall, others you have way too much time.
I can't say how much company drivers make, but as an o/o leased to an entertainment company I make a descent living, not getting rich , but doing well. As far as miles run I would say it's about 65k - 100k a year. Depends what your doing. We get paid by the day while on tour, then mileage pay when doing one off's.
Hope this helps you bigzo.

 

Thanks Confused for the info,do you know witch one of these companies would be great to start with.

 

Here's a few hints, I've posted these elsewhere before.

1. If you want to be a rock star, you in the wrong end of the business.You're not there to watch the show, you're there to HAUL the show. I've seen more people get fired by doing something stupid rather than doing their job.

2. Learn to fix things on your truck, you don't have time to wait on the side of the road waiting for someone to come and put a belt on your truck. I was at a show and a new bus driver pulled in, and he'd messed up the rear axle by not lifting the wheels while turning, he wanted a beeper unhooked, when I asked him for a screwdriver to show him how to do it he replied, "I don't carry any tools, it's not my job to work on a bus." I told him, "You won't be here long."

3. If you can't get into a dock quickly, you won't be there very long. There are 10 guys making good money to load or unload your truck, if it takes you 45 min to back into a dock, someone is losing alot of money.Stay with your truck, when it's ready to come in, if you're not in it and can't be found, time is wasted. If there are more than one truck on the tour, you'll have a lead driver, do what he says, if you don't, don't expect to be there long.Plus, if you work your way up to a lead driver, you make extra money. On big shows, the load in will take longer, but on a load out, most shows are done in under 4 hours. (Shows like WWE,WCW, big arena concerts etc.)If they go over 4 hours, it costs alot of money.

4. Drive smooth, you have $100,000+ worth of gear in your trailer, if you tear it up by driving like an idiot, you won't be there long. If you tear up your truck, same deal. When I drove buses, on my last gig I was on, I drove 400+ miles with a bottle of wine sitting on a marble countertop and it didn't move. If you drive a bus, the crew or entertainers need to sleep at night, so driving smooth is very important.

5. You will probably be in charge of how the truck is loaded, learn the pack, your job depends on it.

6. Dragging friends backstage without permission will get you canned faster than you think. Giving someone your laminate to get backstage will also get you fired. Losing your laminate on some shows will cost you $50 for a repalcement, whine about the cost, you'll be gone soon.

7. On some tours, you may given money for fuel, expenses, etc. Keep EVERY receipt, losing receipts or money WILL get you canned, plus you WILL have to come up with the missing money.

8. Primadonnas need not apply.

9. Keep your logs and truck legal, you can't call the lead driver and tell him you're locked in a scale for 10 hours, and you're to be there in 4 hours, because you didn't keep your logs up to date.

10. On some tours you may get a hotel room, don't trash the room or cause problems at the hotel, I've seen more people get fired on a day off for doing something stupid.

11. Some tours now wrap their trailer with the tour on it, remember, you are pulling a rolling billboard, you have to watch your P's and Q's, you're representing that tour and sponsors, racing through traffic, etc., will get you canned.

12. See #8

[HR][/HR]

 

I agree 100% with what SHO-TYME posted.

I can't say what company would be best for you, but I know where I'm at we have company drivers been there over 20 years and o/o since company was started in the early 80's.

Upstaging out of Chicago area.. Large company approx 200 - 300 drivers . bad habit from what I hear is hiring drivers for large tour then lay's them off after tour is done.

Stage Call. Apache Junction, AZ. approx 150 drivers 50% o/o 50 % co.driver

SOS . small company out of Oregon.

SET. out of the Carolinas

Roadshow. California.

Production Transport. California.

Xtreme. Champaign IL , recently bought out by some Reefer co out of MN.

Ozark Mountain leasing. Mountain View ? MO.

At this time I Can't remember the rest.

Remember winter is the slow time of year.

 

Thanks Confused and Sho-Tyme for all the information,that help me out a lot,thanks again.

 

Thanks Confused and Sho-Tyme for all the information,that help me out a lot,do you know what they make and is it worth it?

 

I really don't know what company drivers make. Company I am with pay then daily, not mileage, plus when on tour they get what is called a hotel buyout. Basicly they pay you to sleep in your truck. Then there is overdrives. anything over 450 miles you may get $200 extra, then after 650 ? miles you get another $200. I'm sure it varies from company to company.