Giggs Podcast
The Giggs Podcast, hosted by Nikki Sanz, founder and CEO of Giggs, a career platform for the live event industry, explores the realities of touring and live event work. Each episode covers the highs, lows, and unexpected moments of gigging life, along with lessons learned on the road. The show highlights various roles within the industry, from tour managers to backline technicians, and features insights from seasoned professionals who helped shape modern touring. It aims to provide valuable knowledge for both newcomers and experienced workers passionate about live events.
Episodes
Ask Giggs #9 | What Great Crews Do That Nobody Notices
On this edition of Ask Giggs, Nikki Sanz answers questions straight from the Giggs community on topics like when trying to look competent on a job site becomes the problem, how to know when to step in as a leader versus letting someone figure it out, and when to say yes or no to a gig.What you'll learn:Why pretending to know what's going on is the fastest way to look like "a big dum
#68 Adam Wells | From Pub Sound Guy to Ed Sheeran's Audio Systems Engineer
Adam Wells has spent nine years inside Ed Sheeran's touring operation, working his way from PA tech to audio systems engineer, the role responsible for the entire technical backbone of one of the most complex stadium shows on earth. He was offered the job twice before he finally said yes, then stepped into it for the first time in front of a quarter of a million people at the Melbourne Cricke
#67 Rachel Deeb | Why The Lumineers Media Director Can’t Stay Away from Touring
Rachel Deeb got fired from a cubicle job three months after moving to Nashville, sat in her closet crying, and called her dad for help with the car she'd just bought. That was the beginning.Ten years later, she's the Media Director for The Lumineers — managing a global team of photographers and videographers across a two-year stadium tour cycle — Nashville Scene's Best Photographer
#66 Nikki Boon & Tyler Corrado | The Entrepreneurial Artist Managers Behind Kane Brown, Nightly, & Restless Road
Two artist managers from Neon Coast — one who came up through the road with Kane Brown, one who came up through finance, record labels, and social media — and both will tell you the same thing: you just have to figure it out.Nikki Boon has been with Kane Brown since before his first show — a 750-cap club in Darlington, South Carolina that sold out in 30 minutes, then again in 8 minutes the followi
#65 | How Rock-It Moves the FIFA World Cup & The World's Biggest Tours
The Rock-It Company has been the logistics engine behind the world's largest music tours for 47 years. Every stage you've ever stood in front of — odds are, they got it there. This summer, they're doing that and something else: serving as the official logistics partner for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the largest sporting event in world history, spanning three countries, 16 host cities,
#64 | Backstage at the 20th Annual CMA Touring Awards
For the 20th annual CMA Touring Awards, Giggs went backstage at The Pinnacle in Nashville and talked to over 20 winners, nominees, and industry leaders across one night.We open with outgoing CMA CEO Sarah Trahern — her 13th and final Touring Awards — and SVP of Industry Relations Tiffany Kerns, on peer recognition, what this event means to the touring community, and what they're building for
#63 Alex McNamara | How the Trades Saved Her Life
Alex McNamara is a technical director, welder, rigger, and Yale School of Drama graduate who installed the turntable for the original Hamilton production, led 600 workers on a $300 million Soundstorm build in Saudi Arabia, and built her career one job site at a time as one of the only women in the room. She's also the founder of Built Pretty — which she started a year ago on a forklift at an
#62 Ryan Maag | The Creative Director Who Choreographed the Olympics
Ryan Maag started as a backup dancer on the Weird Al Yankovic tour in 1998 and figured out fast that the person choreographing makes more than the person performing. Twenty-something years later, he's been creative director for NFL halftime shows on two continents, the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and the D-Day ceremonies in Normandy, France — shaking hands with five-star generals and th
#61 Neville Shende | What Prince Taught a Bus Driver about 5-Star Service
Neville Shende — known on the road as NELVIS — has spent more than 40 years in the concert touring world. He started as a guitarist and guitar tech in Winnipeg, stumbled into bus driving on a 9/11-disrupted Aerosmith run, and spent the next four decades driving for some of the most iconic artists in the world: Prince, Madonna, Alicia Keys, Black Sabbath, Shakira, Ronnie James Dio, Papa Roach, Dist
