Now is the time to start thinking about a permanent plan to take care of crew members, says pioneering booking agent Tom Ross.
The concert business is a multi-billion dollar industry that is now shut down. Estimates, which I believe are low, say the touring world employees at least 200,000 “gig” employees who are hired on a week-by-week or tour basis.
All the music techs, loading crews, sound board engineers, lighting crews, production crews, wardrobe assistants, make up artists and other behind-the-curtain personnel are hugely needed to make the talent create that magical playground of the concert experience.
Most of these people don't have lawyers, agents or, most importantly, unions (stagehands have IATSE, but many buildings are.