advertisement

Ron Onesti: Backstage with … Food, the REAL rock star!

There are so many elements that go into producing a live show. Most concertgoers are not privy to all the ingredients that go into the "fabulous show" recipe. The sound, lights, power and technical staff - even the stage itself - are all pieces that are evident during the presentation.

That is what the fan sees. But it's all the other stuff they don't see, which goes into making a show happen, that I'm talking about.

For the most part, as soon as the entertainers playing at the Arcada Theatre or any of our other shows hit Illinois soil, they become our responsibility. We have to pick them up from the airport, get them to the hotel (rooms that WE arrange and pay for), and take them to and from our theater, then back to the airport when they are done.

When guitar god Michael Schenker broke a guitar string, it was off to Guitar Center we went. When Jo Dee Messina wanted to jog over the Fox River Bridge behind the theater, we coordinated it with local police. Alice Cooper and Toby Keith wanted to play golf, so we got them a private round. When Bret Michaels wanted to work out at a health club, we secured a private room.

James Brown needed one of those old, helmet-style hair dryers and we found one! The list goes on and on.

We often provide artists the instruments they play on stage, towels they use during the show and many other amenities they require. Certain teas, ginger roots, Australian throat lozenges, craft ginger beer, gluten-free cookies, organic avocados … boy, they get creative with their requirements!

One of the reasons we are able to secure so many of these quality acts is we treat artists as if they are coming to my home. I actually cook for most of the bands myself, from my world-famous meatballs to a 20-pound, slow-roasted prime rib! They just love it because many places offer them some lunchmeat, a loaf of bread and a bowl of fruit. The dressing room experience for them can be as exciting as the entertainment experience they provide us on stage.

I recently made an Italian delicacy for a European heavy metal rock band that blew them away! I marinated anchovies in olive oil, crushed garlic, chopped parsley and minced onion for about a month before. Then I toasted bread crostini-style, buttered the toast and slathered the savory mixture on top. They went crazy!

I hand-sliced some imported prosciutto from Italy, so tender it was like butter. I put a two-pound plate of it in the green room only to find out later that the lead singer downed it all with a loaf of crusty bread all by himself!

The other day, I made Gino Vannelli and his band a salmon Vesuvio with garlic and herb bread crumbs and fresh lemon. He said it was "The best I ever had in Canada!"

The point here is that I could easily get away with what most places do … impersonal catered meals that are good enough, but not with that extra touch that makes the band feel "at home." This approach really affects the quality of the show itself, as well as the band's willingness to return. After 30 years in the biz, I guess I have somewhat of a reputation as a gracious host.

We normally have "meet and greets" backstage, but as Rick Springfield put it, "Ron, you are the King of the Eat and Greet!"

But most of all, I get to host stars who have given millions of people, including myself as a fan, countless hours of musical joy. And if all it takes to make them happy is my eggplant parmigiana, then it is my honor to slow cook a pot of Roma tomatoes for three hours the night before a show.

When I hear stories about the drugs that were backstage back in the day, I am comforted to know that I have replaced that addiction with fresh garlic and chopped basil.

• Ron Onesti is president and CEO of The Onesti Entertainment Corp. and The Historic Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. Celebrity questions and comments? Email ron@oshows.com.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.