As I roamed the festival grounds in Eau Claire, WI, it was very obvious that the Incredible Machine Tour was in town. And I couldn’t have been more excited. Sugarland’s tour buses and equipment semis were neatly lined up in the backstage loading dock area. It had rained (hard) on the Thursday of the festival so the grounds were a bit muddy. The buses and semis were dirty from the good ol’ Wisconsin mud. No one cared about being a lil’ dirty though, it was Sugarland time! The Incredible Machine is not only the name of the duo’s tour, but also of one of their latest singles. As I sat in awe watching the show, I heard the first note of “The Incredible Machine.” It was then that my wheels started turning.
I began to think about how a festival is in fact an incredible machine. The people who make these things happen do not get nearly enough credit and admiration for the work they do. As soon as the curtain is pulled on the final act of the weekend, planning is already well underway for next year’s production. And a production it is. As a fan, it is sometimes easy to underestimate and take for granted the sweat, time, passion, hard work, and long hours it takes to make this so called incredible machine happen. After all, as a fan, it is your job to take a break from the hustle and bustle for the weekend.
But next time, sit back for a second and take a peek at all that’s going on around you. From the moment you step foot onto the festival grounds and have your ticket scanned – to the vendors who have traveled from miles around – to the runners who drive the artists and their crews to and from the airport – to the security guard who warns you to “settle down” with a tough grin on his face. This list is endless. Really. All of these people work together to create this incredible machine.
Without every part of the machine working together in sync, the machine is broken. The festival does not happen as it should. Or could, for that matter. On the other hand, when everyone does their part and works together, it creates an incredible machine; an extremely memorable experience for all.
So… Take time to appreciate the incredible machine. Because as a fan, you’re the most important part. For real.
