1)
A BOTTLE OF GROLSCH:
The refreshment inside is just an added
bonus to the item the roadie's really after. He wants
the little rubber washer that seals the bottle lid.
Useful for emergency felts on the cymbals, these also
make excellent strap locks. They also work out much
cheaper!
2)
GAFFA TAPE:
The black stuff is great for taping down leads or
anything else a careless band member can trip over.
The white version lets the bass player know where the
stage ends and the drop into the audience begins. And
a strip of either on a drum skin can sort out a
booming tom. The silver stuff is for flash bastards
or roadies into S&M.
3)
A FLASHLIGHT:
A torch is useful for peering into dust-filled
temperamental equipment and the dark corners of dank
venues. Something of a status symbol in the roadie
world it seems "the bigger is the better".
A large torch is pointless on the portability front,
but is useful for coshing stage divers.
4)
A PLASTIC POSTER HANGER:
Used in conjunction with the gaffa tape, these are
very handy for singing guitarists. Tape one to the
mike stand and use it to grip some spare plectrums.
The guitarist can quickly replace a dropped plectrum
without scrabbling around on a dark stage for the old
one.
5)
A SWISS ARMY KNIFE:
The rank of a roadie is established by how many
attachments his knife has. If he can use it to set up
the intonation on the guitars, tune the drums, open a
beer while he's doing it and then lend it to the
singer so she can file her nails, you know you've got
a true professional.
6)
CIGARETTES:
Used for bonding with other roadies and as a tool to
aid problem solving. Particularly useful when you
need to borrow something from another band.
7)
A STRING WINDER:
Have you ever seen a guitarist break a string at a
gig and wondered how the roadie managed to fix it so
quickly? It's partly practice, but he's helped by
this device which looks like a fishing reel handle
that fits neatly over a machine head. There's no
wrist ache, either.
8)
A SELECTION OF FUSES:
The band is about to go on when---with a spark---all
the lights on the equipment go out. The only shop
open for miles doesn't sell fuses. The roadie waits
until the band are really panicked before revealing
that he's taped a spare fuse to the back of all the
amps. He has a job for life.
9)
A LARGE BUNCH OF KEYS:
No-one except roadies knows what they're all for.
Usually worn on the belt, they signal the arrival of
the roadie from a hundred yards or so. Musicians
invent problems while other roadies get their fags
out.
10)
AN ELECTRONIC TUNER:
Your pitch-pipes and tuning fork are useless during a
live show, making this an essential piece of kit.
Once again there is a roadie hierarchy in operation.
Top roadies on their first trip to the USA all return
with a strobe tuner. This more accurate device
resembles a kaleidoscope in a box and is a favoured
talking point among the brethren.
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