The National Launches Initiative To Support Their ‘Family,’ (i.e. Their Touring Crew)

The National Tour Crew
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Half of The National’s Tour Crew

The National today (March 24) launched a campaign to support their touring crew in which all profits from their webstore and fan club enrollment will be directed to subsidize the lost wages for their twelve crew members which will continue until the Covid-19 crisis ends.

“Our crew are the lifeblood of our touring operation and have become family through the many years we’ve worked together,” the band said in a statement. “As uncertainty looms over the state of the live concert industry, we will direct all profits from merch sales through our webstore, new Cherry Tree fan club enrollments, and sales from the Cherry Tree members-only store to support our crew members throughout this crisis to the best of our ability.

The National Tour Crew 2
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The other half of the National’s tour crew.

It’s interesting to note the twelve team members who support The National’s touring, who were pictured with their first names in the announcement, include the following positions: tour manager, production manager/monitor engineer, stage manager, lighting director, production coordinator, two backline technicians, audio mixer, front of house audio mixer, band co-ordinator, video director  and, someone called a “Matt Wrangler” (the person in charge of keeping lead singer Matt Berninger on point).     

“We hope to not only support our people through this crisis, but also start a fire and inspire others to take measures to support the thousands of gig workers who are the lifeblood of the concert business,” The National’s manager, Brandon Reid told Pollstar.

The National were readying to tour Japan, Australia and New Zealand when the pandemic first stuck and subsequently canceled their Japanese dates and re-booked Australia and New Zealand for December.  

To support The National’s crew pick up your merch and/or join their Cherry Tree fanclub click here shop.americanmary.com, here americanmary.com/cherry-tree or here cherrytreeshop.americanmary.com