Patches T Bear, Patch Bear

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
Stage Left and sometimes Albuquerque.

WHAT IS YOUR JOB AS PART OF THE U.S. CONCERT TOUR?
Patch bear. I protect the patch bay from harm, mostly from sun spots and gremlins.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST TOUR THAT YOU WORKED ON AS A CREW MEMBER? WHAT JOB DID YOU PERFORM ON THAT FIRST TOUR?
Fleetwood Mac Unleashed 2009. Patch Bear.

WHAT YEAR WAS YOUR FIRST JAMES TAYLOR TOUR?
2011

WHEN DID YOU MEET JAMES FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES?
I met James backstage in 2011 while taking crew photos. Jimmy Carter just happened to stop by as well.

WHAT PART OF THE TOUR DAY DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST AND WHY?
Patching is fun but I love, love, love to play load out.

DO YOU ENJOY TRAVELING BY BUS AND SLEEPING IN A BUNK NEXT TO YOUR CREWMATES?
I mostly travel with the gear either by truck, sea container, or air freight. On some occasions I do travel by bus and go on field trips. On those occasions I do enjoy the company of my other crew mates.

WHEN JAMES AND THE BAND ARE ONSTAGE AT CONCERT TIME WHERE ARE YOU POSTED AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
I am stage left protecting the patch bay, standing ready to do battle with sun spots and gremlins.

WHAT IS ONE ITEM YOU NEVER LEAVE FOR TOUR WITHOUT?
Rachel Adkins. Monitor Mixer extraordinaire. She is positioned at her monitor mix board stage left at all times.

IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT TOURING LIFE ON THE ROAD THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?
So far the best touring experience has been the field trip to NASA.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PASTTIMES—ON TOUR OR OTHERWISE?
Favorite pasttimes include road trips, meeting strangers, and having as much fun as a little bear can. Museums are up there as well.

ONE ITEM YOU ALWAYS TAKE WITH YOU ON TOUR?
My name tag.

_{Photo: Rachel Adkins}