10.12.2010

Music is an industry, and a show is a product

(View from the great restaurant Wild Ginger on Union and 3rd)

With very few notions of the music industry when I got here, I’ve been learning a lot over the past month.

Music might be seen as a cool environment to be part of because you get to see many shows, but believe me, it’s not cool all the time. It is work. Hard work.

And shows, when they are good and when you actually get the time to attend them, are a small recompense for all the work you’ve done during the day.


Of course, I knew all that before coming to Seattle tfor eight months to be part of the industry.

And it was exactly what I wanted to experience: being behind the scenes, understanding how shows are made, getting to know the various protagonists of this world.

Again, shows and artists are only the tip of the iceberg. And despite the fact creation is the raw material and that artists worked hard for being who they are and where they are, there is plenty of other people working hard (sometimes harder) to make it all happen.

Satisfying the audience by giving them a good show is the main goal.


As a production intern in a music venue, I’m getting to deal with a lot of new people who all have a precise role to play in the show industry. As I don’t know yet exactly which part of the industry I’m most interested in, I try to get as much experience and advice as I can from all these people: production managers, house managers, tour promoters, tour managers, talent buyers, lighting and sound techs.


So far, it’s too early to determine if I’d rather be part of a band’s entourage, work in a music venue or work for a tour promoter. As an intern I’m observing a lot rather than running the shows myself and my working hours and the pressure I’m subject to are far from being that of the actual production manager.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t prevent me from understanding and seeing by myself that advancing and running a show is not a piece of cake.

Working in the music industry sometimes appears to me as more about making money than about the deep feelings and passion you can have for the music.


I may sound a bit disillusioned – this is part of my training here I guess – but this doesn’t prevent me from thinking that I do want to be part of this world, no matter how hard and boring it will be sometimes. Despite some very bad performances and a big amount of energy and efforts that you have to devote to work, the fact of being able to meet a lot of colourful, talented and experienced people along with the satisfaction of seeing the audience enjoying the show you've worked on really make it worth it.

I really don’t see myself anywhere else. AMEN.