Pallet Trolleys Are a Must For Bands

Toby Fenwick — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 15:13:51 +0000

If you are on the road trying to make it big as the next rock and roll band, you hopefully understand that without your handling crew, you are going nowhere. So much so that if you want to have a stunning live show, you are ultimately going to have to organise the logistics for the transportation of all the gear that makes the show possible. Most artists will take everything on the road with them, audio, lighting, video, stages, maintenance, even catering equipment. And then you need the manpower to move and set up all this equipment, so a big act tour can become a logistical nightmare.

Pallet Trolleys For The Crew

These headline tours around the world often go one for months, even years at a time, so the crew and band work long and hard hours to get the show performed. Heavy-duty pallet trolleys make the moving and handling of awkward and bulk objects easy, fast and safe. Much of the equipment used by touring bands are stored in flight cases, which are heavy-duty and padded on the inside so that their contents are safe. They also roll on casters, so that they can be moved around easily. Having heavy goods on wheels can be incredibly useful when you are moving massive amounts of equipment in a short time frame. This is why trolley jacks and pallet trolleys are used in this situation.

Transporting the Crew

Ok so we have discussed the movement of all the gear necessary for the show, but what about the people that make it happen. It is not uncommon for concert tours to have crews of over 100 individuals, ranging from riggers, caterers, security, technicians, electricians and drivers. All of these people need transport, accommodation and catering, not to mention they have to be paid.

Clearing Customs

For international tours, all the equipment that is needed for the show must go through customs at every single border the show encounters. These tours often run on a relatively tight schedule, and one of the things that can make or break a successful world tour is the smooth clearance of all the band’s equipment. Anything from incorrect paperwork to a moody customs agent can delay the gear while it is in transit. For this reason, specialist touring cargo companies often employ third party customs specialists to set up customs clearance in advance.

The Biggest Shows On Earth

For major world tours, a specialist cargo company that deals specifically in live acts is a must. They have the experience necessary to coordinate the movement of this type of cargo. If there are any delays, damages or errors, the whole show could be completely thrown off for the remainder of the dates. U2’s 360 Degree tour needed a total of 120 trucks to move the stage, screen, lights and the 250 speakers required for the show to move them from venue to venue. In the pop music world, Beyonce needed 7 Boeing 747 cargo planes to transport all of her equipment for her Formation Tour.

Toby Fenwick

A music journalist and audio archivist, Toby specialises in deep dives into discographies, band evolution, and the production techniques that shaped iconic sounds across decades.

The post Pallet Trolleys Are a Must For Bands appeared first on Midnight Oil Film.

What Goes Into Making An Awesome Event?

Toby Fenwick — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 15:11:59 +0000

When it comes to any form of event in the music industry whether it be festivals , gigs or concerts, companies such as ten ten events are often at the heart of the action. This is because event production crew are the beating heart of events across the world. The skills and expertise needed to help run and manage an event can only be sourced from these sorts of companies and some of the best companies in the business are likely to have built up a reputation through word of mouth over the years.

Organising An Event

One of the most important aspects of an event prior to it being started is organisation. Organisation in the events industry is absolutely essential in order to ensure that it runs smoothly overall. One key aspect of event organisation is coordinating with different organisations. For example when Glastonbury is hosted in the UK each year a large number of organisations are involved in the prep , running and closing of the event. Everyone from the police to the production crew as well as security firms and many more organisations.

Overall this all requires effective and slick communication to ensure that everyone is kept up to date with any changes or alterations that need to be made. A great way to do this would be to have a system or group where all relevant organisations can communicate any changes or things they need changed.

Marketing And Publicising The Event

After ensuring that the foundations of the event are in play , it is important that events are well marketed as well as advertised accurately overall. Doing this ensures that the event gains traction in terms of guests and also raises the profile of the organisations involved which could lead to more business overall for them. One highly effective way in which the event can be marketed overall is through the use of a marketing agency. Using a marketing agency is an excellent way in which the profile and scale of the event can be publicised to greater numbers of people worldwide.

Sourcing Staff For The Event?

When preparing for any event it is important that the right staff are sourced to ensure that it runs smoothly overall. A great way in which the right staff can be sourced for an event is by reading their online reviews as well as finding out more about the business that represents them. Doing this means that you have a far better chance of sourcing quality staff.

However one thing to consider it is also worth speaking to other organisations and looking for word of mouth recommendations as often these can provide some of the best staff available. When sourcing staff for the event it is important to keep in mind that all staff play an integral role in an event’s success overall. Some of the best staff will be skilled , experienced and be excellent overall communicators. Often guests and customers experience at the event through their interactions with staff influences the overall perception of the event itself.