Rants and Ramblings: random commentary about culture, media, politics, technology and whatnot.

tech support to the stars

Who does Bono call when he needs to hook up his XBox? The Geek Squad, apparently. The Wall Street Journal reported last week about entertainers who have added tech experts to their entourages for tech support with a personal touch.

Computer technician Joshua Kapellen doesn’t look like a rock ‘n’ roll roadie. He’s cleanshaven, wears starched, white button-down shirts and a clip-on tie. But to megaband U2, Mr. Kapellen is just as important as all its husky stage hands.

Last March, lead singer Bono needed his Xbox connected while the band rehearsed in Canada. Mr. Kapellen got a call. He hooked up the contraption and a few minutes later was playing videogames with Bono. “It was one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me,” says Mr. Kapellen.

(“Who Ya Gonna Call With Email Trouble From the Tour Bus?” - 02/04/06)

There’s definitely a Cool Factor in that. But it sounds like the pay sucks (according to the story, techs like Kappellen make about $35K). And, depending on who you’re working for, you may be one blue screen of death away from having that gadget you’re supporting hurled at your head in a prima donna hissyfit of impatient entitlement.

This little detail cracked me up a bit:

Prince, who is religious about reading fans’ reactions immediately after a show, also employs technicians to hook up high-speed Internet in his dressing room.

“Prince only uses the finest techies in the country,” says the artist’s lawyer, L. Londell McMillan.

I can’t even imagine how completely weird it would be to do tech support for Prince.

(Link found via Slashdot.)