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An inner look at the ‘Peel’
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The Orange Peel was established in 2002 and is one of
the most popular venues in the area. The “Peel”, as it is
affectionately called, hosts a variety of local and touring
artists and acts.
PHOTO BY NiCKHASELOFF
KATIE WALKER
A&F Staff Writer
kwalker6@unca.edu
A feeling of anticipation fills the air
during the hours before a major show.
Everyone in the venue works hard
knowing what needs to get done before
doors open.
“We are selling tickets up until they
are sold out. At some point during the
day we print out the will-call tickets,
rip some tickets, alphabetize them and
get them ready for pick-up,” said Robb
McAdams, assistant manager at The Or
ange Peel.
People approach the box office all day
itching to get their hands on a ticket to a
sold-out show. Disappointed when none
are left to be sold, most concert-goers
turn around and head back home. Some
stick around with a small glimmer of
hope that something great will happen.
“I see a lot of magic happen out here.
You know, somebody’s buddy can’t
make it to the show and somebody grabs
a ticket at the very last second on the
way in. I pulled that in Atlanta a few
weeks ago,” McAdams said.
A friend of McAdams planned to meet
him at a concert but did not have enough
money for a ticket. The friend decided to
wait in line to see what was happening.
Someone who was in line had an extra
ticket and gave it to McAdams’ friend
for free.
Located on the comer of Biltmore and
Hilliard Avenue, the 67-year-old build
ing has gone through multiple changes
over the years, according to its official
website. From Skateland Rollerdome to
R&B clubs, the building, now a concert
venue and pleasure club, carries on as a
landmark in Asheville.
Now empty, the venue will soon be
at the maximum capacity of 1,050. The
venue hosted around 200 events in 2016,
according to its website. Few people see
a show from beginning to end. Most see
the performance, but so much more hap
pens before doors open.
Before show time, each performer
lounges in the dressing rooms. Weeks in
advance, hospitality contacts the band
tour manager for a list of accommoda
tions the band wishes to have while at
the venue.
Blake Willis, artist relations coordi
nator at The Orange Peel, works with
hospitality to ensure everything the art
ist requested is correct. Willis talks with
the band and the tour manager to find out
what grocery items they will need back-
stage for the day.
“You can get some pretty odd re
quests,” Willis said. “Sometimes a band
member has a favorite pair of leather
pants that needs to be cleaned but does
not tmst any of the laundromats in the
area. He handed them to me and asked if
I would hand wash them for him. Obvi
ously I would say yes, but I was freaking
out going, ‘Oh my gosh. How do you
take care of leather? How do you wash
leather?’ because I don’t want to mess
up their favorite pair of leather pants.”
A band or performer may arrive to the
venue hours before sound check or even
minutes before show time.
A few months ago. Noname played
a show at the Orange Peel. With doors
opening at 8 p.m., her band took an
Uber from the airport at 5 p.m. Before
then, there was no contact with the band,
causing the staff to worry if the show
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14