Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

From Load-In to Bus Call: A Tech’s Life on the Big Time Rush Tour with Stephen Kramer Glickman


Listen Later

Justin Scheidling takes us inside a day in the life of a touring tech, supporting the bands of Stephen Kramer Glickman and Katelyn Tarver on the Big Time Rush tour, from load-in to bus call. From labeling every cable and packing “JustInCase” bags to handling the curveballs of show days, you get the raw look at how a pro keeps the gig rolling. You’ll hear how gear obsession became the gateway to teching, what it’s like to set up drums straight off the truck, and why even a $3,000 gig has the same headaches as a $300 one. And yes, rain still finds its way to the PA. Through it all, Justin proves that the secret to surviving the road is simple: Always Be Performing.

But this isn’t just about tech work! It’s about career lessons you can steal borrow for your own gigs. You’ll learn why making yourself known by being helpful pays off, how meeting everyone opens doors, and how DJ percussion gigs and Blue Man Group tricks turned into a show-stopping side hustle. From backstage at Meadowbrook’s rock-star pool party to 3am bus calls, Justin makes it clear that every step of the grind adds to the craft. No matter the role—tech, player, or bandleader—you’re building skills that take you further on stage and off.

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 502 – Monday, October 6th, 2025
    • October 6th: National Mad Hatter Day
    • Guest co-hosts: Justin Scheidling
    • 00:02:50 First time nationwide drum tech!
      • Gear Acquisition Syndrome is real… and it helps set you up to become a drum tech!
      • Buddy Gibbons says.. “So… I need a tech!”
      • The job expands: Can you also work on guitars…and pianos?
      • 00:05:40 Remembering the view of an outsider
        • Player first…but I run my own bands
        • 00:07:53 What’s in your “JustInCase”
          • Labeling is important!
          • MakeItStay Bag
          • MakeItMove Bag
          • 00:11:21 I want everyone on this tour to know who I am.
            • Do that by being helpful
            • 00:13:00 Are my toolboxes going to make it on the plane?
            • 00:14:33 Gig Anxiety
              • Fueled by experiences
              • Don’t plug the PA in with the refrigerator
              • A little bit extra…with Justin!
              • 00:18:38 SPONSOR: GigSalad. Always Be Performing means “Always Be Booking”, too. Head to GigSalad.com to create your free profile today!
                • (and check out Gig Gab 482 with Mark Steiner from May, 2025, too!)
                • 00:20:00 Show day as a drum tech
                  • Walk the stage
                  • Drums are still in “the attic”
                  • The day could go one of two ways:
                  • If room at the venue, we could set up the drums behind the stage and roll them out (and back)
                  • Otherwise we’d have to build on stage
                  • “We wanna help break down!”
                  • 00:27:50 “No matter what your gig is, every gig has bullshit.” — Syndee Winters 
                    • A $300 gig has its level of BS
                    • A $3000 gig has its level of BS
                    • The multi-million-dollar production of Hamilton ALSO has it’s multi-million dollar production of Bullshit.
                    • A new Gig Gab adage: When there’s rain…the water always hits the PA.
                    • Beware water and power…they don’t mix!
                    • 00:33:52 No matter what the gig is, learn everything you can learn
                      • What can I apply to my show at home?
                      • How can I further my career?
                      • What redundancies can I learn to apply to my gigs?
                      • 00:34:44 Advice to Justin from Trevor Lawrence, Jr., Drummer with Herbie Hancock
                        • “Talk to everyone!”
                        • “Find your favorite musicians and talk to them.”
                        • Justin immediately reached out to: Kenny Aronoff & Buddy Giggons
                        • 00:41:57 You never know who you’re gonna meet
                          • And make sure you meet everyone.
                          • 00:43:03 Back to the day of touring…
                            • Soundcheck happens and it’s tweaking and troubleshooting time
                            • Then mealbreak
                            • 00:48:13 Meadowbrook in Gilford, NH, the Ultimate Venue
                              • Gilford is the backstage party that people think it is.
                              • Couches and TVs, heated pool, open bar, and video monitors to watch
                              • Pedal bikes and merch!
                              • “I would vacation there every day if I could!”
                              • Recover kits with Advil and Liquid IV
                              • LAUNDRY!
                              • RJ & Bridget Harding really have created a wonderful thing
                              • 00:51:29 Ten minutes to showtime
                                • Last-minute checks
                                • 00:54:32 Teardown
                                  • This needs to happen fast
                                  • “If I think I have some time, it’s never gonna make it.”
                                  • Changing drumheads post-show
                                  • 00:57:50 Then bus call… at 3am
                                    • On the road by 4am
                                    • Bunks on the bus
                                    • 00:59:59 Downtime is Unpredictable Deadtime
                                    • 01:01:59 Justin’s Gigging Schedule
                                      • Go Rogue is Justin’s new band
                                      • The Current is Justin’s backing band that he created to backup other
                                      • Justin does DJ Percussion (formerly “Party Percussion”)
                                      • DJs are also musician
                                      • “Herbie Hancock invented hip hop with scratching” — Justin Scheidling
                                      • 01:06:23 Learning to be a Party/DJ Percussionist
                                        • Adapted Blue Man Group stuff, stick twirls, standing drums, percussion…all making the show!
                                        • 01:08:53 It’s always a show!
                                          • Every little thing comes from a lesson learned!
                                          • I have the best job ever!
                                          • 01:11:30 Gig Gab 502 Outtro
                                            • Follow Justin Scheidling
                                              • JustinScheidling.com
                                              • @JustinScheidling on IG
                                              • Follow and Contact Gig Gab!
                                                • @GigGabPodcast on Instagram
                                                • Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List
                                                •  

