Episodes

Udo began his career in the rigid confines of Siemens before joining his brother in the club lighting business he had created - B&K. There, Udo fell in love with the lighting business and began to dream up his first innovation in GLP - the innovative Patend Light.

Blizzard was started by a couple of musicians with a very basic need for better lighting, so they started a company! Then, realizing they would need someone to create sales channels, distribution, etc - they brought in a 3rd partner, Frank Luppino.

Naming your company after (arguably) the best driver to have ever raced in F1 says something.... but Yvan shares something with Mr Senna... he has passion for perfection, horsepower and just getting it right. Ayrton have quietly become a major player in the lighting business as their company continues to grow. This podcast is brought to you by ACT Lighting.

You want to learn about lighting your live shows for TV or Video? These are a few of the people you DEFINITELY want to learn from! Jeff Ravitz, Bob Barnhart and Tiffany Keys have collectively lit virtually every major televised event between them. Do NOT miss this one!! Brought to you by Martin Professional.

Bob has been wandering LDI with his roller bag of coffee for as long as I can remember. As bob says... it gets him invited to a lot of parties... but it's also brilliant marketing on his part. Robert started his first business at 12 years old and founded Eggshell at 16. Since that time, he's worked with the who's who of live acts. This episode is brought to you by ACT Lighting.

This week marks the 24th anniversary of the Miami Beach LDI show that saw Martin break all barriers, creating a booth and show that raised the bar for everyone else. Incorporating an Emmitt Kelly style clown, trick riding BMX guys and a choir made up of Roboscans... this booth helped launch the PAL - which among other things was the very first moving light incorporating automated framing shutters. This episode was recorded live on Martin's booth at LDI 2019!

Lee has had a career that began in music, continuing on to commercial sales with GC Pro / Guitar Center, territory management with Sennheiser, national sales for AVID and now, he is head of sales for Martin Audio.

Not very many folks in our industry are more colorful and fun than Steve Warren of Avolites. If you know him... you love him, but don't try keeping up! Learn about Steve's upbringing and his rise up thru the lighting industry to take on ownership and management of the company in the early 90s. What a ride! Sponsored by Roe Visual.

Fireplay is a unique business founded in 2017 by Nick Whitehouse and partners to provide a more unique and complete design experience to their clients, and better, fuller services to designers as well. With an eclectic and top client list including James Taylor, Kylie Minogue, Justin Timberlake, Lady Antebellum, The Killers and so many more, Fireplay's system seems to be working brilliantly!

TOO MANY people are on the road without a care for what is being saved for your futures, leaving your families with nothing. You have to plan not only for your future but the future of your families. Darren shares with us some ideas for someone is ready to raise your hand and start working. Brought to you by ACT Lighting. NOTE: We are not endorsing the services of this business - only talking with their founder. Do your OWN due diligence prior to ever hiring a financial planner.

Pio Nahum was in the automated lighting business way before it was a "thing".... when moving lights were only sold to nightclubs and huge discos in Europe, especially Italy. He was at Clay Paky for the Goldenscan, the Superscan, Miniscan and then again for the launch of the Sharpie and Xtylos. But people forget that Pio also spent 5 years with Michelin and 9 with Martin Professional. He's a nice guy, a great leader and someone who the industry will miss... unless of course the lure pulls him bac...

With LDI fast approaching, we turn our sites to the show, and of course, gear! Following Electrical Engineering school - Richard started his career with Blackstone and High End Systems - going on to become an author, educator and proponent of doing things better and safer. He joins us today to discuss those things and we go down a short list of gear as well! Today's podcast is sponsored by ROE Visual.

Most entrepreneurs are "all-in" on their business, both financially and emotionally as well. Yvan was in the production and touring business and saw a problem and went about solving the problem while create a market - Mobile Staging - that didn't exist in any shape or form prior to his idea. Stageline continue to lead the mobile staging market today as they take on portable and temporary structures next. This podcast is brought to you by the fine folks at Act Lighting

Creech got his name from a friend, you'll learn why on the podcast. One of the guys in touring lighting who "really gets things done", Creech has enjoyed an incredible career, primarily with his current employer, Premier Global. He believes in ETREME customer service, and making sure his clients get what they need always. But also, Creech is a phenomenal underwater photographer and diving / shark enthusiast. Brought to you by Elation Lighting.

