Local crew are hired by the show, not by the artist. They know the building, the routes through it and where the forklift is kept.
What they do
- Load-in: emptying the truck or van and getting the gear to the stage
- Build: stage, risers, lights, sound, video
- Show calls: running spots, following cues, watching the stage
- Load-out: the same in reverse, faster and much later
How they are counted
The rider or the advance states a number and a time, for example six hands at 09:00 for load-in and eight from 23:30 for load-out. The promoter pays them, so an inflated number costs the show money and a thin one costs everybody time.
Working with them
They are professionals on a shift, not a touring crew. Brief them once, clearly, at the start of the call. In much of Europe they work under a collective agreement with fixed breaks, so build the breaks into the schedule. See Load-in.