How to support a group of underappreciated workers who’ve done it extraordinarily tough during the pandemic

It’s been a tough couple of years for almost everybody, but particularly those in the events industry.

But a group that wouldn’t immediately spring to mind for many when thinking of live music and shows is the cohort who puts them together – roadies.

Some have had no work, at all, with very little financial support.

Howard Freeman has been a roadie for more than 55 years, touring with some of the biggest bands of all-time.

Think the Rolling Stones and INXS.

Mr Freeman said his colleagues were sorely underappreciated and were incredibly reliable.

“I’d love to see roadies running the government,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“We wouldn’t be a thousand days behind and 3.9 billion dollars in a hole.”

A national event has been setup to support them by CrewCare to raise greater awareness of the critical roles they play, with all funds going directly to Support Act’s ‘Crew’ Fund.

As for the best shows he’d seen?

“I still think that the high-end acts like the (Rolling) Stones and AC/DC really deliver because they have the ability to produce amazing shows because the money is behind them,” Mr Freeman said.

“Andre Rieu was a spectacle.

“We had 125 semi-trailers on the road, that is three kilometres of truck.”

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Picture: Getty iStock