News

This is where we'll announce the most recent additions to the web site. If you've visited us before and want to know what's new, take a look here first.

Updates:

Bonnaroo 2010 information

The following links will direct you to the information you'll need to get on the bus and head to Tennessee on June 8th, 2010 (Tuesday):

Current status of Contractor affiliation for 2010:

CURRENT: 2010 Bonnaroo affiliation CLOSED

NEXT PERIOD: ACL 2010 (August/September)

REFERRALS BY EXISTING STAFF WILL RECEIVE PRIMARY CONSIDERATION.

With the 2010 concert season, the South by Southwest Music Conference, Bonnaroo in June, University of Texas football, the Austin City Limits Music Festival, and numerous additional events ranging form Paramount Theater comedy performances to Chilifest in April to several major motion picture film sets in development, we will be acquiring affiliation with a few highly referred new contractors beginning in early February, and continuing in an incremental fashion with several additional phases throughout the year. If you've been referred by an existing contractor, you will receive priority consideration. We request your patience with this process, as we're very fortunate to have retained the amazing talents of our current team and will only be selecting premium candidates in 2010. A response from the W3 Events Resource Department will be sent to all inquiries regarding future affiliation acceptance detailing appropriate instructions regarding procedure. Please respond accordingly and, based on our interest in your capacities, we will contact you when the affiliation periods commence. Thank you for you interest in W3 Events!

South By Southwest 2010

A special prop and sincere thank you to all of our amazing contractors whom participated in making the 2010 SXSW Music Conference a complete success. Even with a late season cold front/rain storm on Saturday morning, you stood firm and represented in the most professional manner the exemplary service that we are honored to provide to our stellar clientele, several who found it necessary to send direct praise for the dignity and integrity of our personnel and appreciation for our contributions to their successes at this year's conference. Thanks all. We really appreciate everyone and all the super-pro efforts you are so diligent in performing so consistently.

The saddest news

On March 3rd, 2010, W3 Events lost a treasured member of our family. Larry Klassen was a very quiet, but extremely reliable and very hard-working presence in our lives. He was a rock. He was a man's man, a solid friend, a wise intellect, and a very aware human being of the most admirable magnitude. Larry was always in a good mood, on top of everything he was ever tasked with doing, and a very charitable soul. From the most difficult and demanding stagehand gigs to volunteering his talents in helping direct festivities at a recent charity parade in downtown Austin, Larry was a friendly fellow of quiet strength whom you could always count on. For those of you in the stagehand division, you knew him best and we all share your deep loss. For anyone who was ever privileged with working alongside of, or just simply associating with Larry, you should know that your lives were enriched considerably from the experience.

We send our sincerest condolences to his family. We will miss Larry dearly. Rest in peace brother. To send an online condolence to the family, please visit Online Condolences to Larry Klassen family

Larry is on the far left, behind Jeff Goldstein's "guns". As was typical of Larry, he never cared for center stage. Donnie Crowder (on the right) was Larry's boss for many of Larry's stagehand gigs. We'd like to send special sympathies to Donnie and Mark Miner, both of whom were not only very close to Larry personally, but also always had the highest opinion and an admirable respect for their beloved comrade. We're very sorry for your loss brothers. We are with you.

Larry during a grueling 2 day stagehand gig at Chilifest 2009. Always cheerful and ready to rock. (Thanks to Mark Miner for the rare photo)

Just want to say... thank you. Great job W3! We endured some weather, some mud, some slip-n-slidin', some changes in transportation, etc, but we persevered, overcame, and excelled. Compliments have been received by several area directors from the festival affirming your professional efforts and friendly, solution-based public relation demeanors. We truly appreciate your patience with the unusual conditions and the way everyone improvised, adapted, and adjusted in consideration at all times with a continued and consistent provision of safety and accommodation to patrons, artists, the media, festival staff, etc. Bravo team.

These were just some of the comments we encountered post Bonnaroo 2009 regarding our contributions. After one torrential downpour (and resulting tonadic style wind storm) on Wednesday, the roads were packed nice and tight keeping the dust down, and once you add in a few Boss sightings in the Centeroo area, a set from Merle Haggard, the survival of both Girl Talk and MGMT, and you have what we like to call a "successful endeavor" in 2009. Thank you to all of our professional contractors, you're style rocked.