#60 Mandi Naylor | Feeding Thousands at the NFL Draft, Super Bowl, & Bonnaroo
Mandi Naylor has spent over a decade running food and beverage at some of the biggest events in the country — the NFL Draft, the Super Bowl, Bonnaroo, ACL, Lollapalooza, CMA Fest, KAABOO, and the NASCAR Chicago Street Race. She's managed catering for commissioners, artists, and crews of thousands. Now she leads events for the Robertson County Chamber of Commerce in Tennessee.This conversation
Giggs Rewind: Rachael Bronstein | Managing Money on the Move
We're bringing back one of the most practical conversations from the Giggs archive. Nikki Sanz sits down with Rachael Bronstein, founder of Life's Jam — a financial coaching service built specifically for the touring and live events community.70% of music industry professionals are freelancers. Just under half report feeling financially anxious or stressed. Rachael has spent the last few
#59 Brandon "Fitz" Fitzgerald | Rigging Beyoncé's & Post Malone's World Tours
Recorded live at Rock Lititz, Brandon "Fitz" Fitzgerald is back by popular demand after his previous episode (#19) became one of the most-DM'd conversations we've ever put out. One year later, Fitz comes back with a year on the road that includes Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter, Post Malone's world tour, Playboi Carti, and a set up in New Orleans during the city's bigges
Giggs Rewind: Marty Hom | Tour Managing Legends… Rolling Stones, Beyoncé, Shakira, Olivia Rodrigo
We're bringing back one of the most popular conversations from the Giggs archive. Nikki Sanz sits down with Marty Hom — a true legend of the touring world with 40+ years of experience tour managing The Rolling Stones, Beyoncé, Fleetwood Mac, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Nicks, Shakira, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Van Halen, Olivia Rodrigo, Lionel Richie, and more.Marty started with Bill Withers i
#58 Doug Wilson | From Van Driver to Tour Director
Recorded live at Rock Lititz, Nikki Sanz sits down with Doug Wilson — long-time tour manager and Director of Touring — for a grounded, honest look at what 20 years on the road teaches you.Doug's path started with a chance encounter with a tour manager in catering in Glasgow, Scotland. He bought a Sprinter van, converted it with his dad, and four months later was on his first US tour. From the
#57 The Future of Virtual Production | Kingfisher by LEO Events
Recorded in Nashville, TN, this special docuseries episode of The Giggs Podcast steps inside Kingfisher Production Studio, the new virtual production offering from LEO Events. Nikki Sanz walks through the space and talks with the team behind it to see how virtual worlds are built, lit, filmed, and finished.This episode is worth your time if you work in production, post, creative, live events, or b
#56 The Music Industry’s Health Crisis | Theresa Wolters (MusiCares)
What does real support for music professionals actually look like when the gigs stop, the bills pile up, or the stress gets too heavy? In this episode, Nikki Sanz sits down with Theresa Wolters, Executive Director of MusiCares, to talk about the health, financial, and emergency realities facing people across the music industry.They get into the gap between how glamorous the industry can look from
#55 Patrick Ledwith | Building Stadium Tours for U2, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Beyonce
Recorded live at Rock Lititz, this episode features Patrick Ledwith, Managing Director of North America for ES Global, reflecting on a career that spans nearly four decades across touring, staging, and large-scale live production.Patrick takes Nikki Sanz from his start as a 17-year-old stagehand in London to building stages on U2’s Joshua Tree run, managing major tours, and eventually stepping int
#54 Kyana White | From WME Intern to Tour & Production Manager
Recorded live at Rock Lititz, this episode features Kyana White, a tour manager and production manager whose path into touring did not start on a bus. It started in TV, in internships, in low-paid PA work, and in learning how major productions actually come together behind the scenes.Kyana walks Nikki Sanz through the real story: how she went from the WME mailroom and award show production into to
#53 What Tour Life Really Does to Families | Stage Wives
Behind every tour is a whole other job happening offstage: parenting, schedules, safety, emotions, and the quiet pressure of “don’t make this harder for them.”In this episode, Nikki Sanz talks with Rachel Smith and Rhyan Shirley, founders of Stage Wives—a support community built for women navigating life while their partners work in the touring industry. They share what this lifestyle can do to co
#52 Suzi Meyer | Pay vs. Respect: What Crews Actually Want
