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Stagehand:A Backstage Pass to my Life Stories
By: David Aretsky$3.99
$22.49
About the Book
Mick Jagger, Tony Bennett, Michael Jackson and Prince, I have worked with them all. Along with actors such as Michelle Rodriguez, Will Smith, and Roddy McDowall. And many more. I traveled around the world: scuba diving with hammerhead sharks, trekked through jungles to ancient ruins, and cycled up mountains. I’ve worked as a stagehand for over forty years. Too bad I didn’t realize how good life was until after my girlfriend of eighteen years dumped me. Then I stopped to take a look back at my life and see what made it worth living again.
WINNER: BRONZE MEDAL for Non-Fiction—Music/Entertainment, READERS FAVORITE 2025
WINNER: 5 STAR MEDAL, READERS FAVORITE 2025
"Stagehand: A Backstage Pass to My Life Stories is filled with emotionally rich scenes and quirky moments and infused with humor that keeps readers looking forward to the next scene. The rawness in the author's writing will captivate readers as they explore his inner world." — 𝑱𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑭𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒘, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒚
"Lively memoir of a life setting the stage for great entertainers. A-"
— 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒔
"A meandering memoir that offers a fascinating perspective on eccentric Angelenos and their orbits around the stars." — 𝑲𝒊𝒓𝒌𝒖𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒔
Life is an adventure. Don’t let the world tell you what you can and can’t do. You do you! Live an unconventional life. I did.
This book is for readers who enjoy memoirs, travel, adventure, the creative professional or those who enjoy the entertainment industry and want to live an exciting life. Full of entertainment history and backstage stories. It’s the story of how I aspired to be a better person, and grow in my relationships. Join me on a backstage adventure. A look into the life of a stagehand with over forty years of experience.
I never set out to write a book. I didn't consider my life to be any different from anyone else's. In the beginning, I was just keeping a journal and feeling sorry for myself after my ex left, but then I was inspired by some of the people in my life to write about my past. By the time I finished writing, I began to see that maybe my life was different—not so average.
Being a stagehand is challenging—it's hard work. It's not just a job but a way of life. Some people pass through the profession, but for us lifelong technicians, it takes dedication. Long hours, sleep deprivation, and working while sick or under unpleasant conditions are all part of the job. Most of the time, we work in the dark, in the cold, or under the broiling sun. There's a lot of crawling and climbing, a lot of lifting and pushing heavy gear. It's dangerous and dirty. You miss many milestones of family life: holiday gatherings, birthdays, weddings, births, and funerals. But still, I love what I do.
My values have always been a bit different. Most people want to earn a lot of money to be considered successful—own a home, have children, drive a new car, and collect lots of expensive stuff. Not me. I just wanted to work with talented and creative people, to make enough money to eat and live indoors. I wanted my life to be adventurous. I wanted to see the world. Most people told me I couldn't live this life, couldn't work the job I wanted. "What will be your fallback job? How will you make real money?" Who cares? I thought. I'll worry about that as I go! Now, more than forty years later, I have a lot of great stories about my adventures, the incredibly creative people I have met along the way, and the places I have been. I haven't become rich. I don't own an expensive home, fancy car, or many possessions; but I have lived many of the dreams I had as a child. This book is more than a collection of stories—it's a call to embrace adventure, defy societal norms, and find fulfillment in experiences rather than material success. "Stagehand" is a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration to chase their dreams, no matter how unconventional.
Sample Chapters
Language - English
Publisher Name - BookBaby
Publisher Year - 2025
ASIN - B0DRDTQ5KV
ISBN-13 - 979-8350978162