by Ben Hymowitz
Steve Toomey has been working as a drum tech for some of the biggest names in drumming since 2008. He has been a tech for Deen Castronovo of Journey and Ozzy Osbourne, Prairie Prince, and more.
Most positions in the music industry are extremely exclusive and knowing someone in the business is essential for obtaining a job. Luckily, Steve Toomey’s dad was a tour accountant and manager since Toomey’s birth, and, in his own words, he was “born into it”. Growing up, Toomey was influenced by John Bonham of Led Zeppelin and Dennis Chambers, arguably some of the best drummers of all time.
When asked about what a normal day for a drum tech looks like, Toomey said, “First you get up on the bus, look outside and try to remember what city you’re in. Then, wander into the venue and figure out where the stage, production office, and catering are, in that order so you can have breakfast at the end, then go back out to the bus and get whatever stuff you need with you for the day.”
Then, the preparation for the show begins.
“Next you unpack the truck and set up gear on stage, have lunch, and bring the band up for a soundcheck,” he told The Paw Print. “Sound check is the same process as starting a show. Make sure the drummers’ ‘in-ears’ [high tech headphones] are in and working. Walk them up to the kit, make sure everything is good as they sit down and get ready to play, and let the band do their thing.”
Steve continues, “Following the soundcheck, you go back to the bus for a nap or just some relaxing time, have dinner, and conduct a last minute prep for the show,” which includes final drum tuning among other things. “Finally you do the show, break down the stage and load gear into the truck, shower at the venue, go back to the bus for a drink or snack and then go to bed!”
Toomey has been a tech for every Journey show since 2008 and continues to work with drummer Deen Castronovo.
Almost every road crew member would agree that being away from their family and friends is the hardest part of being on the road, and Toomey agrees.
“My least favorite part is being away from my family.”
Toomey also said that “it takes a really strange personality to do it long term. Being able to have a wildly erratic daily schedule while living in extreme close quarters can be super tough. Being stuck in a bus the size of a regular bedroom with 12 people while it’s being driven 15 hours straight across Texas is not something most people can handle.”
But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t upsides to being out on the road! Toomey stated his favorite thing about touring is international travel.
Another very important aspect of the business that the average fan doesn’t know is that most drum techs deal with the drum endorsements unless “they specifically request to do it themselves.” An endorsement is when a company that makes instruments like guitars or drums will pay the musician to use their products. For example, Deen Castronovo uses DW Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Vater Sticks, and DW Hardware. Occasionally, drummers will use different hardware brands, which include drum pedals and stands, than the company of their drums.
Toomey has designed and crafted Castronovo’s drum racks, which are an alternative to stands, and continues to build and construct his kits.
The hardest drum kit that Toomey has had to set up and breakdown was Deen Castronovo’s 2014 kit due to the fact that they had “rata toms”, which take a long time to tune. Toomey also told The Paw Print that the hardest thing about setting up a kit is polishing cymbals. “God bless the drummers that don’t care about polished cymbals! It’s the only part of the job that really stinks.”
Lastly, when asked what he had to say to the people that are aspiring to be in the music industry, he stated, “This is always a tough one for me to answer. Having grown up in this business and now working in the touring industry, I’ve seen all the bad parts and all the good parts. The bad parts, like being away from your friends and family, can be extremely hard and some people just can’t handle that. But if you do it and find out you love it…you’ll never find anything else like it.”
Steve Toomey continues to be the tech for Journey drummer Deen Castronovo and is preparing for the upcoming 2022 tour.
