Curious about what a Ragazze performance day looks like? Not the glamour, but the reality behind the scenes: carpooling, last-minute adjustments on stage and pre-show rituals. We take you on a typical tour day with “Normality No More”, our collaboration with Via Berlin and Conny Janssen Danst.
Morning: A Slow Start
If we’re lucky, the day doesn’t start too early. After an online meeting with the Ragazze team about current affairs, there’s time to study, do laundry or just sit on the couch with a cup of coffee. Touring is a strange mix of action and waiting, so moments of rest are precious.
Carpooling: More School Trip than Rock Star Life
Since all the cast members of Normality No More live in different places, a carpool system has been developed that feels like a military operation in terms of precision. Some of us drive to pick-up points, others drive all the way or come by public transport. For the longer distances, we all end up on the same bus. The atmosphere on the way there is calm, but after the show the stories flow and the journey back is often filled with laughter and conversation.
Arrival: Mic’ing & Spacing
Take our day in Arnhem some time ago: we arrive in Arnhem at 4pm, where the technical crew has already set up the set. The dancers start warming up, while the musicians are ‘mic’ed. The show is amplified, so our sound engineer sticks small microphones to our faces and hands with discreet pieces of tape. In addition to the microphones, we also use in-ear monitors – essential as we are spread out across the stage and have to stay in sync. At 5pm it is time to space; that is, a quick run-through of the show, to make sure everything works in this particular theatre. No two locations are the same: sometimes there is hardly any backstage, sometimes the entrances and exits have to be rethought, sometimes the lights are hung slightly differently. Today there is an extra challenge: no way to get on or off unnoticed on the right side of the stage.
Dinner: A New Tradition
After the spacing, it is time for dinner. At the beginning of the tour, singer Ntjam Rosie decided to cook for once, and since then many cast members have contributed something homemade. The result: delicious lasagnas, soups and stews!
Soundcheck and The Rest Before the Show
Around 18:45 we start the soundcheck. Sound engineer Robert adjusts everything so that we sound good, both on stage and in our earphones. Then it is time for the final preparations: putting on costumes, tuning instruments and a final battery check. Then we wait together in the wings. The first performances were exciting, but in the meantime this has become a quiet, concentrated moment – almost meditative.
After the Show: Drinks and Conversations
After the show we often go to the foyer where we talk to the audience. It is always nice to receive positive reactions, although we know that not everyone’s experience is the same. Despite the temptation to linger, there is always a long way home and a new show to prepare for. Next stop: Breda!