Everyone knows what to expect from a music concert. The lights go down, the audience erupts into a chorus of applause and the idolised superstar arrives on stage, bursting with energy, ready to entertain the throng of their adoring fans for one night only.
It’s pretty spectacular.
But, ever wondered what happens once the curtains close and the lights go up? Are there diva tantrums? Catty fights between dancers? Tour riders demanding vitamin water to bathe pet dogs? Yes Mariah, we might be looking at you for that one, girl.
If you have, you’ve come to the right place as Metro.co.uk will give you an all-access, backstage look into what it really takes to make the tours of your favourite popstars come to life, while also reminiscing on some unique moments that made headline news.
Touring is not only an experience for the performer and the fans – the backing dancers, singers, stylists and others are also very much a part of the process and, perhaps more importantly, the backbone of these mammoth shows.
So grab your backstage pass as we get the inside scoop from Camila Cabello’s dancer Mone Swift because, in this case, What Happens On Tour (Doesn’t) Stay On Tour…
Camila Cabello first sashayed into our hearts as a member of Fifth Harmony before becoming her own superstar as a solo artist in 2015.
Since then, she’s taken the world to Havana and serenaded us with Senorita while delivering some pretty amazing performances – think Grammys 2019.
One man who’s been there through most of it is Mone Swift, a dancer on her Never Be The Same Tour in 2018, and her upcoming dates around North America.
Mone was pretty lucky in that he didn’t have to audition for Camila – he simply received a phone call from her choreographer, Calvin Hodge Jr, personally selecting him for the iHeart Music Awards in 2018.
‘I remember the day vividly. I was at the gym getting a workout in, and then out of nowhere I got a call from my agent asking for my availability for Camila’s performance at the iHeart Music Awards ’18,’ Mone told Metro.co.uk.
‘Five minutes later, my agents call me back and also ask for my availability for the remainder of the year for Camila’s Never Be the Same Tour.’
Sounds pretty cushty, to be fair.
It’s been a dream come true for Mone who has always aspired to dance on a world tour.
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‘The experience is still surreal, to be honest. I’ve always dreamed of travelling the world doing what I love with great people,’ he explained. ‘This experience is exactly that. Everybody on the team is really cool and we always have a great time performing and travelling the world.’
Camila might just be one of the glamorous popstars of the new era, with her stage outfits glitzier than Celine Dion’s set in Las Vegas.
But is tour life just as glam behind the scenes as it appears before the audience’s eyes?
Mone admitted: ‘Glamorous? Yes. It’s a blessing and I think everyone should experience travelling. But I have to say, it’s a bit of a toll on your body when you’re taking flights several times a week. It can get really exhausting.’
We don’t doubt it and judging by Mone’s touring schedule, we’d be knackered too.
The dancer wakes up early to hit the gym before heading to the lobby at 12pm, when all the dancers, band members and crew load up in vans and head to the venue.
‘We drop our things in our dressing room and then usually head to catering for some food,’ he said.
‘After that, within a few hours or so, we all begin to get show-ready. We put music on, stretch, get dressed, girls apply their make-up and do their hair. Then we head to the stage (maybe do a few chants to get us hyped up to perform), after that we do what we do best. Perform.’
Sounds like a plan.
While the dancers stick together, Camila makes sure to build a rapport with her crew behind the scenes.
Mone revealed: ‘Camila’s a really cool and outgoing person. I love being around her.
‘Her energy is infectious and when she walks in the room, it’s always with great energy. She even gets us cakes on our birthday. Best boss ever. I mean that.’
Erm, we’ll take a rainbow cake thanks.
Before hitting the stage, Camila gathers her crew together to ‘huddle up and say a chant to get [them] hyped before hitting the stage’, Mone reveals.
‘Camila is always ready to perform and that energy spreads throughout the team.’
She sounds like a dream.
Mone is in the dark about what Camila has on her tour rider but he can confirm that her dancers are going wild and stocking up on… coconut water.
Sensible.
Although he did admit they do treat themselves to junk food, beers, card games and a games console.
And while Camila may be the face of the tour, she works just as hard as everyone else.
‘We all work hard to accomplish the same goal, and that’s to always make the fans happy,’ Mone explained.
‘We all really love performing so once we have all our choreography down, its go time. Camila’s work ethic is on point. She’s always willing to go over routines numerous amounts of time in order to feel 100% comfortable with it. I really admire her for that.’
Go beyond the stage with What Happens On Tour every Wednesday.
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