Meet “the crew” #1: Joel Decatur
It might not take an entire village to make America’s Premiere Metal Fest the world-wide success that it is, but it does take the efforts of a team of hard-working, dedicated, and passionate backstage crew members.
I put six questions (via e-mail) to the behind-the-scenes people who make it all happen. What follows are the answers I received from one of those people.
Say hello to one of Glenn’s finest.
BM: What is your name?
JD: Joel Decatur
BM: Describe what it is you do at ProgPowerUSA.
JD: We make sure the bands are able to do their jobs to the best of their ability, even if some of them whine like a seven year old girl while they do it. I do a little bit of everything from helping to organize band requests months before the event to setting up anything on the stage to giving pep talks in band members hotel rooms the night before, but mostly I drink and stink.
BM: How many PPUSA festivals have you worked?
JD: This year will be my 7th ProgPower. At the first one in Chicago I would say I was more of a “helper” rather than a crew member as I also performed. I also performed with my band Reading Zero at PPIII, while still crewing.
BM: How did you get the gig with PPUSA?
JD: Interesting question as I don’t quite remember exactly how it came to be. I have known Glenn since ‘98, first meeting in person at the Powermad festival in Baltimore, MD where RZ was booked to play. As cool as a show Powermad was, I think there was some organizational frustrations that drove many people to want to try their own fest. I remember sitting down with my singer and future PP stage manager, Chris Roy, and trying to work out the logistics of our own prog music fest. It never materialized most likely due to a lack of funds and motivation. But one guy had it all going on, Glenn. I remember going out to a dinner with about 15 others after Powermad 2000. Glenn had already booked RZ to play the first ProgPower but it was there that he announced his plans for the fest. I was willing to help out wherever I could that year, as were many others. Later that very same year, Glenn decided to step it up 10 notches and put his balls on the line with ProgPower II. He asked Chris and I to become full on members of the ProgPower USA organization as the smoke was clearing from PP1.
BM: What is the funniest/strangest/best thing that ever happened to you while working at PPUSA?
JD: Good lord, there are so many things I probably shouldn’t talk about. BUT:
Funniest: Some bands bring their own techs. One tech, in particular, (he has been there a couple times with different bands) was contemplating the complexities of European vs. US voltage and in the process gave himself, after repeat warning from PP crew and an electrician, a 220 volt shock that sent him 5 feet in the as he yelled, “SCHEISSEN!!!”. He promptly continued to set the band up, barely missing a beat, or a volt as it were. We can laugh about it now and do on a regular basis. Glenn even had shirts printed.
Best: Other than getting to meet and hang with some of my favorite musicians, it would have to be when Nightwish made a wish come true for a cancer-stricken fan. Glenn and Nightwish went out of their way to make Mark comfortable and Im not sure there was a dry eye among those who knew what was going on. It was just one of those moments you never forget.
BM: Why is ProgPowerUSA such a success year after year?
JD: I bet Glenn wishes he knew the answer to that each time he starts the ball rolling again. But seriously, Glenn has built an incredibly strong foundation with equally dedicated people. Its like a family that reunites for a long weekend once a year. A somewhat dysfunctional family, but family just the same.
It’s like this: Glenn puts a LOT of effort and thought into the booking, planning, organization, keeping the “family” happy, and walking that line that his balls are always resting on, careful not to step on or kick them (that doesn’t mean other people don’t). He then gets the amazing and loyal fans excited, not only by the bands he is able to kidnap, I mean book, (some willingly) but also the unique atmosphere he creates unlike any other festival in existence. The crew comes in and spends 20 hours a day on their feet lugging really heavy things like amps, speaker cabinets, egos, etc…while drinking about 30 or so cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon in just two short days. Somehow the show goes off fairly consistently and the fans are generally ecstatic. We all kiss and hug and go home waiting for the next chance to do it all over again.
I’m proud to be amongst these people called The Crew. They are all invaluable to the overall success of the actual show and really good people. How can you not like being around a bunch of smelly, crass, flatulent, hung-over, flabby, sexy beasts while talking about all things music? And those are just the drum techs!
Thanks Joel. We appreciate the blood, sweat, and tears you and the other members of the crew pour into ProgPower every year. Keep up the great work!
