# Why does a rock band tour need 20 trailor trucks of gear? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 14, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788 "2009-02-14T05:11:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/41 "2015-05-23T03:35:13Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > On Rush’s site there used to be (maybe it’s still there) an animated video of Geddy Lee being interviewed by his dog. Geddy was reminiscing about the early days of the band when they’d tour around Canada in their beat up Econoline van. The dog says something like, “But you have more than that now, of course?” and Geddy replies, “Yes, now we have _two_ Econoline vans.” 😃 What’s so funny about that? They’ve worked hard-they \*deserve \*two Econoline vans. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/42 "2015-05-23T03:45:43Z")
Wait a minute - this is a zombie thread. ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/43 "2015-05-23T04:42:20Z")
Holy shit, I haven’t been on SDMB in like a year, I come on and the third post from the top is a zombie I originally created. Gonna go buy a powerball ticket. ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/44 "2015-05-23T04:43:25Z")
Does that make this thread un-undead? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/45 "2015-05-23T15:24:39Z")
> [@iwakura43](#): > > Does that make this thread un-undead? It’s feeling better. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/46 "2015-05-23T16:11:03Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > When I saw them at The Gorge Amphitheater in central WA last year, I didn’t see anywhere near 20 trailers, unless they were very well hidden. …Snakes & Arrows tour 2008? _I was at that same show._ ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/47 "2015-05-23T16:29:46Z")
I’m going to get my money back on my anti-zombie protection software. 29 bucks down the drain. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/48 "2015-05-23T23:23:43Z")
I post on another board that has a zombie smilie. We could use one of those here. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2015, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/49 "2015-05-24T00:48:26Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > What’s so funny about that? They’ve worked hard-they \*deserve \*two Econoline vans. These days, Neil Peart’s drum kit alone probably requires an Econoline van full of architects to set up 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/50 "2015-05-25T03:46:34Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > These days, Neil Peart’s drum kit alone probably requires an Econoline van full of architects to set up 🙂 Oh, heck, that thing needs its own postal code. Remember, they’re Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![Ficer67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Ficer67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ficer67)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/51 "2015-05-25T04:35:05Z")
The band needs one truckload of makeup, at least… ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2015, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/52 "2015-05-25T11:20:12Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > …Snakes & Arrows tour 2008? > > _I was at that same show._ /high five Were you mooing along with me and everybody else after the show, as we exited via those cattle gates? ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2015, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/53 "2015-05-25T12:37:10Z")
…And don’t forget they have T-shirts, CDs, and other swag to sell. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/54 "2015-05-25T14:36:59Z")
> [@iwakura43](#): > > On the streets outside Madison Square Garden yesterday, where the band Rascal Flatts was playing, you could see a huge number of semi-trailor trucks decorated with the band’s name and Tour 2009. I don’t know anything about this band’s shows–perhaps they use a lot of pyrotechnics or something–but how could a band possibly need twenty trucks of equipment to put on a show? Is it normal to have that much gear? And what type of gear might they be hauling around? Pretty good indication that they rely on special effects instead of musical talent. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/55 "2015-05-25T16:56:54Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Wait a minute - this is a zombie thread. I must admit, I was wondering why the OP was talking about a show in 2009… (Having said that, this is a fascinating thread.) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/56 "2015-05-25T17:07:01Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Were you mooing along with me and everybody else after the show, as we exited via those cattle gates? I don’t recall mooing, but I do recall taking an hour to get out of the parking lot and not making it home until 3 AM. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/57 "2015-05-25T17:27:52Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > T-shirts/souvenirs/cds-dvds and just plain stuff. Plasma TVs and gaming consoles for the band and crew to play with instead of (in addition to) tearing up motel rooms. In the early 1990s, I had a pen pal (remember those?) who lived in the Deep South and was a big Bon Jovi fan. In the early days of their career, they played in her town, and afterwards, a local TV station went to their hotel to do a live report on all the thousands of dollars of damage they had caused. :dubious: The head of housekeeping looked at the reporter like he was nuts and said they didn’t even leave their towels on the floor. 😃 🆒 A few years before that, I worked with a woman who had previously been a motel desk clerk. I asked her if bands ever stayed there, and she said they did, all the time, and beyond being noisy, they rarely caused problems themselves. The problems were caused by the (her words) “girls who ran after the musicians”. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/58 "2015-05-25T17:34:07Z")
What are common staffing arrangements and union requirements with all these setups? How much local labor, how much with the dedicated roadies? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/59 "2015-05-26T00:44:48Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > What are common staffing arrangements and union requirements with all these setups? How much local labor, how much with the dedicated roadies? That’s all up to the production, pretty much. Sometimes a local venue will have rules about certain things (for example: if you need a high/basket rigger, you have to pay for a ground rigger as well), but for the most part staffing requirements are up to the tour manager or producer. IME most arena shows will have 4-8 lighting people who will collectively supervise anywhere from 24-80 local stagehands. There will be other people to handle rigging, audio, video, carpentry, pyro, etc. It’s not unusual for a tour to have anywhere from 60-150 local people, plus about 4-8 per department that are on the road with the tour. Plus a tour manager and any assistants they need. Plus the drivers. Maybe wardrobe people, depending on the tour. I am a stagehand, btw. I’ve been doing this for more than 34 years now. Rigging, audio, lighting, carpentry, some video work (but I’m no vidiot :P), some pyro, etc. although I mostly stick to lighting now. To establish my street red, here’s some stagehand humor: [Local Crew Chief vs. Touring Production Manager](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfuyebRMacA). It’s funny because it’s true! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788/60 "2015-05-26T00:52:57Z")
\*street cred (stupid spellchecker tried to “fix” it for me just now too) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-rock-band-tour-need-20-trailor-trucks-of-gear/485788.md?page=4)