Oliver McPherson also known as Ollie is from Manchester, England. He sells merchandise and tours with bands around the world. We got a chance to interview him via E-mail for our “Wanna be a band crew?” section for people who are considering merching as a job.
check out the interview here:
1. Hey Ollie, first of all, how old are you and what bands you worked with?
Ollie: I’m 27 years old and over the years I’ve worked for bands like Hidden In Plain View, Jet, Killswitch Engage, Roger Daltrey, You Me At Six, Hit The Lights, Say Anything, We The Kings, Thirty Seconds to Mars, The Early November, Kids In Glass Houses, Valencia, Senses Fail, MxPx, Beady Eye… You get the idea. Ha!
2. How old were you and how did you start merching?
Ollie: I was 21 years old when I started. My old band broke up and I decided I wasn’t ready to stop touring but I wasn’t ready to start a new band so I started working for my friends.
3. Who was the first band you sold merch for?
Ollie: First band I sold merch for was Valencia on a US tour with Tokyo Rose. I paid for my flights and worked for free for 5-6 weeks. It was a good start to my touring life. Great guys and I learned alot.
4. What is your biggest pet peeve when you’re on the road?
Ollie: Missing people very close to me. It’s not easy watching people growing up without you around and moving on while you’re away but that’s the life I lead, I’m not sure I wanna stop just yet.
5. Scariest tour experience?
Ollie: Kansas City, Warped Tour 2008. Rained all morning and then cleared up but at around 3pm all hell broke loose. Massive storm and a stage got hit by lightning. I got out of there pretty quick but once it all settled down, it was raining so hard I showered in the rain.. I take the good with the bad.
6. The funniest and craziest things people have said to you while on the job?
Ollie: I guess dumb people are funny. Adam Boole is the sound guy for You Me At Six and he makes me laugh 24/7. He’s a Yorkshire lad, and he always gets the brunt of my jokes, but I do love him as a friend. I couldn’t quote him but if you get chance to meet him, do so!
7. Who would you like to tour with, why and where would you go?
Ollie: I’d love to work for Foo Fighters, Against Me or The Swellers and just tour forever. A US tour with any of those bands would be really great.
8. If a fan would go up and talk to you, how hard or easy would it be to ask you on a date?
Ollie: I’m honestly not the kinda guy to meet girls on the road, saying that, the last girl I was involved with, I met at a KIGH gig in Birmingham, so never say never?
9.If you have to switch jobs for a day but still be a band crew, what job would you take and why?
Ollie: I’d love to do lights, that would be great! Louie, YMAS lighting guy is amazing. His show blows me away every single night. I dunno if I would tour manage, I see how hard it can be, and I don’t have the patience for it I think.
10. Do you have any advice for the younger generations or anyone who would want to sell merch for a living??
Ollie: Be true to yourself. Never assume that touring is just for girls and beer. If you’re gonna work for a band, do exactly that.. WORK. I love my life and the chances I’ve had, but I’d like to think I worked for them and earned them. I start touring working for next to no money and I didn’t care. I just wanted to be there, working for my favourite bands and helping them have a great show/tour. 6 years down the line, I still love what I do, and there’s been an increase in money for me personally but I think I learnt alot on the road, and hopefully I’d pretty good at what I do.
Follow Ollie on twitter : @olliemacattack
Follow his favourite football team on twitter : @MCFC
find him on tour and ask to see his Man City tats. He’d gladly show you.
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