Not only are the “sisters doing it for themselves”, they’re doing it for national touring acts. Backline tech Kelly Macaulay stole a few minutes for us in the middle of a Rhett Miller tour to answer a few questions. What she does: I am a backline tech for guitars, drums, bass and piano. Right now, I’m touring with Rhett Miller.

For how long: I have been doing this for over 16 years. I will keep doing it until I get bored and want to get off the road. How she got started: First of all, I am not “musical”. Growing up, I was into horses. Today, when I’m not on tour, I am riding horses or a Harley. I don’t even own a guitar. Taking a break from my early equestrian career, I started working for friends in local New York City bands where I live. I ended up working in a recording and rehearsal studio. Then, a backline company offered me a gig driving the backline for a weeklong tour. The band had a guitar tech who didn’t know how to set up drums. So I did it. The tour manager called me for his next tour and away I went.

Kelly (right) with lighting tech Tavi Black, enjoying herself at the ice bar in Stockholm, on tour with Norah Jones in 2004.

Brushes with greatness: I have worked for Peter Himmelman (this was my first guitar gig), Four Non Blondes, Medicine, Chris Whitley, Indigo Girls, Roseann Cash, Meshell Ndegeocello, Lisa Loeb, Jewel, Old 97's, Rhett Miller, Amos Lee, Norah Jones and lots of others I can’t think of right now. Then and now: When I started I did only backline, now I can also do stage manager and production manager gigs. I can also handle tour manager tasks but I like working the stage more. Hear me roar: Being a woman in this business is a challenge sometimes. When I first started, no one would believe I was the tech. It’s still true today, especially overseas. I was the piano tech with Norah, and most crews would ask the other guys on tour with me what to do with the piano.

“I’m on tour right now with Rhett Miller and we use an SM58 for his vocals.” I’m saying this: if you’re a singer, invest in your own mic. If you could see some of the places I have been, you wouldn’t want to sing into a mic that isn’t yours. And get yourself some in-ears – you can really hear what’s going on.

They’d say “Go ask Kelly”, but those same guys would just go up to another crew member, ask the same question and get the same answer. Finally, they’d come to me. I’ve learned to laugh and go with the flow but sometimes it can be annoying.

Best advice: Be yourself and work hard How to get your foot in the door: Start at the bottom and learn all the jobs on tour so you know what’s going on. Remember this: everyone can have a bad day. Don’t take it personally.

We thank Kelly for taking time for us in between riding horses, Harleys and catching the tour bus for the next gig.

Also in this issue: Roadie Rules: The Life of a Backline Tech Back Talk: Leif Bodnarchuk Back Talk: Kelly Macaulay Product Spotlight: SLX, DMK57-52 Shure Notes® Archive   Letter from The Editor Change My Preferences    E-mail to a Friend     Privacy Policy