Between The Covers: Grit and Glamour Green Rooms

by Torch

When you buy your ticket you just bought the magic dust of wonderful daydreams. Where will you be sitting in relation to your favorite act? Who will be partying with you? What are you going to do after the show, maybe hang out with the band? What will you wear, what would you say to your beloved stars?

Fans want to go backstage, hang out with the bands and of course get a pic of you and “famous face” to post on your Facebook page. It happens on all levels of success in music. The infamous Green rooms of Herman’s, now coveted with a secret code, definitely fall into the “grit” category. Giggling band guys have openly recalled various sexual conquests in the basement of the bar, down the old stairs, walls signed by … everyone, into the rooms of low ceilings, sagging couches, and the beginning of legends. Decades of bands have hung out in those rooms that can best be described as seedy, and sticky. Many beers have been spilled, shared and toasted to a loud rowdy night of conquering the crowd in those dark spaces filled with . The beginning of living like a rock star!

Most small festivals reserve a tent for the talent, not so discrete but usually a festival will provide food and drinks in the form of bags of chips, snack food, waters, and generally some beers. The “Green Room” tent is a perfect gathering place, as multiple bands then to hang out together, tell war stories and take their turns on stage. They will however venture out into the crowd and buy a burrito, or fry bread.

Glamor rides with the big-ticket bands. This is a back stage wonderland! At the top, definitely Lil Wayne, and Two Chainz. They traveled with more high end tour busses than any tour of the summer, they had busses for their “posses”, there was a “ho” bus, a support talent buss “skateboarder’s and dancers” they had their own barber, massage therapists, top of the line fashion on hot band babes dripping in gorgeous glamour, and boys with loads of metal in their mouths. It was amazing! Each artist on the tour did a quick meet and greet for the fans willing to pay hundreds to stand next to them for their FB shot. There was no further mingling of the traveling city of Oz; the reality of the fans fast return to the seats. Security is tight! Most high dollar acts have expensive catering, and then depending on the act the desired amenities usually included in their rider they will travel with the equipment for: aromatherapy rooms, work out rooms, game rooms, big screen TVs incase some special “game” happened to be going on during set up or the warm up acts, and of course more massage therapy. There are of course the luxurious accommodations of venues that host events such at the Grammy’s, five stars all the way.

It is not however the dream world you would envision of all smiles and parties. Kelly Clarkson was on stage, and Maroon 5 was out back taking lessons from a golf pro trying to perfect their swings, after the show they spent a few minutes with family and then they were back on the bus for the next gig.  Lil Wayne had to get on the bus without his infant son, and left heartbroken, a small truth in the world of touring.

Fame and photos create the super star image, but no matter how famous the face, they are just a persondoing a job, and they have a lot of people depending on them to go out there on stage and perform for the agreed upon time, after which they are hot, tired and sweaty. The biggest party bands are the baby bands and they are the easiest to access, so if you want to know what it is like back stage, start there, egos aren’t as big and they love and need to attention then you both have your magic dreams. Just be sure to wipe your seat.

Tags: between the covers, torch

Category: Shop Talk