Thomas Finch, a drum tech who has toured below the make use of of quite a few artists, together with Marilyn Manson, Bush and extra, took to his social media final Thursday, July twenty fourth, to difficulty a “phrase of warning” to fellow touring professionals relating to a poor expertise he claims have had whereas not too long ago touring below the make use of of Russian deathcore band Slaughter To Prevail.
Finch was fast to level out that his points didn’t lie with the band themselves, whom he known as them “WONDERFUL enjoyable loving people”. Nonetheless, he felt the necessity to air his varied grievances for incidents he says occurred with the band’s managerial workers behind the scenes on tour.
Finch went on to recount a number of alleged incidents starting from troubles receiving fee for providers rendered to lack of facilities being supplied and declined reimbursement of bills incurred. As his state of affairs reportedly worsened, he claims to have wound up quitting the tour following a heated dispute with the band’s managerial workers. Finch‘s full assertion learn:
“A Phrase of Warning to My Fellow Crew, Techs, and Trade Colleagues Relating to Slaughter to Prevail
This isnt in regards to the band personally – they’re all WONDERFUL enjoyable loving people . That is in regards to the present management set in place. New band supervisor and present TM.
After years of touring, working arduous, and operating a enterprise that helps artists and musicians, I’ve by no means felt the necessity to publish one thing like this — till now.I not too long ago stepped away from a tour with Slaughter to Prevail as a drum technician resulting from an amazing quantity of disorganization, mismanagement, monetary instability, and blatant disrespect towards crew members. I’m sharing this not out of bitterness, however out of accountability to guard others in our group who is likely to be approached by this camp for future work.
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It Began With Purple Flags
I used to be by no means requested for my banking data earlier than being flown out. I had toured with them whereas with Marilyn Manson, so there was a little bit of historical past, belief and friendship there. After I despatched my bill and banking data after the primary few reveals, I acquired zero response. I used to be instructed the supervisor was “touring” and didn’t have e-mail entry.
After weeks, finally I used to be promised fee by the enterprise supervisor. It didn’t present. I made it clear I’d not proceed working at no cost. The tour supervisor (TM) introduced that to the band’s supervisor, whose response was:
“Inform him to get f***ed.”
And that I used to be “unprofessional” for demanding fee and being keen to stroll away.I then approached the band’s guitarist and proprietor immediately (as instructed)— and immediately, fee confirmed up. I selected to remain and honor my dedication, however sadly, the issues solely escalated.
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What Adopted Was Full Breakdown
• Crew pressured to e book their very own return flights
• TM utilizing the most affordable, failing transportation obtainable
• No working band bank card on days off — no meals, no help, nothing
I purchased pizza for the crew out of my very own pocket, which was expressed as gratefulness by TM, as all they’d was a bag of left over popcorn. Then was instructed by the TM that the band would possible refuse to reimburse me. And I’m now battling them by way of e-mail over PIZZA, with a view to get my bill paid.• $128,000+ blown on inflatable stage props that had been by no means used as a result of they didn’t match the venues. In the meantime, the crew was left with no meals, no fundamentals and fear about receiving pay.
Lodge rooms on a break day promised for crew had been taken by the band and supervisor after the bus broke down
When the TM confronted administration, he was instructed: “If crew wants a room that unhealthy, they’ll go get their very own $100 resort someplace.” Or so the TM instructed us, was stated.
Solely after a number of crew members (myself included) threatened to exit the tour did rooms “miraculously” seem.⸻
No Pay Schedule, No Readability — Simply Excuses
Probably the most harmful points of this operation is the shortage of any clear pay schedule. You’re instructed to submit your invoices by Thursday for fee the next Monday. And Monday by no means comes. Different crew had been instructed completely different dates to submit and the confusion set in. So whilst you’re on the street, it turns into clear that you’re anticipated to drift your bills — flights, resorts, meals — with no contract, no fee timeline, and no accountability. All PDs are put into your paycheck, which seemingly by no means arrives And if you ask the TM if you’re getting paid? You’re instructed:
“You’ll receives a commission once they’re dam good and able to pay you.”
That is precisely what was instructed to our lighting tech (infront of the complete crew) who not too long ago stood up for the field truck driver — a vendor who STILL hasn’t been paid and has been overlaying tour prices out of pocket, went into the destructive… and one other truck driver helped him financially with gasoline and meals. The TM’s response?
“That’s his downside. He ought to’ve been ready financially.”
After talking with the truck driver, it was made clear that he was by no means instructed he must entrance cash and bill for it. He was anticipated to be paid like everybody else.
This type of considering will not be solely disrespectful — it’s harmful.⸻
To the Touring Neighborhood
I’ve labored with dozens of bands, venues, and crews across the nation and the world. I understand how arduous all of us work to maintain the wheels turning, and the way necessary belief, communication, and professionalism are on this business.
If you happen to’re approached to work with this camp:
• Get a contract
• Demand a written fee timeline
• Don’t pay out of pocket except you need to battle for reimbursement
• Stroll away should you sense even a touch of the habits described aboveThere are too many nice artists on the market who DO maintain their folks.
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After a really heated and firey dialog with the bands supervisor, the whole lot grew to become very clear and the writting was on the wall. I couldn’t and won’t transfer ahead one other day swimming on this chaos.
I’m now heading dwelling to my girlfriend, pups, and enterprise — with peace of thoughts understanding I stood my floor and did what was proper. I’ve no regrets about leaving, solely a damaged coronary heart for leaving the drummer as he’s an incredible particular person and I appreciated him very a lot. Even helped land him an Evans endorsement.
