Question 4: Where do you get your motivation from to carry on?
Steffen Rabe, a booker with FKP Scorpio, who lives in Germany and has worked with Amanda Palmer, Pond and Gov’t Mule: “I don’t like to stop touring because it is not me alone who needs entertainment with concerts and music.”
Rémi Bruggmann, a booker and artistic coordinator with the Montreux Jazz Festival, who lives in Switzerland: “It was actually great to be able to listen to more music than I have had the chance to the last few years! So it also reminded me why I work in this industry. But on the other hand, it was important for myself to take the opportunity to get my head out of the industry and do stuff I wouldn’t normally do. The balance between the two definitely helped me staying motivated.”
Zöé Caldwell, an agent who lives in Australia and has worked with the Blue Man Group and Cirque Du Soleil: “I am fuelled by people, connections, exploring, discovering and change. I am a pretty positive person and my motivation to live a full and energized life comes from within!”
Natasha Gregory, an agent with Mother Artists, who lives in the UK and has represented Amy Macdonald, IDLES, RY X, Tom Misch and Foster the People: “My family and friends through and through. Firstly I have a family to support. I took the steps to surround myself with only good people, and be present with those I love whilst my kids continue to help me focus on day to day and not have time to dwell on what we can’t control. My emotions are up and down, of course they would be, but I’m learning to be OK with that and to talk to my husband, my family, and not keep it in. There is just so much global trauma. I try and wake up with my core values seeing me through every day. That’s my survival.”
Clotaire Buche, an agent with Junzi, who lives in France and has worked with Woodkid, Aaron and Chassol: “Listening good music and keeping the faith in our artists’ magic.”
Dany Hassenstein, a booker with the Paléo Festival Nyon, who lives in Switzerland: “Remembering the joy we have been bringing to people over the past 45 years makes us going. We have to fight to make sure this is not lost and will come back even stronger.”
Josh Javor, an agent with X-ray Touring, who lives in the UK and has worked with Queens of the Stone Age, Coldplay, Snow Patrol and Eagles of Death Metal: “Alcohol.”
Rahel Feidler, a production manager with Showtime Entertainment Services, who lives in Belgium and has worked with Rock Werchter, Rock-A-Field, Rammstein (Lux), Tomorrowland and Jean Michel Jarre: “The memories I made during the last 20 years, working on all possible events and stages, keep me going on. I miss the camaraderie on tour and on big projects. I miss the stress and the excitement to finish everything on time for doors to open, the goosebumps when you see the crowd enjoying the show, the pride you feel if your planning runs smoothly and everybody is able to do their work in the best conditions.”
Björn Harder, a tour and stage manager with Try Harder Productions, who lives in Germany and has worked with Rammstein and Apocalyptica: “Use change for the better.”
Dick Meredith, a freelance tour manager, who lives in the UK and has worked with Bastille: “I do feel humanity will be like a coiled spring when this is over (or correctly managed) and the thirst for living, for experiences, for togetherness, whether through live music, other performance or events, will be insatiable.”
Jan Smeets, an agent and booker for Live Nation Belgium and Rock Werchter, and has also worked with Passenger, who lives in Belgium: “Optimism is a moral duty and sitting still is not in my dictionary. As for my job, I dived a bit deeper into the tons of new acts and releases that are popping up on a daily basis. During the two days off from work I enjoy more time with my family, I’m preparing the renovation of our house and I even found some time to pick up old hobbies.”
Luke Bell, a freelance tour manager, who lives in the UK: “That’s easy--we have the best jobs in the world. I love touring, it makes me extremely happy, and I look forward to when it resumes again!”
Silvio König, a tour manager and production manager with Thirteen Fourteen Productions, who lives in Germany and has worked with Paul Kalkbrenner and Kraftwerk: “I´m working for a vaccination centre right now and see so many faces when they got vaccinated. Most of them are so thankful and that keeps me motivation and keeps me alive!”
Ton Maessen, a freelance tour manager, who lives in Portugal and has worked with Nick Cave and dEUS: “Faith.”
Alex Bruford, an agent with ATC Live, who lives in the UK and has worked with Nick Cave, The Lumineers, Metronomy and Fink: “The responsibility to do all I can to ensure our artists, our dedicated staff and the wider live business as a whole get through the pandemic has been a powerful motivation.”
Silke Westera, a booker with FKP Scorpio, who lives in Germany and has worked with Tom Odell and Tom Walker: “I think people in general are desperate for the cultural scene being able to start again. It is an important factor in social life. I just feel I need to stay optimistic we’ll have it back at some point and it’s worth pulling through.”
Dirk “Bats” Dillen, an electrician with Powershop, who lives in Belgium and has worked with Rock Werchter, Rock-A-Field and Rammstein (Lux): “It's just a fantastic and fun job and a great life, therefore the motivation to continue with it.”
Danny Simons, an agent with Grand Hotel van Cleef Musik, who lives in Germany and has worked with Thees Uhlmann and Kettcar: “It’s great to see that there is support vice versa between agents, promoters and artists, who see that the are all sitting in the same boat, trying to find a way to survive.”