Jordan Tanner is a Wollongong based audio guy/PM/TM, and co-owner of RTA Touring. Recent clientele includes Tash Sultana, Ocean Alley & Northlane.
What would you normally be doing this time of year?
Before COVID-19 wreaked havoc on tour schedules around the world, I was scheduled to be in Japan with Tash Sultana, starting Friday May 22nd. If it were still going ahead, at this stage I’d be going through all my advance correspondence, dotting my I’s and crossing my T’s to make sure everything was good to go! Generally speaking in ‘normal times’ I’d be either on tour or advancing the next one, often both.
Describe a fairly normal day at the moment.
Wake up (late – I’m a very talented sleeper), shower, breakfast, tidy up the house. I’ve been doing my best to tackle projects I’ve had on the list for a while but haven’t had a decent opportunity to get into before. I’ve been amassing gear and bits and pieces for years in my storage unit, so I’ve taken the time over the last few weeks to go through that with a fine comb, tidying and organising, and selling off what I don’t need.
It’d be remiss of me not to mention the many hours spent playing video games. Recent favourites have been Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim & Mario Kart 8. Playing online with mates has been a good substitute for actual human contact- it’s the closest I’ve been to hanging out with mates for a while.
Are you learning anything to improve your skills set?
My excel/spreadsheet skills have never been so sharp. I’m really trying to work on my templates for budgets and advancing etc to try and make life easier on the other side of all this. If nothing else, it helps me to feel somewhat normal!
I also co-own an equipment hire/production coordination business so we’re taking advantage of the downtime to get on top of our business management. Updating insurance policies, getting on top of the books, fine-tuning marketing approaches and in general developing plans and ideas.
What bad habits have you slipped into?
Besides the long list of pre-existing ones? So far, I’ve managed to get through relatively unscathed. Anyone who knows me will be familiar with my penchant for fast food/generally unhealthy food, which has continued into isolation/lockdown.
How are you coping financially?
I’ve been saving pretty hard recently to put a house deposit together- I’d hoped 2020 would be the year I realised my property owning dreams. Having said that, I’ve been fortunate enough to qualify for JobKeeper support payments so that’s helping me over the line at the moment. If (and when) they should end before shows/touring resumes, I guess I’ll be dipping into the aforementioned deposit savings!
When do you think live entertainment will return and in what format?
I’d consider myself on the positive end of the spectrum as far as speculation goes. It’s really hard to wake up every morning to a new ‘doom and gloom’ opinion piece – I’d love to see everyone taking on a positive outlook and continuing to work on alternative means of entertainment as so many artists have. Live music is such a huge part of so many people’s lives, so I think we’ll see a concerted effort to return things to the way they were. My fingers are crossed that we’ll see domestic touring around Australia (possibly over the pond to the land of the long white cloud) return late this year/early-2021.
In my opinion, live concerts will absolutely return to the way they were, but it’s anyone’s guess as to how long it’ll take to get there.
Do you have any words of encouragement?
Beyond what I’ve already mentioned – stay in touch! We’re all in the more of less the same position at the moment, so reach out to your friends – touring friends in particular.
What makes you happy at the moment?
I was lucky enough to be involved with a livestream (Ocean Alley on Coopers Live Loud & Local) this weekend, which was a great chance to refamiliarise with the sights and sounds of a gig (think road case casters, lids, truck tail lifts and swearing). I think it’s definitely helped me break the monotony of my aforementioned ‘day in the life of’, and I can’t wait to get back into it properly.
Other than that, the Facebook marketplace is my guilty pleasure. I’ll sell anything, and am just as fiendish as a buyer, much to my girlfriend’s chagrin. I’ve managed to offload much of my unused gear inventory, as well as some old furniture and gaming stuff since the advent of COVID-19, as well as pick up a bunch of great deals from others doing the same!
Photo: Dara Munnis
Lockdown is a new series whereby tech personnel can share how they are coping in lockdown. If you’d like to participate, please answer these eight questions and send to cat@alia.com.au