Special mention to those who confiscated Coronas for Stone. It's nice to know that you had your priorities in order...

Choctaw Buffalo

Asa Tom

Cherished member of our family.

Way back in May of 2005, Stone started getting a bunch of emails from some new guy we contracted name Tom. This guy would not QUIT writing emails about getting onboard with us.... relentless! After being corrected at least a dozens times on the name, Stone finally figured out his name was actually Asa Tom, not Tom Asa. The next memory Stone has of Asa was the David Allen Coe bumper sticker on his ugly-ass maroon Mercury Cougar and the crazy giggle this comic genius peppered his banter with. "Dude, you should look into being a comedian", said Stone. "I HATE comedians!", was Asa's reply, which Stone soon discovered was the amazing beauty of Asa's totally unique rhetoric. Opinionated in the most sincere and original manner, ALWAYS finding the most humorous method of expression, jovial to a fault, and tenacious as a pit bull, Asa ended up being one of W3's most colorful personalities, guaranteed to win friends in any circle, including some of the rather famous personalities that we work with. You could always count on Asa to have a take on just about any subject you could think of, and it was ALWAYS his own view of how it appeared to him, good, bad, or indifferent.

When we heard that he left this mortal coil to pursue his adventures in another realm, we ALL felt the loss immediately. In his honor, the entire Austin major event production community organized a memorial benefit concert event in his memory as a tribute to his imprint upon our lives and his influence upon our souls. Called "I heart ASA", it took place on Sunday, March 29th, 2009 at the notorious Hole in the Wall Tavern on Guadalupe Street near the University of Texas campus. The promotional media included the threat of "Numerous bad-ass musical acts, remembrances, bumper stickers, stories, spirits, good times, etc. Be there, or be ridiculed in the afterlife by a Choctaw Buffalo..."

More than 300 stagehands, producers, security guards, and miscellaneous miscreants attended and donated almost $1000.00 in cash to cover production expenses, with the remainder sent as a charitable contribution toward funeral expenses in Oklahoma where Asa was finally laid to rest near his family. W3 Events matched that donation in the form of transporting a small group of Asa's closest colleagues and friends from Austin to and from the services held in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. It was a touching service involving hundreds of folks who knew and loved Asa, with a beautiful eulogy conveyed by Bart, who is Asa's closest friend from childhood. To view it, click here: MySpace.com Blogs - Asa's Eulogy - St. Bartholomew MySpace Blog

Please feel free to send your photographs, condolences, etc to us at resources@w3events.com for addition to this section of the website.

With some secret showcases realized (Jane's Addiction, Metallica, Kanye West, etc.) and Perez Hilton's after-party successfully produced, we feel that the bigger challenges of the 2009 SXSW Music Conference are definitely accomplishments worth being proud of, but we also feel it necessary to honor every other single contribution to our most successful SXSW ever. We were staffed at 100% for the entire conference, without a single incident, and have discovered a few new rock stars among our midst along the way. The management of W3 Events would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest appreciation to all who were involved this year, thank you.

After participating in every single ACL Music Festival ever staged, we have to say that in 2008, we finally felt that we'd arrived at the point we had always strived to be. The organization (despite the challenging staggered scheduling!), the friendly demeanors of all of our contractors, the dozens of after-shows and after-parties staffed simultaneously, the stellar efforts of all of our executive staff... Stone cannot express deeply enough the gratitude we all have for the amazing teamwork witnessed at our most challenging event of the year. Every year we work our heads off to fulfill our clients order by thoroughly training, transporting, and scheduling our staff accurately, and in 2008, we even exceeded our own astronomical expectations! We want to thank each and every contractor who participated in our coordination this year... great job!

Once again, W3 Events rocked the Roo with our most efficient coordination yet (despite world famous stuntman Pac E. Stan's attempts otherwise on Monday!). The Bonnaroo Security Audit team complimented the stellar efforts of all the personnel associated with the W3 team of professionals, as we achieved a 100% score on every position staffed within our designated area of the festival again in 2008!

