Sep
10
Written by:
GP Blogger
9/10/2010 6:31 AM
For
the
next two months I’m on tour with the classic British rock band
Supertramp. The current leg is in
Europe, playing stadiums and arenas in 11 countries. It’s a big
production with
six semi trucks hauling around the stage, PA, lighting gear, and our
instruments.Our crew is 50 guys,
which is about 48 more crewmembers than my band takes on the road! They
travel
by bus and work very hard setting up a virtual city five days a week.
We
travel by private jet, which is pretty darn rock ‘n roll glamorous. We’re “hubbing” out of the great cities
of Europe and staying at fabulous hotels. There’s an on-board flight
attendant
that can make you anything you want and there’s no airport security, no
taking
out your laptops or taking off your shoes or belt.Flights
average around 38 minutes and we have big swivel chairs and
couches, and tables for hot meals or card games.
I
have nine guitars on the road and a great sounding five-amp system for
the
shows, but there is one small problem. The jet, a Falcon 900, only holds the band, road manager, tour
accountant, senior management and our entire cache of luggage. When
changing
cities it’s only possible to bring a suitcase and a single carry-on. This means on certain “hotel changing
days” I can’t carry a guitar with me to practice in the hotel room.
This drives me crazy! I’ve
got songs to write and technique
to work on, not to mention the insatiable addiction I have for pushing
strings
around every day. You begin to realize how strong
that desire is when
you’re faced with two days off with no instrument. I
found myself wandering the streets of Milan looking for a
music store where I could “try out” a nice Strat for about an hour!
Question:
“How do you get a musician to complain?” Answer: “Give him a GIG!”
Nice problem to have! —Carl Verheyen
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7 comment(s) so far...
Carl Verheyen: How Do You Get a Musician to Complain?
Hey Carl!
I think you need a Voyage-Air Guitar! McCartney's guys carry one, Sheryl Crow's guy carries one, Richie Sambora carries one. What's the hold up? It will cure your need to always have a guitar with you on the road.
Give me a call! 925 271 4061
Virginia Cannon - Artist Relations
Voyageairguitar.com
By Virginia Cannon on
9/13/2010 8:49 AM
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Carl Verheyen: How Do You Get a Musician to Complain?
I'm sure lots of folks wish they had that problem.
By Stan on
9/27/2010 11:30 AM
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Carl Verheyen: How Do You Get a Musician to Complain?
I might have to go a few days(or weeks)without a change of clothes rather than not having a guitar to play! Still...sounds like a graet gig.
By Paul on
9/28/2010 9:05 AM
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Carl Verheyen: How Do You Get a Musician to Complain?
Have you ever tried the Steinberger Spirit guitar? It is a headless, all-maple, weighs about 7#s, and has 25-1/2 scale. and is 36" total body length. Now the neck is probably thicker (& maybe a bit wider than your strats). But I've enjoyed mine more than any electric I've ever owned. Maybe it would be small enough for you to "sneak" on.
By Don on
9/30/2010 8:08 AM
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Carl Verheyen: How Do You Get a Musician to Complain?
The headless Steinberger ZT-3 is a small headless guitar that is a fabulous guitar. Checkout Brian Asprey with one of You Tube.
By Ron Siwicki on
9/30/2010 9:35 PM
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Carl Verheyen: How Do You Get a Musician to Complain?
Poor baby! Maybe you should carry a violin.
By JT on
9/18/2010 12:00 PM
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Carl Verheyen: How Do You Get a Musician to Complain?
Get a Hofner shorty! I used to own one in the 80s. Do a Google search. There's no way you wouldn't be allowed to take one on the plane!
By Tim Allums on
11/15/2010 10:34 AM
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