Recorded live at Rock Lititz, this episode features Suzi Meyer, Chief of Staff, in a candid conversation about workforce development, burnout, leadership, and the future of live events.If you care about crew culture, retention, or building a sustainable career in this industry, this one hits home. Suzi breaks down what COVID exposed, why respectful leadership is outperforming pay in recent polling
#51 Jesse Sandler | The Production Manager behind Bon Jovi, Nickleback, Phish
Recorded live at Rock Lititz, Nikki Sanz sits down with touring production manager, Jesse Sandler, for a behind-the-scenes look at how a touring career actually gets built—one cosign, one good attitude, and one “figure it out” moment at a time.Jesse walks through his path from an early runner/production assistant role to touring internationally as an audio tech, and eventually stepping into the pr
#50 Butch Allen | Designing Shows for Metallica, Eric Church, and The Eagles
Recorded live from Rock Lititz, Nikki Sanz sits down with Butch Allen, VP of Global Business Development at TAIT, and a touring veteran who’s done nearly every job on the road (“everything but audio”).Butch breaks down what actually moves your career forward in live events: learning fast, contributing solutions, and being someone people want in the “fishbowl” when the pressure is high and the cloc
#49 Improving Mental Health on Tour | Amber Health
Recorded live from Rock Lititz in Lititz, Pennsylvania, host Nikki Sanz sits down with Dr. Chayim Newman and Zack Borer—the co-founders of Amber Health—to talk about what it really takes to support touring crews and live event professionals when the days are long, the pressure is constant, and the margin for error is basically zero.This conversation goes beyond “mental health awareness” and into w
#48 Nicholas Weldon (nicDub) | Live Video Directing for Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Kings of Leon, P!nk
Live video direction isn’t just calling shots—it’s reading the room, listening to the music, and trusting your crew to move with it.Recorded live from Rock Lititz, Nikki sits down with Nicholas Weldon “nicDUB”, a legacy roadie with over two decades of experience as a live video director.nicDUB shares how growing up around touring shaped him early, why he fell in love with the visual side of music
Ask Giggs #8 | Touring Is a Human Endurance Test
Ask Giggs is back, and this one is for anyone who’s ever said, “I’m in shape… but I’m not in tour shape.”In Ask Giggs #8, Nikki answers community questions about managing the physical toll of touring, building real stamina, and staying mentally steady when your body is cooked, but the show still has to go on. She breaks down why “touring shape” is its own category (and why so much of it is mental)
#47 Rock Nashville | The Exclusive Look at Music City’s New Touring Home
In this special docuseries-style episode, we’re taking you inside the construction of the brand new Rock Nashville—the highly anticipated live entertainment campus from the team behind Rock Lititz. Nikki Sanz gets a sneak preview of the build, explores what the campus is designed to solve for touring crews, and sits down with key people helping shape the vision, the community experience, and the f
#46 Allison Noah | How To Be “The Connector” as Stage Manager
Allison Noah is a rising star in the industry — one of the few women in her role as Stage Manager, and a standout leader in the next generation of road crews.She got her start at Grammy-winning label Sono Luminus, where she did everything from engineering to photography. After moving to Nashville, she worked briefly at City Winery — then hit the road in 2021 on a small country tour, juggling nearl
Giggs Rewind | Sooner Routhier: Color, Collaboration, and Coldplay
Sooner Rae Routhier is a renowned Principal Designer who is a 2X Parnelli, Live Design Achievement, Live Production Summit Pinnacle, and multi Top Dog award-winning designer. Her designs can be seen on Jimmy Fallon, The AMA’s, The Ellen Show, The Voice, and The Billboard Music Awards. She has crafted iconic shows for artists such as Coldplay, Panic at the Disco, The Weeknd, KISS, Imagine Dragons,
Ask Giggs #7 | Missing Holidays: The Sacrifice Behind the Show
We’re back with another Ask Giggs segment, where host Nikki Sanz answers real questions from the Giggs community. In this episode, we get honest about one of the hardest parts of working in live events: what the job asks of your personal life, and how to build something sustainable without losing the people you love.From “you can’t say no yet” to “you should be able to go to a funeral,” Nikki walk
#45 Zito | Production Managing Legends… Green Day, Ariana Grande, Backstreet Boys, OneRepublic