Our involvement with Bonnaroo is always a true pleasure, a privilege we are honored to be associated with, and quite the adventure for our contractors! To all who have ever participated, you would be proud of our continuing contributions and the rewarding praise we receive from a fantastic production company. Yeah, we LOVE Bonnaroo!

Production finally wrapped on the film set "The Tree of Life". Special thanks to all the W3 personnel who manned the shifts of this production for over three full months of 24 hour around-the-clock security detail. Please send all of your stories of having conversations/lunches/drunken parties with Brad Pitt to resources@w3events.com (discretion assured).

W3 Events returned in April 2008 to provide service to Direct Events, the company responsible for La Zona Rosa, the Austin Music Hall, the Glenn, and the Backyard. We are extremely honored to have the opportunity to serve as a vendor in their historic venues, and we can't help but be super-jazzed about being back with some of our old friends (as well as a few new ones!).

We were involved in another historic moment when we participated in the final event at the Backyard on October 26, 2008 featuring Willie Nelson. We will dearly miss working with all of the wonderful folks at this celebrated venue, renowned throughout the industry as an Austin treasure and heralded as one of the most amazing outdoor concert sites in the USA. Close you eyes... and picture those wonderful giant Live Oak trees glowing from the lighting behind the concert stage... feel the crisp Texas air surrounding you... smell the excitement of a great performance by a world class act inside this uniquely Texan outdoor setting... yeah... the Backyard was simply a great place to experience a great show every single time you were there. We will miss it.

Ho-ly SMOKE! That was some week! You are the pride of Austin, Texas, having impressed some very important players in the Event Industry throughout the world who were here for SXSW. Of the numerous producers and promoters whom enlisted our services this year, it was best expressed by the one in particular who said, "Man! Your crews rock the hardest I've ever seen anywhere in 25 years of touring!"

You folks did the impossible. We know we had you running from one event to the other at all hours of the day and night, but you accomplished some of the most amazingly impressive miracles we've ever witnessed in our existence. From the 6th street closure accesses, to managing EVERY event booked at Stubb's throughout the conference, to the crazy C3 after party, you all rocked beyond measure and we are grateful to the point of inspiring tears. Thank you all so much for your dedication to being the best.

We didn't want to ring a bell just because we'd worked a Korn show, but since we've also performed at the Frank Erwin Center for a TOOL tour date, we feel that now it's okay to maybe gloat just a tad and recognize! We'd like to take a moment and congratulate our outstanding team for pioneering yet another milestone for W3. It is due to your teamwork, professionalism, and most of all, your Texas-friendly demeanors that have allowed us to enjoy the success and associations that we do.

Just to explain how hard we've worked to get to this point, we've been sending crews for a few years now to the University of Texas football home games to conduct the security checks of patrons upon entry into Darrell K. Royal stadium. Keep in mind that the U.T. football fans are NOT allowed to drink alcohol inside the stadium (multiply THAT by about 80 thousand people!), and you can understand how difficult this task can be... To all of our folks who have participated in those events, it is to you that we dedicate our recent success with the University. Because of your tenacity and patience, the campus powers at U.T. have expanded the contracting of our services to venues such as the Cactus Cafe, the Union Ballroom, and the Frank Erwin Center. Congratulations team, good work!

So the local paper can't spell... who'd a thunk? At any rate, they tried to praise us with the kudos we earned at this festival... but they misspelled our name.

We know we should just forgive them, but since we don't often receive the acknowledgement that we feel we probably deserve for some of the aspects that we typically deal with at some events... now we have to accept being dissed by the press TOO?!?

Suffice to say, the point was supposed to be that we were considered one of the "Top 20 Reasons" why the Fun fun fun fest was enjoyable, so considering the spirit and intention of the effort, we'll accept! This festival was fun times three for us as well! Hopefully, it will become an annual staple in the local festival scene, because we here at DOUBLE-U Three Eee-Vents really enjoy working with all the great folks involved.

