“This job is a passion”, insists Hugues L’Archevesque on the other end of the phone. “I dropped out of school to do this, because my passion was too great. In secondary 2, I was more often in the auditorium than in my classes! ”
• Read also: Artists forced to find a new profession
In the cultural world, everyone knows Hugues L’Archevesque. He started his career 25 years ago as a “chest pusher”, eventually becoming Tour Technical Director and Production Manager. He has worked non-stop for two decades to make artists such as Lara Fabian, Jean-Marc Parent, Marc Dupré, 2Frères, André-Philippe Gagnon and Les Morissette shine on stage, with whom he has toured 300 performances.
photo-source position-absolute"> Courtesy photo
–
Hugues L’Archevesque (left)
–
–
However, a few years ago, Hugues L’Archevesque saw fit to get his heavy truck driver’s license, a plan B for his retirement. But he didn’t expect to have to execute his plan much sooner than expected.
When everything collapsed in the industry on March 12, Hugues L’Archevesque was technical director of the musical review American Story 2: The Woodstock Years. After having the PCU, Gestev set up the tour of the musiparks, and we called him to be responsible for the musiparc in Gatineau. “It’s been good for me,” he said. It gave me a month and a quarter of full-time work, ”he says.
After that, nothing more. It was at this time that Hugues L’Archevesque noticed “the extent of the damage”.
This is how he resigned himself to going to assert his driver’s license with a transport company. For him, there was no other option, argues the 40-year-old technician. “I have worked all my life to specialize in shows live. Virtual, TV, I don’t do that, ”he explains.
He has informed his employer that as soon as he has a show opportunity, he will be absent.
“I miss the scene,” he said. I spend managing a stage, manage requests from artists, producers, nothing more, no more phone ringing. The calendar just fades away. And there I went to a truck, alone. For me the crash is here.
“The change of profession is steep on morale,” he adds. But I tell myself that at some point I have to bring bread and butter to the table. At least I’m not home waiting for my check. I know musicians who place cans in grocery stores. Let me tell you that they also find it rough.»
– .