I’ll proceed supporting artists who deal with their crew with the professionalism and respect all of us deserve. With that stated, should you need assistance with gear, a rack construct, endorsement steering, or simply help as a fellow crew member — I’ve bought your again.
A lot love and respect,
FinchPS – Sure, I enough undismissable proof of the whole lot acknowledged above. Upon my exit of the tour, they’re now making folks signal NDAs as to not have this data on the market. And I’ve been paid, minus the pizza/crew meals buy since my convo with administration and making this publish….”
Talking later within the feedback of the intent behind his assertion, Finch responded to a fan who jokingly stated the dispute needs to be settled with a naked knuckle battle with Slaughter To Prevail vocalist Alex Horrible:
“This isn’t about combating Alex or any member of the band — it’s about exposing how unprofessional the operation is behind the scenes so different working techs, distributors, and crew don’t get blindsided or taken benefit of.
I’m not right here to swing fists. I’m right here to guard my time, my enterprise, and the individuals who preserve excursions operating. That’s the true battle — and the one that really issues.
The truth that the administration and or band made everybody signal an NDA proper after I left, as a result of they learn this publish… says the whole lot you want to know. They don’t seem to be about altering the best way they function. They’re about burying it from the general public/touring eye.”
He was additionally requested which administration agency was behind the incident, to which he replied:
“It’s a combo of some issues. The TM, the bands supervisor from 5b UK and seemingly one or two members. I’m simply reporting my first hand experiences with all three.”
In a brand new assertion issued by Slaughter To Prevail on social media tonight (July twenty seventh) the band immediately responded to Finch‘s allegations, issuing the beneath counterstatement of their very own:
“We at all times pay our crew. We do the whole lot we will to run this band correctly and repair any issues as they arrive up.
The one that made the general public publish by no means raised any considerations in the course of the tour. In reality, they requested to proceed working with us proper up till the day they selected to depart. Which left us very shocked after he personally texted our drummer that he was leaving and by no means spoke to us about any points beforehand. As a substitute he put his grievances on-line instantly, which is unusual to us because it appears to be like like he’s utilizing this chance to advertise his enterprise.
We’re shocked to see him use this chance to develop his enterprise when it needs to be about real crew points that we might repair simply. Which he knew that we might as we had fastened points for him earlier than. Regardless of his assertion saying his want the band to achieve success, he left our drummer and pushed his assertion so far as he might to harm our popularity over issues we might have solved for him. While we perceive there’s a protocol with management and crew grievances, he broke this on the primary day with no penalties as a result of his downside was solved simply however then he choose to make this public as a substitute of truly making an attempt to repair the problems once more. Which appears to be like very opportunistic to us.
We consider the rationale he selected to depart was after a dialog with our supervisor who instructed him he wouldn’t be persevering with as our drum tech on upcoming excursions. We have already got a full-time drum tech based mostly in Australia. After we first booked these reveals, they had been supposed as one-off festivals and it didn’t make sense to fly him over.
After that dialog, the general public accusations and slander started.
We consider the conversations had been tense however it was mutual and direct between adults. Individuals spoke their minds. This occurred in a public a part of the inexperienced room with crew, venue workers, band and buddies current.
Most of the claims within the publish are usually not true from our perspective. For instance, on the day the crew bus broke down throughout a journey day, we had solely booked day rooms at a resort in El Paso. Due to the state of affairs, the band gave up their private rooms and had them transformed into twin rooms so the crew might sleep whereas ready for the repaired bus to reach and take them to the following present in Tucson.
The declare about delayed fee can also be not correct. The delay was began by the person giving our enterprise crew incorrect financial institution data, which brought on the fee to bounce. After that and a brief vacation taken by our enterprise supervisor, fee was made inside two weeks of the present. Which is one factor we will enhance is to ensure all short-term contractors are issued with correct agreements that clearly state all situations to keep away from conditions like this sooner or later with right fee schedules.
As overseas nationals, we now have tried our greatest to arrange a enterprise construction in america together with bank cards and banking. It has taken time to kind, particularly for bank cards as we had safety points with our debit playing cards that had been uncontrolled. We labored arduous to seek out options to maintain the tour operating easily. In uncommon conditions crew lined small bills on our behalf which is regular and reimbursed rapidly by way of customary recharge invoices.
After the accusations had been made we performed a full inside evaluate into crew situations. We spoke to everybody concerned to ensure the surroundings is skilled, respectful and honest. We discovered no proof of any mistreatment or wrongdoing and have welcomed all recommendation to make future excursions higher. We take this stuff critically and wish everybody we work with to really feel protected and assured of their function.
We additionally need folks to know we had warnings about this particular person earlier than the tour. We gave them an opportunity and stayed quiet. We by no means shared any of their previous or current behaviour public even after we had purpose to. However now that line has been crossed.
One other crew member near this particular person was additionally not requested to return due to poor work.
To guard our crew and our enterprise, we issued a normal non disclosure settlement. That is widespread in touring and protects everybody when personal enterprise or private data is being shared publicly.
We aren’t good however we’re targeted. We attempt to do the correct factor and we care deeply about our music, our followers and the folks we work with.
Thanks for supporting us. We transfer ahead. There will likely be no additional statements however will fortunately see this by way of court docket if he desires to proceed.
Slaughter to Prevail“
