LOS ANGELES — Ted Absher has been working for the Grammy Awards since 1994. He’s the talent logistics manager for the 63rd Annual Grammys, set to take place on Sunday, March 14.

“Taking all the talent, moving them around night of show,” Absher said, in regard to what his job entails. 

What You Need To Know

  • The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards take place Sunday, March 14

  • The event has been moved from Staples Center to the Los Angele Convention Center

  • A large portion will of the show will take place on an outdoor stage

  • The nominees will be present for the live show

”If they are up for an award, we’ll make sure they’re in their seats. My team sets up all the limos that bring all the talent in for their rehearsals and show.”

This show will be unlike any other Grammy Award show. It will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the first time, and in a COVID-19 world, it will be hosted outside of the building.

Workers have been busy setting up the stage at the top of the convention center steps. The nominees will be there live to receive their awards in-person.

“Most other award shows will have them on Zoom, or they are not there,” said Absher.

“We are building an outside arena for our show, so you’ll get the chance to see everyone here, and see the excitement, and see everyone huddling with their award and very happy about it.”

Plus, there are four separate stages inside of the Convention Center, which will be used in rotation for safety protocols. Upon arrival, everyone will have to undergo a COVID test. 

There will be no red carpet. Instead the artists will check into a media center. Despite all the changes and safety measures, Recording Academy Interim President, Harvey Mason Jr. thought it was important to have a live show with live performances.

“We don’t get to go to concerts. We don’t get to go to clubs. We don’t get to have that experience,” Mason said. “But seeing people perform on a big setting, on a big stage, performing songs that we love, I think will be meaningful this year.”

For Absher, there’s no place he’d rather be.

“It’s one of the highlights of my year and probably most other people who work in this business,” he said.

In addition to all the action at the Convention Center, awards will presented from local music venues from across the country that have suffered during the pandemic, including The Troubadour in West Hollywood.