Our guest is Zito — one of the most respected and accomplished production managers in the world. Over the past 25 years, he’s worked with artists like Green Day, Ariana Grande, Josh Groban, Babyface, OneRepublic, Blink-182, the Backstreet Boys, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, and many more.Starting in the late ’90s as a band member and part-time sound guy, he slowly worked his way up from vans and sm
Giggs Wrapped | “Red Rocks Sucks?” – Hot Takes & Best Advice
This special episode of The GIGGS Podcast pulls the best Rapid Fire moments from across the series into one fast-moving, feel-good mashup. From first concerts and favorite venues, to after-show food, bus bunk politics, can’t-tour-without items, and the best career advice they’ve ever received, touring pros share the stories, laughs, and lessons that only happen on the road.You’ll hear:First concer
#44: VIP at 35,000 Feet | Flying Private with TrueSkies Aviation
Join us on a high-flying adventure as Nikki Sanz boards a VIP-configured Boeing 757 for Giggs’ first-ever in-flight episode with TrueSkies Aviation Group—the team moving A-list artists, sports teams, and high-profile clients around the world. Co-founders David Young and Christian Meiley share how they went from rock tours, EDM shows, and NASA launches to building one of the most trusted names in p
#43 Pete Griffin | When Music Heals: Inside Musicians On Call
Learn more about Musicians On Call: https://www.musiciansoncall.org/Pete Griffin is the President & CEO of Musicians On Call, the nonprofit that brings live music to hospital patients, caregivers, and veterans across all 50 states. Under his leadership, MOC has grown from a local charity to an internationally recognized organization that’s delivered the healing power of music to over one milli
![#42 What Really Moves a Show | [Exclusive] ShowShuttle and Extreme Lighting & Sound](https://storage.buzzsprout.com/1uj1amyel868fjwtt11zrfwk0fd4?.jpg)
#42 What Really Moves a Show | [Exclusive] ShowShuttle and Extreme Lighting & Sound
Step inside the shop that keeps tours moving. In this episode, we go behind the scenes at Extreme Lighting & Sound (ELS) for an exclusive look at their team, their process, and the ShowShuttle—the modular cart system built to speed up load-ins, reduce chaos, and keep crews safer.From welding bays to machining, you’ll see how ELS designs, fabricates, and stress-tests the gear that actually move
Ask Giggs #6 | Aftershow Food and Hiring Truths
Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community.Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/Stay up to date:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.liveYoutube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-liveLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giggs-llc/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggs.liveHost: Nikki Sanz
#41 Shawn Worlow | Touring Tech to Producer of the NFL Draft & F1
Shawn Worlow is the Founder and President of The Production Collective, which is the team behind some of the most complex large-scale events in the country: NFL Draft, Formula 1 Las Vegas, SEMA Fest, March Madness Music Festival, and more. He’s also the Founder of Collective Payroll, a company that simplifies workforce management for events. With nearly 30 years of experience across touring and sp
Ask Giggs #5 | Your Best Tour Pranks
Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community.Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/Stay up to date:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.liveYoutube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-liveLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giggs-llc/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggs.liveHost: Nikki Sanz
Giggs Rewind | Mark Oglesby: Health, Leadership, & Sobriety on the Road
Mark Oglesby, currently the tour manager for Post Malone, is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the music industry. His career began as road manager for The Clark Family Experience. Since then, Mark has managed tours for high-profile artists including Jennifer Nettles with Sugarland, Billy Carrington, Emerson Drive, Good Charlotte, Sum 41, Pink, OneRepublic, and Kane Brown
#40 Cristi Williams | Shading the Limelight & Surviving the Spotlight
Cristi Williams is the Founder of Shading the Limelight, a mental wellness coaching company for artists, actors, and entertainment professionals. She’s also an adjunct professor at Belmont University, where she developed the first-ever course on Social and Emotional Intelligence in the Entertainment Industry—a course that’s now required to graduate from the Curb College of Music Business. Cristi s
Ask Giggs #4 | The Truth About Failure — and Why You’ll Survive It
Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community.Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/Stay up to date:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.liveYoutube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-liveLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giggs-llc/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggs.liveHost: Nikki Sanz
#39 Ryan Lampa | Turning Roadie Friday Into 17 Years of Service
Ryan Lampa has spent 18 years touring the world with many artists, most notably TobyMac. But in 2008, his mission shifted—from tour life to nonprofit work. Ryan Lampa is the Founder and CEO of People Loving Nashville, one of the most impactful homeless outreach organizations in the city. It started with five meals and a simple prayer: ‘God, teach me how to love people.’ 17 years later, PLN has nev
Ask Giggs #3 | Why You’re Not Getting Called Back (and What To Do About It)
Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community.Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/Stay up to date:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.liveYoutube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-liveLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giggs-llc/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggs.liveHost: Nikki Sanz
Giggs Rewind | 18 Ways to Break Into the Live Event & Music Industry
"How can I work in music industry?" Giggs Founder, Nikki Sanz, answers the most frequently asked question by sharing 18 practical strategies to break into the music, live event, and touring industry. In this episode, she organizes insights from top professionals and her personal experiences to provide actionable advice, moving beyond the typical "just meet the right people" sug
#38 Vinnie Ferra & Jonny Stiegler | From Zero to SNL: How The Beehive Develops Artists
The duo behind one of the tour collective: The Beehive. Founded in 2016 by Vinnie Ferra and Jonny Stiegler, The Beehive was built to make the touring experience better—for artists, yes—but more importantly, for the crew. What started as two friends backing each other’s clients has become a full-service operation combining tour management, musical direction, custom arrangements, and crew developmen
Ask Giggs #2 | The Double Life of Touring & Irreplaceable Skills
Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community.Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/Stay up to date:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.liveYoutube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-liveLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giggs-llc/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggs.liveHost: Nikki Sanz
Ask Giggs #1 | Rates, Respect, and Roles You Never Knew Existed
Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community.Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/Stay up to date:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.liveYoutube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-liveLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giggs-llc/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggs.liveHost: Nikki Sanz
#37 Sean Porter | From Tour Bus to Hot Dog Empire: The Daddy Behind the Dogs
Sean Porter - better known as Big Daddy - spent years touring with acts like Cage the Elephant, Elle King, Lifehouse, and American Idol. After one too many late nights with nothing but gas station snacks and cold pizza, he had a simple idea: start serving up real food to the late-night crowd. That idea turned into Daddy’s Dogs - a now-iconic Nashville brand with carts, shops, stadium booths, and a
#36 Brian Kaplan | Tim McGraw, The Rodeo, and a Career of Creative Impact
Brian Kaplan is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Down Home, the media company he launched alongside Tim McGraw and Skydance. He also co-founded the Music City Rodeo—Nashville’s first PRCA-sanctioned rodeo—which sold out three consecutive nights at Bridgestone Arena.Before that, Brian launched the first-ever digital department at Interscope Geffen and went on to lead digital strategy at
#35 Michael Strickland | 50 Years of Lighting Up Stages & Advocating Behind-The-Scenes
Michael Strickland is the Founder and Chairman of Bandit Lites. He started the company at 12 years old, grew it while working as Kenny Rogers’ production manager, and turned it into a global leader serving artists like Queen, Aerosmith, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, and hundreds more.He’s also an advocate for the live event workforce—testifying before Congress, leading pandemic rel
#34 Ryan Whelpley | Kip Moore’s First Crew Member to Red Light’s Touring Director
