Back on Monday, I talked about buses and I got to thinking - most fans of Southern Gospel Music cannot name one single bus driver. But as any group who has a driver(s) on the payroll will tell you, these drivers are just as important as any vocalist, any band member or any manager.
In some cases, even more important. For example, who's responsibility is it to drive upwards of 15-16 hours between dates? Who is the one who has to guide the bus into those fuel bays at the truck stops, fuel the bus, wash the windshield, check the oil and more? Who is the one who has to take the bus down those narrow city streets to get to the auditorium - which is always on a one-way street going in the opposite direction that the bus is traveling? Who is the one who pushes in handtruck after handtruck of equipment and product? Who is the one tries to sleep while the rest of the group is up and about during the day, as well as during those four or five hours at the concert, knowing that tomorrow will bring more of the same? Who is the one who, when the bus reaches home on Monday morning, has to get it serviced and ready for the next trip?
So often in this industry, we tend to overlook some people who help make the Southern Gospel wheels turn (no pun intended). The bus driver is definitely fits into that category. Sometimes I even wonder if some people have a tendency to take the drivers for granted. On a few occasions, I've been backstage at a concert and there'll be a big spread of food put out for the performers. The bus driver will come in, grab a plate and start filling it - and before he can get the potato salad out of the serving spoon, someone will run over and say, "Sorry, this is only for the performers." Even though someone from the group will step in and plead the driver's case, if you will, the damage has been done. Never mind that same person (I'm trying to be nice) watched that driver bring in four house cabinets, a cord box, a keyboard and a whole bunch of other stuff. Never mind that this person will ease up to the driver later and try to get him to him or her a FREE copy of the group's latest CD. (We've all seen that one, haven't we?)
Fortunately, this incident is rare. But still, when it or something similar happens, it's downright disgusting. These drivers are not second-class citizens; they are vital - let me repeat it to make sure you heard me right - they are vital contributing members to Southern Gospel Music. Without them, a lot of lives would be made much more hectic.
So, to all the drivers who cart our artists around, just know that you are appreciated and loved. Maybe it's not easy to see it from behind the steering wheel, but Southern Gospel Music couldn't do without you.