Craig has been a fixture in the broadway, install and rock and roll lighting business since 1990 and continues today in a very successful run with Robe. However, many don't know that we almost lost Craig, who 3 years ago was diagnosed with Stage 4 Terminal cancer. Hear about his battle, his career, and a couple funny stories along the way. Episode 48 is sponsored by our newest supporter, ROE Visual.

We discuss some current events, then welcome back our highest rated episode from WAY back in Week 12 - John Wiseman. John is definitely one of the busiest, most effective, and most "storied" characters in this amazing industry. Hear him for the first time - or listen again - and you'll enjoy it as much as I did the second time around!

Most people don't know that Peter started out as a singer in the New Christie Minstrels. He recorded albums as a folk singer and then ended up with recording and TV star, Mac Davis, where he was initially a tour manager and sometimes opening act - then "bluffed" his way into a lighting position. It's a good thing, because Peter spent the next 50 years lighting some of the biggest acts we've known - spanning rock, pop, country and even Babs herself. Hearing Peter tell his story is amazing, so gra...

Mickey got his start selling tee-shirts on tour with AC-DC which led to an opportunity to make a move into lighting. His first lighting tour was with Sir Elton and there have been countless others since. Brought up in a household that included his father, legendary Manager, Bill Curbishley (The Who, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, etc) - Mickey was taught incredible work ethic and continues to teach that today. It's also surreal to hear the story of SRV's fateful end in a helicopter that also took the...

The PLASA show has always been such an important date on the calendar of so many lighting, sound, staging and video manufacturers and buyers. It was always the show that started the crazy season of new product releases. While that has changed a lot since the internet, YouTube, etc - PLASA still remains a very important and significant show. We discuss a long list of new products in anticipation of their showing at PLASA, beginning Sunday. We also take a few moments to remember 9-11 on the 18th a...

Most people don't get to start ONE successful company, let alone 2! This pair, Tony Andrews and partner, John Newsham have been fortunate to do exactly that. Together, the two speaker fanatics founded Turbosound in the late 70s, then after selling the company roughly 10 years later, went on to start Funktion One - arguably, the greatest club speaker package ever created! They are passionate about sound, and admit to hating Line Array... listen now! Brought to you by our friends at Elation Lighti...

Security and safety surrounding crowded public events and specifically, concerts have become a growing topic of discussion. We've seen tragedies including Manchester and Vegas that have impacted not only the people at those events, victims and their families - but have changed our industry to an extent. Eric comes from a lengthy background in Policing and has created a company, Gentian Events, to deal with this concern.

Jim is the founding partner in multiple companies within the live event production sector, including Sound, Lighting, Video, Large Format Staging, Mobile Staging, Entertainment Trucking, Entertainer Tour Buses, Field Covering for Sports venues, Stadium Seating and Barrier Services. While this is a diverse list of companies, Jim's unique management philosophies make it possible for SES to excel in each area. Jim now runs the companies with his son, Michael, at his side.

Peavey was founded in the 60's based on a very simple need... "we need gear for our band". From there, Hartley went on to create a massive empire of not only guitar amplifiers, but sound equipment, great guitars, an amplifier for one of the greatest guitarists ever born (the 5150 for EVH) and along the way, even some keyboards and drums! Hartley believes in building great product at an affordable price, and has done that longer than almost anyone in the industry, and although he's 77 years old, ...

Robert's relationships and tenure in the rock and roll business are unrivaled - that's for certain. But what most people don't realize is that Robert is actually one of the best "solutions" guys in the business. His motto has always been "as a fireman, I have to run INTO the fire, not away from it" and that's earned him a seat on some massive tours, shows, events, etc. We also welcome Matthias Hinrichs, Product Manager from our sponsor, Elation lighting, to discuss the latest Rayzor 760 fixture.