Category Archives: Tour Programme

8am

The road outside the concert hall is chaos. Two 45ft trucks and three buses are reversing the wrong way up a one way street, getting into position for the load in.

8.45am

On the crew bus the production manager starts waking up the four lighting crew and the three caterers.

Inside the hall twelve local crew arrive and get ready to help unloading the trucks.

9am

The first truck starts unloading. The first off is the catering equipment, this includes everything from cookers to fridges, juicers and microwaves. One of the caterers goes shopping to buy the £400 worth of food it will take to get through the day. The other two caterers start cooking breakfast for the crew.

Meanwhile the lighting crew and the local crew start setting up the lighting rig. The complete rig weighs about three tons and takes around an hour to hang in the roof.

10.30am

While the lighting crew finish off setting up the lights, the second truck manoeuvres into position ready to unload the sound equipment.

The four sound crew are wandering in to get their breakfast.

11am

The sound crew start setting up the PA (sound system) – it is capable of putting out around 20,000 watts and positioning is very important to the final sound. If necessary, the entire system can be flown in the roof (about three tons).

1pm

The caterers start serving lunch for around 20 people.

The backline crew (the people who look after the band’s personal equipment (guitar, drums etc) wake up from their drunken slumber and wander into the gig and start setting up the instruments on stage.

3pm

The crew start checking all the microphones and instruments. This is called a “Line Check”

4pm

The band arrives at the gig and does a soundcheck. This means playing five or six songs to check all the sound, lighting and backline equipment.

5pm

The merchandise staff arrive to start setting up their stalls.

5.30pm

The band finishes their soundcheck and the crew start setting up for the support band.

6.30pm

Everyone stops for dinner. About 45 people have to be fed every day.

7.15pm

There is a meeting with the house security staff and ushers to make sure that the audience will be safe for the concert.

7.30pm

Doors open and the first James fans come rushing in to secure a place at the front of the stage.

8.30pm

The support band start their set.

9.15pm

After much rapturous applause, the support band leaves the stage, and the James crew start getting ready for the show.

10pm

The stage should now be clear and another linecheck takes place.

10.15pm

The stage is now ready. All the microphones have been checked, all the guitars tuned, all the lights dimmed and it’s time for the band to take over.

12pm

After all the encores, the band leave the stage, the audience leaves and the load out starts.

All the equipment that came in during the day has to be dismantled and loaded back onto the trucks.

2am

The crew have finished loading the trucks, they go to have showers.

3am

The trucks and buses leave the venue to drive to the next show.