Albeit this may seem a bit unusual, but... we ask that you take a moment to reflect on the incredible gifts bestowed upon us all by the great comedian George Carlin. With his humorous observations of the human condition comes the hope that wisdom will eventually prevail in the form intended by his genius: that by laughing at our own folly we increased our awareness of its mutual existence, expanded our ability to perceive how insane parsimony can be, and hopefully to help prevent the demise of a civil society. Long live the court jester and his brilliant ability to make us laugh at (and hopefully along WITH) the King.

This year was unique... W3 Events operated beyond their coveted professional reputations despite some of the strange anomalies that occurred this year, and due to the years of experience accumulated by the personnel of W3 Events as well as the professionalism that is constantly exemplified by their efforts, it is all the more reason to celebrate another successful festival deployment and production! Thank you to those whom participated in making ACL 2007 the most organized and efficient ACL yet for W3!

This year went so well, we aren't even sure we were there... wait... go to the W3 Events Krewe photos page for proof! All said and done, we rocked it A-gain, receiving the effusive praise of all the festival organizers, and ensured the involvement of W3 Events at future Roo's.

It seems to get easier and yet more efficient each year we are invited to control Centeroo, and the reason for that has to go to our team leaders, all of whom are exceptional performers and are looked upon as festival experts by one of the most professional production companies in the country. Very well done ladies and gentlemen!

Unbelievable. What else can we say? South by Southwest 2007 was nearly flawless... (nearly!). Hopefully, along with everyone being so exhausted from working all day and night for another crazy CRAZY week of the world's most infamous music conference, we will all take a moment to reflect on what we just accomplished... with a deployment of hundreds of W3 professionals in up to 25+ venues per day over the span of a single week, we've managed to maintain a semblance of civility (AND our coveted world-wide reputation!), coordinated hundreds of thousands of patrons at a multitude of daily (and nightly) events, endured some of the most "colorful" ego's in the world, and STILL exceeded the expectations of dozens of new clients, all while maintaining a smile on our faces, a positive demeanor, and a professional ethic. We've received nothing but stellar reports from every party, showcase, concert event, promoter, producer, client, volunteer, conference staffer, etc. regarding our beloved team of W3 rock stars! From stagehands setting up and tearing down massive audio and lighting implementations at several high profile industry parties to a single security guard monitoring a closet full of trivial SXSW literature that was NEVER really in jeopardy of being absconded by any unauthorized party, all of us should be extremely proud and honored to be so graciously commended and involved in such a world class event! Thank you gang. You exemplify what professionalism is all about.

2006... what an incredible year. Having been involved with a majority of the major festivals in the USA (SXSW, Jazzfest, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, ACL), we cannot help but express our emotional pride in our little company here in Central Texas. With the incredibly professional and motivated efforts of some of the industry's very best people, we have managed to become one of the most respected and honored event management service providers in the greatest country on the planet. Along with all of the success we have enjoyed on a local scale (Austin Music Hall, The Backyard, La Zona Rosa, Stubb's, Bass Concert Hall, Hogg Auditorium, Shady Grove, Blues on the Green, Austin Urban Fest, BOBaritaville, several major film productions located in Austin, the University of Texas home football games, the first ever appearance of the Rolling Stones in Austin, and even an IKEA store grand opening!), we are so very humbled by the amazing efforts of our team in procuring the worldwide reputation that we have garnered throughout the music, film, and sporting events industries. As you may already know, we have never been busier than we were in 2006, and it will always be our intention to provide the absolute best service available to all producers, promoters, location managers, and clients requesting our assistance, as well as to associate with every major event that we can in order to keep you, our cherished team of professionals, as involved in the entertainment industry as we can possibly achieve. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all sincerely for helping all of us to experience such a proud existence and to continue growing W3 Events into THE event management provider that the best in the business depend upon.

