Art McLaughlin: Production and Passion

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The doors open and a crowd begins to gather. Within the hour the show will begin, a spectacle of music and light. The stage is built; the sound is ready, the musicians wrapping up their last minute rehearsals. There’s electricity in the air as everyone gathers to enjoy an evening of laughter and music and fun. For a production to be successful there is an entire complex ecosystem of men and women, techies and artists coming together behind the scenes. Art McLaughlin is the production manager for the “The Golden Boys”, which has been on the road since 1985. Making sure that everything leading up to a successful performance goes off without a hitch is Art’s passion.

Art McLaughlin before a show

Most cialis coupon walmart people only have the opportunity witness two hours of a performance, the culmination of hundreds of man-hours. What few get to experience or understand is exactly how much goes into putting a show together. Art McLaughlin is the magic behind the magic, acting as tour manager, production manager, road manager and video director on tour. “I happen to like different jobs, I don’t get tired of it…” Art beams “… and if you have a passion for what you’re doing, it doesn’t become a job.” It’s clear that Art’s passion is for all the finer details that go into putting together a production, and that passion is what translates into an awesome show for the people. In order to accomplish this, Art takes on the responsibility each aspect of a show, where normally it would be delegated to several different people.

Your typical show date will begin bright and early in the morning. McLaughlin and his crew will show up around eight in the morning, provided that the venue already has it’s own light and sound system. With little more than twelve hours before a performance begins, Art and crew have a dense schedule with a lot to accomplish before the doors open to the public. More often than not the performance will take place on the venues on stage, eliminating the need to build their own. Unless they are carrying their own equipment per the artist’s request or needs, Art and is crew use the venue’s own light and sound system for the show

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With little more than twelve hours before a performance begins, Art and crew have a dense schedule with a lot to accomplish

As a production manager he is responsible for any gear, dealing with crew and union members, as well as building the actual stage. So best canadian online pharmacy 2013 when crowds gather for the Golden Boys each and every single person can hear and see the show. Thirty years ago this could be accomplished with vocal master and two little speakers. These days however Art comes to shows equipped with a Yamaha console, monitor systems, side fill, video and LED systems. Art runs these shows with an average team of about twenty people with twenty expertise to put the show on.

The Golden Boys, which performs at a different city each night while on tour, requires a lot of people to take on a myriad of responsibilities. Taking on the role of both tour and road manager, Art deals directly with the talent and the musicians. Making sure they get everything they need from rehearsals, sound check to hotel rooms and travel accommodations. For a crewmember to build a stage, he needs only the strength and the determination to wake up in the morning and commit to his job. But for the artist to perform he needs to be accommodated. If a musician’s focus is on travel accommodations, dealing with vendors, and something as simple as being fed, then he wont be able to perform to the best of their abilities. Its for this reason that is so important for someone to take care of these things on their behalf. From bureaucratic minutia to manual labor, Art does what needs to be done so that the musician can go out there and put on the best show they can.

The truth is, the star of online Zoloft the show isn’t the crew slaving over the set or Art agonizing over the details. It’s the artist, the musician. When those doors open and people start to come in, it’s the musician’s performance they’ve all come to see. What they don’t see is all the work that went into the show. However, for the crowd to not be aware of the behind the scenes work is the goal; for them seamlessly be absorbed into the performance uninterrupted by hiccups or technical issues is the mark of a job well done on the part of Art and his crew. “There’s nothing like seeing ten or twelve thousand people get up and cheer for an artist, and knowing that I had something to with that.” Which is a modest statement, considering everything Art takes on for the clomidgeneric-online24.com performance, he had everything to do with that.

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“There’s Amitriptyline nothing like seeing ten or twelve thousand people get up…. and knowing that I had something to with that.”

Once a performance of The Golden Boys is over, there is typically a meet and greet afterwards. By midnight everyone’s back in their hotels and ready for a few hours of sleep before waking up, to a new city, a new day, and a new performance. Every day of a tour is a new city and new venue. It makes for a grueling pace. Every day is a new city, a new show, sometimes for months on end. Each venue bringing with it new challenges, new obstacles. The people on tour with you become your new family while you’re gone. Sun up to sun down can take a lot out of a person, unless you truly love what you do. “The bottom line is, the show’s gotta be right…” Art reflects, “… if you don’t have a passion, don’t even try it.”

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