who pays the roadies?

[annemarie herrick]

Just out of curiosity, who pays the roadies? My boyfriend was just offered a drum tech position from his acquaintance who just joined the touring show for a pretty well funded musician. Now, if his buddy is shelling out the cashola, he won't ask for a per diem, but if its coming from the production company, he probably will. Any theories?
Thanks guys and gals!

[James]

typically the band pays the backline techs unless it's a bigger tour where they hire out a company...but typically it's the band that pays the crew

ultimately it's the band/management that pays the crew anyways, even if they're getting their checks through a production company...and that money generally comes from ticket sales

i'd say he should ask for whatever he wants because it's not 'hey your my buddy, lets go on tour' it's a business relationship

have him get a contract too