The Rolling Stones at Zilker Park on Sunday, October 22, 2006... you have to feel proud when a particular 15 year veteran of the Rolling Stones tour compliments you for your professionalism. Along with a seamless coordination with and the gratitude of all involved from Live Nation, the ominous "Men in Black" (tour artist security ninjas), and some old school touring personnel from the Greatest Rock-n-Roll Band in the World (Simone, Bob Weir, Preston, etc.), we couldn't be more proud of our team and their continuously amazing efforts. We heard from quite a few of those whom tour with Keith, Mick, Ron, Charlie & gang that we were one of the most organized and professional security teams they have encountered in quite a while... how can you top that? Thank you gang. You rock!!! (and you seem to know how to handle even the LARGE bottles of Patron Silver tequila afterwards... Stone was impressed!!)

Austin City Limits 2006... if you participated, you know how it went. A little rain here and there, MUCH less dust (guess irrigation systems DO work!), we were joined by a fantastic crew of professionals from New Orleans (Thanks FESS!), and Stone didn't have to chase off a single person! By all accounts, W3 Events performed beyond all expectations and provided the exemplary service it has become famous for regarding festival security, site labor, and event management. A most sincere appreciation to all of you from the W3 Events staff, and from Stone in particular. We cannot express enough how proud we all are of you and your professionalism during this event, and we are humbly honored to be associated with the very BEST in the industry of event management! Thank you. You continue to raise the bar and we love everyone's diligent attention to the evolution of our abilities.

Lollapalooza 2006. Wow... Just go to www.lollapalooza.com and see for yourself how intense THAT one was! (Saves you from asking Stone every time you see him...!)

ROO Number TWO! W3 Events has done it again... In 2005, the producers of Bonnaroo requested the assistance of W3 to control the safety of the activities in an area known as "Centeroo" at one of the largest and most demanding camping festivals on planet Earth. We took 85 folks on two buses, donned the hot pink uniforms meant to humble the "new crew", and proceeded to raise the bar regarding festival safety. Due to those results, W3 was asked to bring in even more personnel, and to CONTAIN Centeroo in 2006. Rising up to the challenge, we booked THREE buses, loaded up 130 folks, donned the hot pink uniforms that WE requested, and did what we promised... CONTAINED Centeroo! Stone, Supa, Tyler, Dr. John Falcon, Melbie, Uncle Dan, Gata, Scooter, Thunda, Walter, etc. all want to thank you sincerely for your professionalism, enduring good natures, and amazing team spirit throughout this incredible week of madness. You all rock.

Some emails from W3 contractors who accompanied our journeys into the depths of Bonnaroo 2006:

W3 Events would like to extend heartfelt condolences and best wishes to the family and friends (ourselves being included within that category) of Austin's "founding Father of the Blues", Clifford Antone. If there was ever anyone who personifies the beauty of the Austin music scene, it was Clifford. He will be missed by us all.

Who the (expletive deleted) IS Bob? Nobody knows, but he emailed us to thank W3 Events for helping with the production of the first annual "BOBaritaville" Festival held on Memorial Day weekend 2006 at Waterloo Park. With a gathering of local contestants featuring various Austin establishments, the margarita sampling contest featuring live local talent (and of course, the ever-expanding role of W3 Events!) was pioneered and flawlessly executed. Super special thanks to the security teams, site crews and stagehands who successfully and professionally contributed to yet another reason why we love our home base... more festivals and live events per capita than any other city anywhere! Thanks for the props Bob.

NOLA... if you know what that acronym means, then you know that the Big Easy has had a rough time lately. But we're able to enthusiastically report that the spirit of that unique city has never been more inspirational... and the reason we mention this, is because W3 Events sent a special team to Jazzfest 2006 to assist our fellow security vendor in "Nawlins" known as F.E.S.S.

Due to the evacuation after Hurricane Katrina (many of the evacuees now located in Austin), our friends in the home of the world famous French Quarter needed our help. We were honored to be able to do so, and to be honest, were flattered that we were invited. Jazzfest is one of the original major festivals held annually in the USA, and the 2006 event was extremely important for all of the reasons you might expect considering the circumstances. All said and done, we were graciously welcomed and enthusiastically involved in the two-weekend festival, as well as included in the productions of several incredible events at the local House of Blues, some great additional concerts produced by Superfly Productions (Bonnaroo producers) featuring incredible acts such as Government Mule, Galactica, the legendary Meters, and a fantastic show by the Grey Boy All-Stars on a riverboat cruise up and down the mighty Mississippi River!