Ryan Whelpley is a Touring Director at Red Light Management with over 20 years of experience in live production. He started out mixing front of house at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon, then hit the road full-time tour managing the Gin Blossoms. For The Lost Trailers, he did it all—tour manager, front of house, production manager, merch, van driver. He ran pre-show, carpentry, and automation for Tim
#33 Tiffany Kerns | Shaping CMA's Future Through People, Purpose & Philanthropy
Tiffany Kerns is the Senior Vice President of Industry Relations & Philanthropy at the Country Music Association and the Executive Director of the CMA Foundation. She leads strategic programming for CMA’s 6,000+ members and drives over $30 million in music education funding across all 50 states. Whether it’s mental health support, DEI initiatives, or national advocacy for the next generation o
#32 Tate Henshaw & Farrah Usmani | Music Money: Tour Budgets, Contracts & Hidden Costs
On this episode, we’re diving into the side of the industry that keeps everything running—business management and entertainment law. Tate Henshaw and Farrah Usmani break down the hidden costs of touring, must-know contracts, when to bring in a lawyer, and why ChatGPT shouldn’t be your legal team.Tate Henshaw is the Co-Founder of ARC, a business management firm based in Atlanta. He works with every
#31 Toni Globis | Wardrobe, Props, Lighting & Pyro: The Touring Swiss Army Knife
Toni Globis—stage manager, lighting tech, production lead, and all-around road warrior. With 25 years of experience across theater, touring, festivals, and stadium shows, Toni has done it all—from running lighting for Coachella and Bad Bunny to stage managing 3 Doors Down and working pyro for Pitbull. She’s a problem-solver, a calm presence in chaos, and someone who’s literally worked with everyon
#30 Katie Everett | Work-Life Chaos: Dropping the Ball on Purpose
Katie Everett is the producer, creative director, and founder of Katalyst Productions. With over 20 years of experience in the live event industry, Katie has produced large-scale events and brand activations for clients like the Four Seasons, Central Park Conservancy, and FIFA 2026. Her agency is known for bold, high-touch, and message-driven experiences across entertainment, lifestyle, civic, and
#29 Josh Castle | “Tour Dad” - Managing Quality of Life On The Road
Josh Castle is currently on tour with Dierks Bentley as the Quality of Life Manager, and we get into what that job really is…For over 17 years, Josh Castle has worked on some of the biggest shows in entertainment, including the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the Academy Awards, CMA Awards, and ACM Awards. His roles have ranged from production assistant to talent manager and everything in between, but n
#28 Kat Gauss | "It Is What It Is...The Only Constant Is Change"
Kat Gauss has been a tour manager, production coordinator, and personal assistant to some of the biggest names in music. Kat has worked with OneRepublic, Queen + Adam Lambert, Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath, Maroon 5, the Black Eyed Peas, and Iron Maiden, just to name a few. With a career spanning nearly two decades, Kat has been at the helm of some of the most ambitious tours across the globe, ensurin
#27 How a Tour Bus is Made | Behind the Scenes with Dreamliner
Step inside the world of luxury tour buses with Dreamliner! We take you behind the scenes of how these rolling homes are built from the ground up. Host Nikki Sanz gets an exclusive tour of Dreamliner’s Nashville facility with CEO Rich Thompson, exploring the craftsmanship, innovation, and passion that go into every bus. From empty shells to fully customized artist suites, hear from the experts who
#26 Jason Geisinger | 72 Shows in 55 Days: The Real Life of Touring The Nutcracker
Jason Geisinger has over 20 years of experience in tour management and production with artists like Rihanna, Francesco Yates, BT, Dubfire, and The Cult, as well as producing corporate events for major brands and collaborating with artists Katy Perry, Maroon 5, and Imagine Dragons. He’s worked with industry giants like Live Nation, AEG, and Disney and is currently tour managing the theatrical produ
#25 Scott Welch | “The Band Goes On at 8PM - That’s the Payoff”
Scott Welch is an artist manager, tour manager, investor, consultant, advisor, dear friend, and pain in Nikki’s ass. Scott has spent decades managing multi-platinum artists like Alanis Morissette, LeAnn Rimes, Steve Perry, Paula Abdul, and Collective Soul. In the tech world, he helped launch MP3.com’s $370 million IPO and invested in StubHub, which later sold to eBay for $310 million. Today, Scott
#24 Ryan Smith & Rachel Hales - Live At Lititz | Mic Check, One Two
Rachel Pfennig Hales is the Experience Manager at Rock Lititz, where she builds live event culture and gives a voice to the brand. Rachel began her career touring with the Black Eyed Peas and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and now focuses on celebrating crews through education and experiences. She’s also the author of Tour Book, a fascinating look backstage in concert touring, featuring interviews with industry
