meet “the crew” #4: Deron Blevins
It might not take an entire village to make America’s Premier 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 another of Glenn’s finest.
BM: What is your name?
DB: Deron Blevins (or as many know me on the forums MetalAges)
BM: Describe what it is you do at ProgPowerUSA.
DB: I handle the web design/hosting, CD sampler/event program booking/design/printing and various misc. activities such as gold badge/VIP badge design.
BM: How many PPUSA festivals have you worked?
DB: If I am not mistaken its been from PPUSA #2 and on. We only had the web site with #2 but from #3 on is when we added the CD and event program.
BM: How did you get the gig with PPUSA?
DB: As I recall it he knew my name from hanging out on the Perpetual Motion board and he was aware that I worked with bands creating web sites/hosting web sites. That’s when he contacted me before PPUSA #2 and wanted to get a web site for the festival created. I thought it would be perfect to have the CD/program for the show because it is such a targeted audience, so he said, “if you want to handle/deal with it go for it.” So that’s that.
BM: What is the funniest/strangest/best thing that ever happened to you while working at PPUSA?
DB: Man, I’m trying hard to think of something good for this question. Most of the good stories I get are the ones I can’t repeat or Glenn would shoot me. Most of the funny/strange stuff at the show the crew gets to see while working backstage. All my funny moments have come from interviewing the bands for the program in the past, I like to think I’ve gotten some good blurbs to come out of the bands from doing those. I would say the best thing is hearing feedback from people that they liked the interviews, how much they enjoy the show, or how a band (who bought CD/ad space) will thank us after the fact from really benefiting from being on the CD/event program. It’s always good to get great feedback like that.
BM: Why is ProgPowerUSA such a success year after year?
DB: I think it’s a mixture of several things. For starters, Glenn runs a tight ship. He knows what he wants, he gets the people who can do it, and he manages the fest from pre-planning to show time with a concrete plan and execution order. That’s not saying everything always goes perfectly, but he plans as much in advance as possible to alleviate the amount of impact any screw-up could have.
Secondly, he is a fan as much as a business guy. He puts together a line-up from both perspectives, you have to. Of course that means he’ll get shit from people year in and year out but that’s expected. The fan side of him works towards making this show work because he keeps up with the scene, he sees what people are liking or not, and he checks out all the new bands people are raving about, and the ones they aren’t. I had no clue who Wastefall was to be honest, until he turned me on to the. I thought I did a good job of keeping up on the scene but…he’s one step ahead I guess!
Last, I think it’s the setting. Sure, I think he could sell out a larger venue if he wanted. The thing is, Earthlink Live (now called Center Stage Atlanta) is a great club. It’s clean, it’s intimate, it has an on site restaurant, the seats are all good, the stage is great, the vendors Glenn brings in are great. It’s just a great place/vibe all around.
I can’t leave out the “fan factor” either. If it weren’t for the dedicated fans of this music year in and year out it wouldn’t be the same. What I mean is, I would say a good 50% of the people that attend come every year, heck that may be a low percentage. the show has a huge “family reunion” feel to it.
Thanks, Deron! Your talents and dedication are much appreciated!
