Page 33 - 4-8-2019-Pollstar-rev

Vantress: There’s a big difference. Things I don’t want to speak to anyone of color’s
get done a lot faster and above board when experience being on the road – I would love
there’s not just a group of good old boys hang- to hear from more voices of color and what
ing around. That’s a recipe for disaster. I find they experience in terms of getting into the
when you have a more inclusive group that business, what their experience is like being
comes from a lot of different backgrounds, that on a crew, in a predominantly white space, and
things are more straightforward and there’s a create space for more people of color on our
lot less fartin’ around. Let’s get our work done own staff – full time and in our contract hires.
and not all sit around and be buddies. Quantifying the number of LGBTQ crew
Women can be a lot more organized. Like, members feels like a fine line to walk – being
let’s take a minute and think about this. What out in a work space can be a very intimate
are the ramifications of taking a certain ac- thing, and doesn’t always feel safe, even in
tion? I find women are a lot less likely to have creative industries. I have found that, in my
a knee jerk reaction and are more methodical. particular area of the industry – primarily
related to risk, contracts, vendors, and per-
Schmitt: It only makes us all better. When you mitting, that I rarely have the opportunities to
have a diverse range of perspectives, experi- engage in relationships that would naturally
ences, classes, and communities in one space, engender that kind of intimacy, for myself or Brandy Blaylock
the love is stronger. for another. I’m sure that has something to
do with my own lack of trust with being open This program is targeted at not only fans but
our staff, vendors, and artists as well.
There’s a perception that about my own queerness! In our company’s conversations about anti-
production crews are an harassment this year, I think we went into it
all-male bastion, with few thinking it was all about the fans – promoting a
more open environment for them – but as the
exceptions. With more at- conversations have gone on, we realized that
tention being paid to inclu- this is for those of us back-of-house as well.
We’re really just focusing on fostering a
sion of underrepresented culture where it’s OK to discuss or call out
people, is that still true and something that you experienced that makes
how is it changing? you uncomfortable – whether you’re a fan or
a stagehand. I think that open dialogue across
Sternberg: There really weren’t a lot of women the board is how we’re going to continue to
when I started. Most of the time, I would showcase how important this issue is for us.
be the only woman on the crew. But it’s a
familiarity thing – once they get to know you Schmitt: We’ll be working over the next year
and realize you’re doing OK, the door is open. to improve our incident reporting procedures,
Everybody kind of proves themselves and does and investing resources with these partners
their own thing. to develop on-site staff and fan training in
The thing I’ve found is that women tend to Heather Vantress bystander intervention, appropriate response
be more supportive of others in the profession and reporting processes, and an on-site
and want to be mentors and want to help you Vantress: You get the right person at the right program for safe fan reporting of incidents of
get ahead. job. When you look at a lot of these festivals harassment and violence.
But the men – when I first worked with them and you look in the crowd and you see it’s not
– felt I was taking a job from them. This was just one kind of person. As a business, it be- What’s the return on your
a job that they could have had. Especially, as I hooves you to have everybody involved. Who investment in “experiential”
got to more positions of responsibilities quick- is going to know the customers best but the features in addition to the
ly, there was a sense of frustration of why I got customers themselves?
this. And typically, it was because I was more I don’t see it as a sizable shift, I’ve been main event?
organized and this was a skill set that I was doing this since 2002. But to me it’s always
better at and their abilities were better suited been like that. I cut my teeth on the Warped Vantress: Of course, it’s about who is playing
elsewhere. Tour and there’s a whole posse of us out there and it’s about the venue. Because what better
When I was in college, I was amazed that who were raised on the Warped Tour. There’s way to enjoy The Offspring than with craft
the guys I worked with took it upon them- no one more inclusive than Kevin Lyman as it beer and craft tacos on the beach? I would
selves to teach me how to run the sound board relates to shape, color, creed, anything for the be more likely to go to that event than one
and lighting. It was amazing. Once you got staff. in a concrete amphitheater because it’s the
into the job market, it became a little more plus-plus-plus of the amenities and the lovely
competitive but it’s true, you prove yourself as setting. I think people are going to take that
to what you can do and people will accept you What is your festival doing into consideration when we are fighting for
for that. to assure women and oth- their festival dollars.
ers that their safety and
Schmitt: “More” is relative. Women have al- freedom from harassment Lobl: We really started doing bigger produc-
ways dominated specific fields of the touring / tions in the campgrounds last year, simply
production space, and they continue to do so, is important to it? because there is such a need to curate an
magically. I love seeing familiar female faces experience for fans outside of the main stages
on the road at our festivals, and I love seeing Blaylock: For the first time this year, we’re and really provide a way to experience the
ever-growing support networks oriented to- setting up some pre-show communication whole festival. We are trying to provide one of
wards women/female-oriented crew members, and on-site “safe spaces” staffed with groups experiences across all of our festivals that fans
such as Women of Touring. like Calling All Crows and Our Music/My Body. won’t find anywhere else. s

APRIL 8, 2019 | 33