#23 Mike Bolton & Lisa Bruno - Live From Lititz | Wardrobe on Tour - Behind the Seams
Mike Bolton is the Managing Director at Go for Wardrobe and former tour manager for Adam Kay, overseeing arena and large theater tours. With a wealth of experience in live events and touring, Mike brings unique insights into the behind-the-scenes operations that make shows run seamlessly.Lisa Bruno is a music industry veteran with over 20 years of experience working with legendary artists like Ric
#22 Jim Digby - Live From Lititz | When Stages Collapse and Crowds Riot
Jim Digby is a live entertainment veteran with four decades of experience working with artists like Linkin Park, The Killers, and Phil Collins, as well as spearheading major projects like Saudi Arabia’s first international music festival. As President and Co-Founder of the Event Safety Alliance, Jim’s career has been shaped by a steadfast dedication to safety and wellness in the industry.Event Saf
#21 Joanne Croxford & Suzi Green - Live From Lititz | Sobriety, Wellness, and the Power of Ego
Joanne Croxford is a seasoned tour professional with a career spanning work with Robbie Williams, Sia, Duran Duran, and Anastacia. Beyond touring, she’s been a mental health advocate with Music Support and co-founded Roadies in Recovery, a support group championing sobriety in the live event industry. Joanne’s initiatives, like the ‘sober table’ at the TPi Awards, are paving the way for meaningful
#20 Kelly Clague - Live from Lititz | Burnout, Success, and Safety on Tour
Kelly Clague is the Senior Vice President at EM.Co where she oversees the career of Tim McGraw across music, film, branding, and partnerships. Kelly’s contributions extend beyond artist management—she’s the founder of SafeTour, a groundbreaking initiative launched in 2019 to create safe, equitable, and inclusive workspaces for the music touring community. Through her work with Tim McGraw and as a
#19 Fitz & ICE - Live From Lititz | Rigging, Venue Production, & Event Promotion
Brandon Fitzgerald, AKA FITZ, is a tour rigger based in Washington, DC, with a strong background in IATSE Local 22. He specializes in tour rigging, permanent installations, counterweight rigging, and VectorWorks drafting. Recently, Brandon finished a tour with SZA and is currently touring with Lainey Wilson.Dan Hart, AKA ICE, is a Live Nation production manager and promoter rep with years of exper
#18 Ina Jacobs - Live From Lititz | More Than Math - The Tour Accountant Life
Ina Jacobs handles financial analytics and global touring operations at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in the music touring department. With a background as a tour accountant for major acts like John Mayer, One Direction, Mumford & Sons, and Swedish House Mafia, Ina brings deep insights into the financial side of the live entertainment industry.Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for
#17 Marty Hom | Tour Managing Legends...Rolling Stones, Beyoncé, Shakira, Olivia Rodrigo
A true legend in the touring world: Marty Hom. With over 40 years of experience, Marty has been the driving force behind some of the biggest tours and most iconic artists on the planet - The Rolling Stones, Beyonce, Fleetwood Mac, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Nicks…He’s held roles as a tour manager, director, and producer, guiding artists like Shakira, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Van Halen, Olivia Rod
#16 Rachael Bronstein | Managing Money on the Move
Rachael Bronstein is the Founder of Life’s Jam, a financial coaching service specifically for the touring community. Rachael has a background in production finance and a passion for supporting behind-the-scenes professionals. We’ll dive deep into how she’s helping people get organized, make sustainable choices, and secure their financial futures.Follow along with Rachael and Life's Jam!lifesj
#15 Chris Thacker | Calm in the Chaos
Chris Thacker is an industry veteran who started his career as a guitar tech on tour with Butch Walker back in 2010. Since then, Chris has worn many hats on the road—from backline tech to set carpenter, playback tech, and stage manager. Now, he’s the tour manager for country artist Dierks Bentley. In addition to his work on the road, Chris recently co-founded StageWater, a canned water brand that
#14 Riley Green, The Olympics, and Cue
Cue, an incredible tech company whose solutions are already being used across the NFL, college teams, European soccer, and even the Olympics Hear about how this tech is making its debut in the music world with none other than country artist Riley Green.Ryan Dokke, the Senior Vice President of Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment, a part of Big Machine Label Group. Ryan continues to oversee
