Last modified: Thursday, May 15, 2008 1:38 AM EDT General Manager Bruce Montgomery takes a seat at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield. (Staff photo by Martin Gavin) He's the boss at Tweeter Center BY MICHELLE ROY MANSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL When I walked into the Management Office at the Tweeter Center for my interview with Bruce Montgomery, I was expecting a dark-haired 25-year-old kid in a power suit telling me I had only 15 minutes of his time or else I would make him late for his next meeting. Instead, out came a flushed face, casually dressed, lovable man who shook my hand and hospitably offered me some water. Once we were settled in his office I took note of the Homer Simpson figure on the table and his kid's pictures of "#1 Dad!" framed on the wall. And I knew immediately he was as friendly as he looked and we were ready for a little Q Q: What exactly is your job title? A: It's general manager Q: Which means? A: Basically I'm responsible for pretty much everything that happens on the property. Q: So did you decide you wanted to work at Tweeter? Or did it just fall into your lap? A: When I was in college I had to work for my living expenses. I was delivering mail for an hour and a half or two hours every day. Then someone gave me the opportunity to work at the Orpheum Theatre on the stage crew...and obviously it was cooler than delivering the mail so I did that through collegeand when I got out I was offered a full time job. Q: What are some of the pros and cons of being the general manager? A: I don't really know if I have a whole lot of cons. I mean there are things like the weather and problems that come up, but that's why I'm here. Q: Do you ever get to meet any of the stars as they come and go? A: I know a few of them. I actually toured in the late '70s with the Eagles so I know them pretty well. But I am actually kind of shy. We have a production manager who runs the whole backstage and he tortures me by introducing me to the artists. Q: So you wouldn't be able to tell me who was the nicest and who was the meanest out of the performers? A: Ah, no. I'll tell you though; James Taylor's my favorite performer. Q: What was the most difficult situation you have ever been in concerning your job? A: It was probably at a James Taylor concert we had here a couple years ago where an intense thunderstorm came through the area. Because there is so much tall steel with the buildingthey act as lightning rods. We paused the event and the National Weather Service called and sent an actual warning for a period of time. And I made an announcement for people to seek shelterbut some people said it was the best time they had ever had! And eventually we had people back on the stage and starting to perform, but it got worse. But that was one of the toughest moments in deciding whether to continue the show or not. But it all worked out fine and he continued the show. Q: Well that's good! What was the funniest thing that has ever happened? A: The funniest thing? Well, there have been a lot of humorous moments I don't know if I could come up with just one for that. Q: We already know your favorite performer is James Taylor, but what's your favorite genre of music? A: Easy listening kind of folksy rock. But I have a 14-year-old daughter so she's introduced me to a lot, and an 11-year-old son who likes AC/DC. And one of my favorites lately has been Natasha Bedingfield. Q: Your kids must think you have a pretty cool job then, getting to be on the big stage like this. A: Yeah, my wife actually like Jimmy Buffet so they have actually been here every year, starting as infants and my daughter likes to come now for a few shows. Q: Do you ever get to enjoy any of the shows? A: Well I try to walk around the venue and I'll try to watch one or two songs to make a judgment on the production and the artist. If it's somebody I like I'll stay out there for a few songs, but I'm usually working. Q: And my last question, which I just have to ask, do you give out free tickets to your interviewer? (And at this point he just laughed.) A: I've been here since day one and they used to give us all the free tickets we wanted. And the artists eventually figured out that, because they get most of the ticket money, by giving them away it takes out of their money. So they don't actually give us free tickets anymore. Sorry. Its OK, Bruce, I forgive you, but only because that tour you gave me was awesome. I was standing right next to the stage! (I could've stood on it but it was being painted.) I also got the opportunity to see the stars' dressing rooms which Bruce said were really like cheap motel rooms. The best thing, however, was seeing the courtyard where Jimmy Buffet hangs out on a visit. So overall, this was an amazing experience and now I'm thinking of quitting The Page to become the next general manager at Tweeter. It really is an amazing job and I learned that it takes a lot of skill, patience, and hard work to just make it through one day. But with Bruce's reclining office chair and the pillow he keeps in his bottom drawer, anything is possible after a good power nap.