Former percussion performance student John Hicks has had his hands full since graduating in the fall of 2001 from Musictech’s former Minneapolis location. Earlier this year he took on the drum-tech duties for Vagrant Records recording artists Dashboard Confessional.

It’s been hard to get a hold of this diligent individual, who has been traveling with the group for the past few months on their international tour, including stops in Japan, Australia, and Honolulu. Not too shabby. When I finally got a chance to speak with Hicks, he discussed his life on the road, his hopes for the future, and offered some advice for potential and current Musictech students.

Some drummers have multiple techs on tour, but on the Dashboard Confessional tour, Hicks is alone in trenches. He is in charge of the set-up and tear down of gear, changing drumheads, and making sure Mike Marsh (the group’s drummer) is happy with his kit. Not one to be hampered by such massive responsibility, the former percussion major had no trouble with being the “go-to” guy behind the scenes.

How did you get the drum-tech position?

Hicks: “I worked with a producer/engineer, Brian Bavido, in 1997 on an album. At the time I was drumming for Captain Smoothie. Brian and I hit it off right away, with like interest in music. We have kept in touch over the years; he's toured the world with Art Garfunkel, Lisa Loeb and currently with Dashboard Confessional. It's the classic scenario of, ‘I know someone.’”

Hicks: “It's totally different than working a 9 to 5 job. The biggest adjustment is changing time zones. When you’re on the other side of the world and you're 16 hours ahead, it's difficult to communicate with family and friends in the States. Once you think you have the time-zone changes figured out, you’re flying to another city with a different time zone.

The hardest part is coming back to the states and losing a day, that's bizarre. It's much easier to go forward in time. A typical day would be, get up and eat breakfast, then be ready for a 10 a.m. lobby call to go to the club. Upon arriving, you load in the gear and start setting up. Generally you have a few hours to get everything set up. We have a good-sized crew for a four-piece rock band. The crew consists of a front-of-house engineer, monitor engineer, light engineer, two guitar techs, and myself, the drum tech. The days can be long, but the night will end with a good dinner and a good night’s rest. Then you do it all again the next day.”

Hicks: “The five-year plan, what a great question. I'm not sure. If I am playing and I'm happy that's all that matters. To try and put some goal or expectation is unrealistic, and I'm just enjoying life too much right now.”

Hicks: “The reason I went to Musictech was to get to the next level and find out what I really wanted to do with music. I feel that Musictech allowed me to find myself as a musician and give me the tools to be successful. The measure of success comes from within, not by comparing your self to others.”

Hicks: “Try and make as many contacts as possible, because you never know when that contact will be beneficial.”