A special thanks to Tyler Crain and the "Gata" for a stellar performance above and beyond the call of duty. You will be remembered as pioneers in the history of W3 Events, and it is because of your dedication and inspirational effort that W3 Events has been invited to participate in future Jazzfests! Thank you for your professionalism fellas. You did dis, dat, and da uddah.... hooo WEEE!

On Saturday, April 8, 2006, the City of Austin produced the first annual Austin Urban Fest at Auditorium Shores during the Texas Relays weekend. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department was instrumental in the production of the event and relied upon W3 Event Specialists to provide event security, site labor and stagehand assistance, so they wanted us to convey to those who performed those duties at the event that they are extremely grateful for your professionalism and admirable effort in contributing to the success of the first of many more Urban Music Fests!

W3 Events also wants to thank all of the contractors, stagehands, supervisors, clients, office personnel, management teams, etc. for the most successful South By Southwest Music Conference experience EVER in March 2006!

Thanks to your continued professionalism and tireless efforts throughout the most insane week in the Austin musical community, W3 Events increased its reputation throughout the community and the music industry worldwide, the results being that all of the producers and clients who enlisted our services (as well as the management and office staff of W3) wanted to let you know that we truly value your contributions and really appreciate your dedication!

We at W3 Events are extremely sad to announce that we have lost one of our most cherished team members. On Thanksgiving Day 2006, Andrea Taylor was taken from us after passing away from an automobile accident along with her father. We find it impossible to express the sorrow and loss we will all experience and the incredibly deep condolences we wish to send to Mary Taylor and family in this time of extreme duress. We all loved Andrea and her dedicated efforts with our respective endeavors, her cheerful willingness to help others, her professionalism, her exemplary diligence, her inspirational attitude. We miss you Andrea.

Andrea Taylor

"This is Sean Born's mom, Ann. I am very sad to report that Sean's valiant fight against cancer came to an end on Jan. 4, 2008. I'm requesting that you all send your favorite Sean story to this site. Thanks."

(To send a remembrance, a story, or just your memories of Sean, email us at resources@w3events.com and we'll forward them to Sean's family. He was a stagehand, a friend, and a member of our W3 family. We will miss his friendly demeanor and the unique impression and presence he had in our lives. RIP fellow Irish punk-rock star.)

Sean Born

W3 Events is extremely saddened by the news that we've lost a member of our team.

Tim Gaines

Rest in Peace Tim. We also want to send our condolences to Denny and Scott who were very close to Tim. Our sympathies brothers.

Our 2-week payroll cycle ends every other Sunday. You should receive a check in the mail within 10-14 days of the end of the payroll period (allow leeway for LARGE payroll periods, i.e. festivals, SXSW, extremely busy cycles, etc.). Please... DO NOT call the W3 office concerning your check unless you have not received your check in the mail within a 14 day period of time maximum after any payroll cycle, you believe there is an error on your paycheck, or you need to report an address change.

We use an outside independent accounting firm to process all payments, including contractor compensations. Please consider the period related (event season is ALWAYS crazy for us!) and adjust your expectations accordingly. We assure you that we will do everything we are capable of to ensure the most prompt method of remuneration for your efforts, however there are various factors that could feasibly affect timely processing. Please be patient, research any mail address issues you can attend to yourself (changed address, forwarded mail problems with post office, etc.), and then contact us only after you feel that all other possibilities have been exhausted.

Examples of Payroll Periods are as follows:

If you worked: 07/23/07 – 08/05/07 You received a check in the mail by: 08/15/07

If you worked: 08/06/07 – 08/19/07 You received a check in the mail by: 08/29/07

If you worked: 08/20/07 – 09/02/07 You received a check in the mail by: 09/12/02

If you worked: 09/03/07 – 09/16/07 You received a check in the mail by: 010/5/07 (Festival Period, please allow for accounting efforts)

Thanks for your cooperation!