Roadietools.com has been created by roadies and for roadies.
It Is our mission to improve on our products and to add other "unique and useful"
roadie products as we are able to offer them at reasonable prices.
We will also offer relative and useful links and resources as we find them.
For a long time I hated the term "roadie" it seemed to be condescending and insulting.
As time went on and I reached the top of my profession, I realized that we are an elite group of
people working on the biggest concerts, Theatrical productions, TV events, and special events.
The level of knowledge and expertise required to be a good roadie is as high as any other profession,
and the demand to keep up with technology can be overwhelming.
Many roadies have been very successful by building companies of there own or becoming great
lighting designers, sound engineers, production managers, etc.
So all that said I am proud to have been a roadie, here is my story (the short and to the point version).
I worked as a roadie for over 24 years.
Starting out with bar bands we had to build everything: lighting and sound systems, cases, etc.
Those were "the good old days" we didn't make much money but we sure had a lot of fun.
From there I moved on to work with small lighting companies designing and building dimmers,
power distros, and motor control systems in between working on one-offs and small tours.
During this period I was also privileged to work for Mike Tait (83-84) before he got out of
lighting to concentrate on set design and construction. He was and still is one of the true innovators in this
business, he created or invented many things we now take for granted and he was a great mentor to me.
After 15 + years of this internship (and abuse from some) I began working for Light & Sound Design Inc..
L&SD (now part of Fourth Phase) is a great company with some first class people
to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude.
After 8 years of touring all over the world on big rock shows , and working on corporate shows,
special events, and video shoots (with some great people) is when I began to think about
starting an online tool store.
The first XLR tester I made was around 1981, the first 6 circuit tester around 1988,
there have been many improvements (I call this 6 circuit tester version 6.1) so adding to
the line of tools and testers using what I learned on the road and in the shop came naturally.
Now (started in 2000) as a way to do what I enjoy and spend less time on the road
and more time with my family, Roadietools.com was created.
My partner in this adventure is Pam she has also worked in the business for over 20 years,
she has worked in local theater and toured as a wardrobe supervisor for Theatrical shows
and concert tours. Without her help and continued support this would not be possible.
Thanks to:
My Mom and Dad for never saying " get a real job"
My dad for teaching me: "if its worth doing at all, its worth doing it right"
"Rest in peace", I wish they could see this
My kids for putting up with Dad being gone a lot
Pam for all the help on this site and everything else
Tim Myer for being my lifelong best friend
Nick, Tim, John and many others at L&SD (too many to name, you know who you are)
Mike Tait who inspired me to do lighting in the first place and who later I was privileged to work for
Roger Pujol for the patent help and being a friend
Lee Richardson for the great deal on my first laptop computer and all the help that went with it
(the first version of Roadietools.com was built with that old laptop), also for being a good friend
Dak and Wendy Harris good friends, great people and all time great roadies
Robert Cooper for every thing you taught me (another all time great roadie)
Jim Cherry and Eric Wayne we go back to the beginning and still remain good friends
the things we did and went through would require another web site!
Hodgie and JR for giving me the nickname Tool Time Tom (the predecessor to Roadietools)
James McKinney the co-inventor of the Gherkin
Jeff Bertuch for creating the original Roaditools order forms and getting me started with JavaScript
John Mabry, Jeff Smith, & Ted Keenan for being friends when I needed them the most
Eydna Andreason for changing my life and making Copenhagen Denmark my favorite place on earth
(except for home with my kids) also to Barry Claxton for having the wisdom to send me there
All the LDs, PMs, SMs and other roadies that I've worked with, some I liked, some I didn't
some liked me and some didn't, you all contributed to my roadie experiences
To everyone I forgot I'm sorry and thank you.
I hope this site is a useful resource for both veteran and rookie roadies.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. See y'all down the road, safe travels!
We will continue to improve on this site, and our products and new products will be added as we grow.
If you have any suggestions or products you would like us to add, Please let us know.
All pages on this site were created and written by Tom McGlinch
All statements and contents of this site are believed to be true and accurate and not violate any
copyrights. Some products are patent pending and trademarks applied for.
Copyright 2000-2006 all rights reserved
For information on our privacy Policy: click here
