Info on concert tour drivers

This type of driving would fit me nicely. Anyone know what kind of experience you need to get one of these jobs? How's the pay?

 

I checked Stage Calls website, as they have an AZ office, and it says 25 years old, 3 years verifiable OTR experience. I'd imagine the pay is pretty good throughout the niche.

 

I spent two years pulling a performers trailer with my old 2000 W900L. The deal paid $750 a day plus hotel and meals or $100 a day per diem. Great deal right? Sure, as long as you do not have a family. I do. Or I did then, and now have a new one. 2 years, 600+ paid days out. Impossible schedules and a lifestyle any SINGLE man would stay single for.

 

As much as I don't want to go otr,......I am single and am sorta drawn to the idea of this kind of trucking....lol..

 

If you are single, add a passenger endorsement to your CDL and drive a local bus for 6 months. Like a passenger bus. At night, jump into a limousine and learn that segment of the service industry. Volunteer to work a few weekends at a RV service center to get a grasp of what it takes to service generators. Once you have that experience, take a road trip to Nashville. Apply at EVERY entertainer coach operator. There are about 8 really good ones. Show that you have your Class "A", with the "P". You have coach experience. You have OTR Truck experience, and you have a working knowledge of generators. The $10,000 kicker will be the limousine experience. In this industry service is everything. Be prepared to pull on the elbow length rubber gloves and clean the toliet. Vacum, clean, and re-stock to coach. You do this when you land and before each take off. Grow a set of blinders. No, you did not really see that. Do not be a hero. If she is on the bus, she put herself there. Do not take part in the train. Many trains pass through a bus.

With this skill set, you will get hired. Drive the bus, drive the truck, service the gens. Take care of the act. Be friendly, but understand where the line is, and never cross it. The quickest way to get railroaded out the door is to become part of the act. It is "US" and "Them". Us is the drivers, them is everyone else.

 

Now that's a good post! Having worked in a service industry before, that's true about the technical aspects to make yourself more marketable and the service aspects to help you keep the job.

 

Years ago, when I was working for a driver temp company, I was sent to a company that specialized in concert tours and promo shows. When I wasn't driving, I was part of the stage crew members, helping to set up the lighting equipment, electrical wirings, chain link fencing, etc... Pretty much manual labor city. The company had driven over to Home Depot lots and where ever illegal aliens hang out, and hired them to do the manual labor work, so I had to work with a crew that spoke little or no English. After everything was set up, on the days the concert were playing, I had to wear a "security" shirt and play rent-a-cop with the other temporary security staff. I've heard some drivers claim you sit in your motel, wait, and do nothing except drive the truck, but stop and think about this. If you were a concert touring company, paying the driver a salary package, would you allow the driver to sit and do nothing but drive, when you paid the driver to put in at least 8 hours of work per day ?? If you say there are no benefits, then this is a small concert company that had not established itself yet, unless the benefit package will come later, after you've proven yourself, and you've passed their probation period. I would take the job, just to enhance your resume to say you've had concert tour experience on your application. This is a rare opportunity, and it may lead to permanently becoming part of a film crew. When I did the job, it took 2 trucks to haul all their equipment, and the other driver had been with the company almost 10 years. So he was familiar with all the lighting, electrical, sound equipment, and was manager in charge when the top guy was not on the scene.

I was later disappointed to learn, I was only there until the guy I had replaced came back from a work-related injury. On my last day, the guy I replaced said he intends to stay with the company for the rest of his life. He was paid salary; regardless whether there's work or not, you get a regular paycheck.

 

I have a friend who drives for Wintergreen Logistics, and they have over 400 trucks here in the US, I guess that they are all over the world. But he does not load or unload. he just drives, He is out 3-4 months though. but he only does 2 or 3 tours a year, He seems pretty happy there, $$$$$, He used to be with stagecall, I tried to get into Wintergreen, but without any show experience they just said no thanks

 

Dave with Shomotion is the worlds biggest douchebag. He wrote my company a two page email full of nothing but lies about my husband which i have the physical proof to dispute because we got mad when we were told our trailer would be ready at 12, then at 3, then at 530 Dave shows up to hand us a trlr we had sat and stared at all day!!! Of course we were mad anyone would have been and 8 other drivers were upset too!!! Didnt mean he had to call and Lie!! Heres an idea; the next time u wanna lie about me better have some proof to back your b.s. up dummy!!!!! p.s. he also told my company he was the owner of shomotion, he's not he's just the lead driver!