ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 10, 1996 TAG: 9611080110
SECTION: ROANOKE CIVIC CENTER PAGE: RCC-2 EDITION: METRO
Vivian Nelson, Eddie Parker and Roy Moore have worked together so long they feel like a family.
Together, the trio has put in more than 75 years at the Roanoke Civic Center. Sitting at a table in the auditorium's hallway, they looked like they were at a family reunion instead of an interview.
Nelson, 50, an executive secretary for the Civic Center, prepares contracts for events and also serves as secretary to the Civic Center Advisory Commission.
Parker, 61, and Moore, 49, both work in the operations department, as a general superintendent and general supervisor, respectively.
"It would be scary to know how many events we have set up" in the last 25 years, Moore said as Parker laughed in agreement.
Parker and Moore described 20-hour days, five to six days a week.
"Not me," Nelson said. Her hours are more traditional, and she spends her time doing paper work, lots of paper work.
"We were a new building [in 1971], and every local group, church group and trade show wanted to book in the new market," Parker said. He worked long shifts and his wife had to bring him clothes and food to the back door.
"It's still like that sometimes," Parker said.
"Our job is to get it ready any way we can," Parker said.
There are few holidays off with the family. They know the building needs to be occupied.
Since the Roanoke Civic Center opened its doors on March 27, 1971, with Barbara Eden as one of the first performers, Nelson, Parker and Moore have seen a lot.
They have worked for four general managers: Howard Radford, Jim Campbell, Rex Mitchell and present manager, Bob Chapman.
Nelson said some events are booked several years ahead of time. Bigger conventions have to plan further ahead and may book as far as 10 years in advance.
Once events are booked, the operations staff starts working. Special requests by performers are almost a part of the job.
One group wanted 10 pounds of jelly beans with the black and white ones picked out, Moore said. Some groups ask for certain colors of M&Ms to be picked out.
John Denver requested PingPong tables and even played with the crew. Another group wanted five to six pinball machines in the dressing rooms.
The civic center staff has always tended to performers' needs and sometimes their whims, and 25 years ago they also provided the sound system for shows.
Times have changed. Groups now bring three to 20 tractor-trailer trucks full of sound and lighting equipment. Some larger shows even bring their own stage.
Rapper M.C. Hammer brought 19 trucks and 11 buses, and country singer Reba McEntire had 16 trucks and 12 buses.
"The Local No. 55 I.A.T.S.E. [stagehands union] unpacks, sets up, does the light and sound for the 21/2-hour show and packs in the same day," Parker said.
The Grateful Dead. Kenny Rogers. Boston. Glen Campbell. Three Dog Night. Kiss.
Is it glamorous meeting all the celebrities? Not really. They usually don't see them much.
Dottie West talked with the crew, so did Chuck Berry. But Elvis? All three laughed and said in unison, "Elvis has left the building." Presley, who played the civic center three times, arrived by limousine and left as soon as the show was over.
What about presidents and vice presidents? Security checks are unreal, Moore said.
Of all the shows they have seen, Nelson and Moore count the 1976 Tony Orlando and Dawn concert as their favorite.
The crowd response at the concert indicated the show was received better than most. Orlando was the first person they saw leave the stage and walk through the audience.
Orlando climbed up one section of risers and walked to the top shaking hands. He had a cordless mike and promised to keep talking and singing as long as no one touched him. No one did.
The civic center has some regular customers who have kept coming back for 25 years, including the 300 Club, the Roanoke Valley Gun Show, the Fiddle and Banjo Club, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and the Kazim Temple Shrine Circus.
When shows fail to attract large audiences, Moore is disappointed because a lot of work and effort went into preparing for the show.
"We've done our best to get the job completed and for one reason or another, they don't have good ticket sales. It's nobody's fault," Moore said.
When the civic center is not booked up, there is still plenty to be done.
August is usually the catch-up month for painting and repairing equipment.
Parker said the building's age is starting to show.
"Like me it is getting older and older." The center needs some costly repairs.
While the civic center needs some updating and refurbishing, that doesn't mean the operations crew isn't taking care of the building.
"I pride myself - and the others who work here - when we are complimented on the cleanliness of the buildings, and those who don't believe it is as old as it is." Parker said.
Moore said operations deals with out-of-town guests the most and knows first-hand "we're expected to make it shine."
Nelson, who meets public relations people, said the visitors often say how accommodating everyone is, and that they would like to return to Roanoke.
Parker and Moore recall helping people get their cars started, escorting people to rescue squads, baby-sitting while a parent makes a phone call.
Parker once loaned $10 to two girls from Pulaski who didn't have enough gas to get home. He figured he'd never see that money again. One week later, he received a store-bought card with a $10 bill tucked inside.
It's all in a day's work.
Name: Vivian Nelson
Age: 50
Job title: Administration, executive secretary
First day on the job: Sept. 2, 1968
Born: Halifax County
What brought you to this area? Marriage, in September 1968
Lives: Roanoke County
Favorite event: Tony Orlando and Dawn, 1976
Name: Eddie Parker
Age: 61
Job title: Operations, general superintendent
First day on the job: Sept. 1, 1970
Born: Paw Paw, W. Va.
What brought you to this area? Marriage
Lives: Bedford County
Favorite event: Kenny G, 1989
Name: Roy Moore
Age: 49
Job title: Operations, general supervisor
First day on the job: March 1, 1971
Born: Floyd County
What brought you to this area? School
Lives: Salem
Favorite event: Tony Orlando and Dawn, 1976, and Kenny G, 1989
LENGTH: Long : 131 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Moore, Parker, Nelson.by CNB