                                                  The post From Load-In to Bus Call: A Tech’s Life on the Big Time Rush Tour with Stephen Kramer Glickman — Gig Gab 502 with Justin Scheidling appeared first on Gig Gab.

                                                  ...more
                                                  View all episodesView all episodes
                                                  Download on the App Store

                                                  Gig Gab - The Working Musician's PodcastBy Dave Hamilton & Friends

                                                  • 4.9
                                                  • 4.9
                                                  • 4.9
                                                  • 4.9
                                                  • 4.9

                                                  4.9

                                                  46 ratings


                                                  More shows like Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

                                                  View all
                                                  Radiolab by WNYC Studios

                                                  Radiolab

                                                  43,969 Listeners

                                                  99% Invisible by Roman Mars

                                                  99% Invisible

                                                  26,212 Listeners

                                                  Coverville: The Cover Music Show (AAC Edition) by Brian Ibbott

                                                  Coverville: The Cover Music Show (AAC Edition)

                                                  747 Listeners

                                                  Guitar Music Theory by Desi Serna

                                                  Guitar Music Theory

                                                  825 Listeners

                                                  Switched on Pop by Vulture

                                                  Switched on Pop

                                                  2,674 Listeners

                                                  Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting by Dave Hamilton, Pilot Pete & Adam Christianson

                                                  Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

                                                  828 Listeners

                                                  Making Sense with Sam Harris by Sam Harris

                                                  Making Sense with Sam Harris

                                                  26,354 Listeners

                                                  Pivot by New York Magazine

                                                  Pivot

                                                  9,507 Listeners

                                                  MacVoices by Chuck Joiner

                                                  MacVoices

                                                  33 Listeners

                                                  MacVoices Video by Chuck Joiner

                                                  MacVoices Video

                                                  11 Listeners

                                                  Mac OS Ken by Ken Ray

                                                  Mac OS Ken

                                                  895 Listeners

                                                  MacCast - For Mac Geeks, by Mac Geeks by Adam Christianson (Mac Geek)

                                                  MacCast - For Mac Geeks, by Mac Geeks

                                                  807 Listeners

                                                  The Context Machine by Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet

                                                  The Context Machine

                                                  87 Listeners

                                                  Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast by Shannon Jean & Dave Hamilton

                                                  Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast

                                                  45 Listeners

                                                  The SBL Podcast by Scott's Bass Lessons

                                                  The SBL Podcast

                                                  419 Listeners

                                                  The Mac Observer Show by Ken Ray

                                                  The Mac Observer Show

                                                  116 Listeners

                                                  Twenty Thousand Hertz by Dallas Taylor

                                                  Twenty Thousand Hertz

                                                  4,147 Listeners

                                                  Music Student 101 by Jeremy Burns, Matthew Scott Phillips

                                                  Music Student 101

                                                  250 Listeners

                                                  The Daily by The New York Times

                                                  The Daily

                                                  112,683 Listeners

                                                  Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond by Pushkin Industries

                                                  Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

                                                  4,140 Listeners

                                                  Cover Band Confidential's Podcast by Coverband Confidential

                                                  Cover Band Confidential's Podcast

                                                  91 Listeners

                                                  The Confused Breakfast by Cloud10

                                                  The Confused Breakfast

                                                  1,167 Listeners

                                                  The Gigging Musician Podcast by Jared Judge

                                                  The Gigging Musician Podcast

                                                  8 Listeners