Get to Know Big Mike, Your Friendly Mushroom Stage Host at Wanee
He is the alpha and the omega of Wanee. His is the very first voice you hear before the first set on Wanee Wednesday and the very last voice from the Mushroom Stage late Saturday night. If you camp close enough to hear the Mushroom Stage, he probably wakes you up each morning as well.
“He” is Mike McCullough, our beloved Big Mike. He took time out from his busy schedule to give us a chance to know him better. There is nothing he loves more than being the voice of Wanee, so we’ll turn the microphone over to Big Mike. Take it away!
Yes, many of you have seen me throughout the years at Wanee. My story: I was in the right place at the right time, simple as that. I started out working for the production company that supplied crew/equipment for the festival. I was a crew chief/crew and a monitor engineer; that’s it. I was the Mushroom Stage monitor engineer for seven years, and many times I would make stage announcements from my sound console side stage (yes, at one time I did not like the idea of actually going out on stage and talking on the microphone). I was like Oz — people heard me but didn’t see me.
As time went on, production companies changed hands, and eventually I was out of a gig. Thankfully, I have a friend who worked for a couple companies I was managing (Crew Services) who was in a position to throw Big Mike a bone (that I am very thankful for to this very day. Thanks, Andy) and keep me involved working on the Mushroom Stage.
This new position I was given is “Stage Manager,” and since I had always talked to the audience, my buddy thought I should keep on doing it, only this time I did not have anything to hide behind. So my job became keeping the artists on schedule and happy, keeping the crew happy (the Mushroom Stage crew is the best crew I have ever had the pleasure working with), and in general helping the show operate as efficiently as I can in the position I am in. So that is my history in short.
Now I am getting all kinds of inquiries pertaining to Wanee. Let me be clear: I am a hired independent subcontractor who is not employed by the show’s producer. I do not have any information; I do not speak for the show and/or its producers in any “Official” manner. Wanee has grown on me; yes, at first it was just another gig to pay some bills with. Over time I have fallen in love with the many different aspects that Wanee really is. Mainly the audience “Family.”
Many think Rock and Roll is this magical entity that is full of riches and rewards to those involved. Yes, there is a consistency for those established on successful tours or employed by successful artists/agencies, but they are not the majority of those involved within this “Live Music Industry.” The truth of the matter is, this industry is full of sacrifice and struggle. My father, an established musician his whole life, taught me this one rule: “Be nice to them on the way up because you will always see them again on the way down.” I have seen it time and time again. The simple aspects that make it so tough. Leaving family behind is not easy. Spending very extended amounts of time away from family is not easy. Living gig to gig is not easy. Not having proper Health Care coverage is not easy. Living so close to the edge of hell without falling in is not easy. I could go on and on about sacrifice and struggle.
I became kinda jaded after 30 years of the grind, but a very awesome thing happened for me at a Wanee. I think is was #9. I was on side stage at my monitor console, the band was playing everything was running smoothly, and then it happened. I took a look at the audience watching the band play up on stage and was overcome by a very magnificent feeling of joy. At this moment I realized that I was truly part of the great magic “Live Music.” I saw so many smiling faces, people just completely in the moment. These people were stripped of everything negative within their lives, not thinking about bills, stripped away of any negative thoughts. It was the greatest feeling I ever had while involved in this industry. This was a turning point in my life, a truly life-changing event that took place at Wanee.
Coming out on the microphone became much easier. I could come out and actually look people in the eye and see just how special this event really meant to them. I was getting brave and thought I had the hang of it until that one night, the defining moment for Big Mike the Emcee. I came out after the last band had finished up and thought I would say goodnight to everyone. I think it went exactly like this: “OK, everyone, that’s it for today’s musical portion of Wanee,” and boom the audience erupts in a massive BOOOOOO about 8,000 strong. I thought, Holy Shit and almost pissed myself; I was stunned. I made eye contact with one person, and it clicked. I started shaking my head and made my greatest comeback to date “Whoa Whoa Whoa what the hell are you booing at me for? You all are just going to go and party at your campsites all night anyway. Now get out of here, and we will see you back here in the morning! For another exciting adventure of WaneeEEEE!” BOOM! Audience erupts in cheers and starts walking away. Yeah, so that just happened. I never really know what I am going to say as I am walking out on stage, but I learned a valuable lesson that night for sure. I lost my fear completely and just have fun with it now.
This last year I have made contact with a bunch a great people on social media. I have heard many stories of how Wanee has changed so many lives in a positive way. I have heard stories of family and friendships. I have really gotten to know a bunch of folks who truly love Wanee, and that is a great feeling, knowing I am just a small part of the Magic that Wanee is. I have been a part of a few Social Media Groups and have witnessed some amazing feats of love and friendship people caring about each other; it’s just incredible.
So basically I am someone who loves this show as much as everyone else. I have been accepted by a lot of fantastic people who have given me their thanks and appreciation for what my involvement is within Wanee. This has been very humbling to say the least, and I thank you all. I really didn’t know that I had so many people into Big Mike, and to those who have sent me 1000s of PMs this last year, WOW, and thanks for your love and support. I read every word everyone sent (sorry it took me so long to reply to so many, because I had no idea about the message requests tab until I had over 100 messages backed up). I never intended to gain any fans, I am Old School, and some of my greatest admiration goes to Bill Graham, Wolfman Jack, Bill Minkin, Don Kirshner, Wavy Gravy, Dick Clark, thankfully riding in the backseat of that old Galaxy 500 hearing that radio. Thankfully I picked up on the vibe. So I love you all back just the same. I won’t change, I promise. Don’t boo me, please just roll with me; I mean you no wrong.
Some of the things I always say: “You guys go have fun and love on each other as hard as you can;” I mean these words wholeheartedly, and if you are close enough to the stage you can see my teary eyes sometimes. It’s a family reunion of epic proportions looking out over the audience after the Midnight Set has finished; it is so powerful, seeing all that happiness in one place. Wow, what a feeling. I know why so many artists deliver such incredible sets: the the Wanee fans, I am pretty sure it has something to do with that LOVE laser beam aimed at the stage. I want everyone to have the greatest experience they deserve for rewarding themselves to a week at one of The Greatest places to see Live Music, The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park and Campground and at the Greatest Musical Family Gathering in The Wonderful World of “Wanee Music Festival.”
I am just a guy with the mic who is lucky to be able to greet you all, but there is a small army of folks that make it all happen. The Peach Stage Crew / The Mushroom Stage Crew put a lot of love into Wanee. As I have said, they are some of the best people I have ever worked with on a show ever. These people get it, and they love what they do. The Art: Tie-Dye Richard is the Picasso of dyeing fabrics and his Tie Dye wrap; the love he puts into that fabric transcends. Bean Spence Art is feel-good art; when you see his Gnomes and Mushrooms you know you are home again. Jasper Mosher: you never know what’s next with this guy. His visual effects will make you feel dizzy-yyyy. Laura Ives “the butterfly tamer” keeping the whole place pretty with all those flowers. Sonny Perez, Rusty Simpson and the ops crew are the grease that keep the gears of Wanee moving. The Live Nation Crew and The SotSMP Crew time and time again providing an outlet for so many people to escape the real world and recharge themselves.
Wanee People: much love from Big Mike!
It’s almost here… see you all soon!
Mike McCullough
Stage Management Production Resources
Production Manager – Stage Manager
Professional Live Audio
Festivals / Concerts / Tours / Events
To quote our dear friend Big Mike, all we can add is: