Hey y'all!
I wanted to bump this as the company mentioned by the OP is sending out a ton of shows this year, and hiring a lot of techs.
Some advice/food for thought as someone who's done this before:
- A company like Feld hires techs as W2 union employees. You don't need to travel any gear, as they will provide anything you'll need to make the show happen. They do a lot of international shows, so everything you can imagine needing to repair or maintain the show will be traveling with you by the company.
As far as personal packing, here's some tips:
You'll be flying a lot, so pack things that are easy to take across international lines and through airports. Keep your liquids sensible, and don't bring tools/knives with you.
Do bring:
Trust me, the skater/performers can get to be a lot, so having a nice pair of
headphones for long bus rides and plane rides is a must.
Often you'll be asked to attend opening/closing parties where you should dress up. They also have Disney/Sesame/Jurassic people visit a lot and ask their folks to look nice.
Planes an busses are always cold.
I use them instead of a sleep mask, as they pull double duty in my bag. Put them on with some
headphones to
nap during a bus or flight.
As the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy says, always bring a towel. Many venues you
play will be the only places to shower, and they're often sports arenas. While most do provide towels, they are like sandpaper. Bring a comfy towel to use when you
play these venues. The wardrobe department travels their own washers/dryers, so if you make friends they will let you
wash it. The towel also makes for a great pillow for napping in crates during a long day.
Playing an ice floor means everything is wet. All the time. It's always freaking wet. Having a spare pair of warm socks to change into is a godsend.
If you're looking at an ice show, everything is wet. That means if you're working in a department where you run the show, you can expect to get pruny. Dry off and moisturize, or you'll end up with lots of dead skin cells.
What not to bring:
The company is very specific about the kind of
hard hat you must use and will provide one for you.
Aside from a multi-tool or maybe a small knife, don't bring tools. They're heavy and will weigh down your luggage, and the company will provide them for you anyway. If you do insist on bringing personal tools, travel them in the crates once you're there, as some countries won't let you bring them in if they're in your luggage.
This is a trick I learned; Feld will reimburse you for your steel toes, up to a certain amount. If you buy new steel toes when you arrive, you can turn in the receipt and get reimbursed.
Having a charger for your phone that you can leave in the crate at the
venue is helpful, it means you don't have to carry your hotel charger back and forth.
Other things to think about:
It's great to tour with this company, you really get the chance to see a lot. Take every chance to go out and see the places you're in, because you'll spend many days locked inside an
arena and start to go crazy. So when you can explore, do! Have fun!
