P.E.I. man helped set up the stage for locked-down Biden inauguration

Justin Gauthier of P.E.I. has worked at presidential inaugurations before, but he has never seen anything like the inauguration of Joe Biden.

"It's a little different this round, because normally people can go and watch the inauguration, whereas things are locked down so tight now it's going to be all virtual here," Gauthier told Island Morning host Mitch Cormier Wednesday. 

"You're used to seeing the big crowds — 100,000, 300,000 people — and it's not going to be there."

Gauthier works setting up live events, primarily concerts, but for the last 10 days he has been on the job for Biden's inauguration. It's his job to help build the stage.

Perhaps the biggest difference affecting Gauthier's work is the much higher level of security for this inauguration. Gauthier had to be cleared by the Secret Service before he travelled to D.C., and has to keep his credentials visible all the time while he's working.

"A six-block radius around the Capitol, the White House — if you don't have the proper credentials you can't even get through," he said.

"A lot of the residents here are having a hard time getting around. I feel bad for them."

Quiet streets

Despite concerns following Trump supporters' violent breach of the Capitol on Jan. 6, Gauthier said he was not worried about his safety .

"I've done shows down in the heart of Mexico. I was a little worried down there.

"It's safe. There's so many National Guard around here. They're all friendly," he said. "I don't think you're going to see anything happen, in my opinion, today."

The streets have been very quiet outside the green zone as well, he added.

This is Gauthier's first trip to the United States in almost a year. He is being tested for COVID-19 every two days while he is there, he said. 

For Gauthier, at the end of the day, this historic moment is just a job, and a welcome one at that given the dearth of work in live events since the pandemic started. His said his focus is on making sure everything looks and sounds good for the television cameras that will bring the Biden inauguration to viewers around the world.

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