#13 Drew Magid | Manager vs. Messenger
Please welcome Big Loud Manager, Drew Magid, to the Giggs podcast. Drew has spent over a decade working with some of the biggest names in Rock, Pop, and Country, including Imagine Dragons, Charlie Puth, The War On Drugs, FGL, and alt-J. He started his career on the road, working nearly every role imaginable before transitioning to full-time tour management with Grouplove. Drew then joined Big Loud
#12 Chris Lisle | "Mic Drop With Robert Plant"
Production Designer, Lighting Designer, Production Manager, and Show Producer, Chris Lisle. Owner of CLLD, he has over 32 years of experience, working with legendary acts like Alice Cooper, Robert Plant, Peter Frampton, Brooks and Dunn, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, One Republic, and major events like the Grammys, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and the NFL Draft. He’s also the co-founder of
#11 Angie Warner | Building Tour Family On The Road
We’re honored to be joined by Angie Warner, a true legend in the touring world who’s worked on the road for the last 24 years for Lady Gaga, Madonna, Guns ’N Roses, The Rolling Stones, Imagine Dragons, Jay Z, BTS, and many more. For the past five years, she has been the tour manager for Post Malone, and recently, she’s transitioning into a totally new direction - country music as Tour Manager for
#10 Cole Bibler | Don’t Burn Beyoncé - Pyro 101
On this episode, we dive into the explosive world of special effects with Cole Bibler, the President and founder of Showlive SFX. Before starting his own company with Hayden Hale, he worked with some of the biggest names in music, including Metallica, Kanye West, Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Kid Rock, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Marilyn Manson, and many more. We dive into his journey, his love for blowi
#9 Carrie Lelwica | From Catering Assistant to Business Owner
Carrie Lelwica is an Artist Manager and the founder of Soar Entertainment. She previously worked on the road as Production Assistant for Alison Krauss, Blake Shelton, and Hunter Hayes and currently works as a Promoter Rep. for Police Productions with Cody Johnson. Additionally, Carrie manages rising country stars like Ashland Craft, Sean Stemaly, Stephen Paul, Sammy Arriaga, and serves as a Day-To
#8 Jamison Wiersema | Tim McGraw's Mobile Gym on 18 Wheels
Jamison Wiersema, an Experiential Marketing Tour Manager, Brand Representative, and CDL-A driver. Jamison has managed marketing campaigns for WME/IMG Live, working with clients like Budweiser, Verizon, and Coca-Cola, and has been involved in some of the biggest events in the industry, including the Super Bowl, World Series, and major music festivals. Currently, Jamison is the Activation Manager fo
#7 | 18 Ways to Break Into the Live Event & Music Industry
"How can I work in music industry?" Giggs Founder, Nikki Sanz, answers the most frequently asked question by sharing 18 practical strategies to break into the music, live event, and touring industry. In this episode, she organizes insights from top professionals and her personal experiences to provide actionable advice, moving beyond the typical "just meet the right people" sug
#6 Sooner Routhier | Color, Collaboration, and Coldplay
Sooner Rae Routhier is a renowned Principal Designer who is a 2X Parnelli, Live Design Achievement, Live Production Summit Pinnacle, and multi Top Dog award-winning designer. Her designs can be seen on Jimmy Fallon, The AMA’s, The Ellen Show, The Voice, and The Billboard Music Awards. She has crafted iconic shows for artists such as Coldplay, Panic at the Disco, The Weeknd, KISS, Imagine Dragons,
#5 Jim Yakabuski | "Holy $h!t I’m Mixing Van Halen"
Jim Yakabuski is a veteran live audio engineer with 43 years of experience. Jim has mixed Front of House for iconic artists such as No Doubt, Shania Twain, Matchbox 20, Gwen Stefani, Rob Thomas, Peter Frampton, and many more. He has worked on massive events like the Super Bowl and Coachella, and is currently the Audio Director for US Live Productions at Solotech.Find your next Gigg and join the #1
#4 Mark Oglesby | Health, Leadership, & Sobriety on the Road
Mark Oglesby, currently the tour manager for Post Malone, is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the music industry. His career began as road manager for The Clark Family Experience. Since then, Mark has managed tours for high-profile artists including Jennifer Nettles with Sugarland, Billy Carrington, Emerson Drive, Good Charlotte, Sum 41, Pink, OneRepublic, and Kane Brown
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