Episodes

264
Sept. 18, 2024

#264 - David “Duck” Burns

David “Duck” Burns is an Experienced Account Manager and Technical Director with a demonstrated history of working in the events services industry. Skilled in Production Management, Stage Management, Lighting, Sound, Video, LED, and Rigging. From Opera to Country, Hip-Hop to Metal, Dance and Theatre,Television and Corporate Events, David has worked them all, he has loved living abroad and traveling the world over the last 40 years. The friends, knowledge, and business contacts he has gained are ...
263
Sept. 12, 2024

#263 - Jake Berry

Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Jake Berry is a multiple award winning Production Director. Known throughout the industry as the go to guy for any successful tour, Jake is the founder and CEO of Jake Berry Productions, a leading tour production management company. Hailing from Devon, England, Jake comes from modest beginnings. Jake's career began as a drum and percussion technician, progressing through various international tours with groups such as The Rolling Stones, U2 and Metallic...
262
Sept. 11, 2024

#262 - Craig Caserta

Craig Caserta is the VP of Production Creative Technology Group. Originally From New York, Craig is no stranger to Event Lighting with over 20 Years of experience as a Lighting Designer and Programmer. Craig has worked for a diverse range of productions, including Concerts, Corporate Events, Trade Shows, Touring, Television, Film, and DVD Shoots providing both Lighting Design and programming and is also at the forefront of the latest technologies, working with key manufacturers in developing and...
261
Sept. 4, 2024

#261 - Sebastien Boulanger

Sebastien Boulanger is a 15 year veteran of the Live Events industry, having worked as a Technical Director for the likes of the Quebec Minister of Justice and Cirque de Soleil. Then starting his own events company, IC Events, and finally founding DVOX, a new tech business that brings fan experience to another level.This Epsiode is brought to you by AVL Media Group and ROE Visual
260
Aug. 28, 2024

#260 - Lori Rubinstein

Lori Rubinstein is the Executive Director of the Behind the Scenes Foundation, a 501C3 charity which provides Basic Needs grants to entertainment technology professionals who are seriously ill or injured and Counseling grants for therapy or addiction rehab. The BTS Mental Health Initiative provides tools and resources to support entertainment industry workers and promote mental health and wellness. Lori has been in the industry for over 45 years and was the Executive Director of the Entertainmen...
258
Aug. 21, 2024

#258 - Ken Lennon

Ken Lennon is the recently retired Executive Lighting Designer for Walt Disney Imagineering. His designs over the last 37 years have included such iconic attractions as Cars Land at Disney California’s Adventure, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, New Fantasyland at Tokyo Disneyland. Ken attended UCLA where he received both a BA and MFA in Theater. He started with the Walt Disney Company in 1987 at the newly created Disney Stores Design Team.Throughout his career, Ken ...
259
Aug. 16, 2024

#259 - Claire Heat

Claire Heat is a highly motivated individual with over 25 years experience in the industry, specializing in events and special projects for the music, television and film industries, she has huge amounts of energy, a strong work ethic, bags of enthusiasm, common sense and professionalism. Claire started working in the industry as stage crew whilst studying at university and has had different roles within that time from, event manager, backstage artist liaison, driven bands and sold merch all ove...
257
Aug. 14, 2024

#257 - Joe Cole

Joe Cole is the founder of R90 Lighting. R90 Lighting is first and foremost dedicated to design, their history is rooted in corporate event lighting and special event lighting design. They have over 20 years experience collectively in the event lighting sector. R90 Lighting also offers a comprehensive collection of state-of-the-art lighting, rigging, and video wall equipment for rent.Joe is a lighting designer, scenic designer, 3D drafting and pre-visualization, Programmer, Content creator and m...
256
Aug. 7, 2024

#256 - Bryan Hartley

Production and Lighting Designer Bryan Hartley has designed for a lot of metal bands in his long and storied career. Many people know Bryan as the past LD for KISS,,Megadeth, Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe, and many other names but He is perhaps best known for his longtime design work for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO), for which he has won Parnelli Awards for Best Lighting Design, This year will be 26 years with TSO. Bryan has also worked multiple times with the iconic thrash metal band Megadeth d...
261
Aug. 4, 2024

#261 - Sebastien Boulanger

Sebastien Boulanger is a 15 year veteran of the Live Events industry, having worked as a Technical Director for the likes of the Quebec Minister of Justice and Cirque de Soleil. Then starting his own events company, IC Events, and finally founding DVOX, a new tech business that brings fan experience to another level. This episode is brought to you by AVL Media Group and ROE Visual
255
July 31, 2024

#255 - Chris Lisle

Chris Lisle has over 32 years experience in the entertainment industry. He has worked in a variety of roles including Production Designer, Lighting Designer, Production Manager, and Show Producer. Chris started Chris Lisle Lighting Design back in 1991. Chris is also the co-founder and Executive Director of the Touring Career Workshop, a non-profit that serves as “Human Resources for Touring Production Professionals” This episode is brought to you by Elation and Main Light
254
July 24, 2024

#254 - Scott De Vos

Scott De Vos has been in the industry for over 50 years, he is the owner of De Lux Productions and has produced events such as the Dove Awards, PGA, Luis Palau Outdoor events and other corporate events. Scott has been highly recommended to come on the Podcast by David Milly who was on the show recently. Scott worked for a regional sound company before the tours carried their own gear. Stage managed a showcase nightclub and worked with major artists. Worked for Obie’s Lighting and toured with Fle...
253
July 17, 2024

#253 - Paul Vincent

Paul Vincent is the Founder (in 1978) of Vincent Lighting System’s Company, which sells and services theatre, television and architectural lighting and rigging systems, and related equipment. Vincent Lighting System’s also provides an extensive rental inventory, production and rigging services, and in stock theatrical supplies. Paul sold Vincent Lighting’s Company to Cleveland based Canterbury Capital in 2017, and retired from the business in 2019, after a successful transition to new leadership...
252
July 9, 2024

#252 - Dizzy Gosnell

Dizzy Gosnell is the Vice President of Production for Bandit Lites, He has been a part of the Bandit family since 1993 but he first met Michael 40 years ago when Strickland was the production manager for Blackfoot and he was on the lighting crew with Meteorlites for Iron MaidenDizzy started in the lighting business in England in the late 1970’s touring with dozens of bands such as Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Paul Simon, and Frankie goes to Hollywood. Dizzy has an incredible portfolio onli...
251
July 3, 2024

#251 - Ola Melzig

Ola Melzig began as a stagehand working on local shows in Stockholm 1989. Over the last 20 years he has gone on to produce high profile shows beginning with the massive Eurovision Song Contest, but also The Commonwealth Games, The Nobel Prize Awards and recently serving as Executive Producer of The American Song Contest as well. In February 2017, Ola was awarded Production Manager of the year at the annual TPI Awards in London. Ola is married to Joan Lyman, they have six grown up children and t...
250
June 26, 2024

#250 - Neel Vasavada

Neel Vasavada is the founder and president of Overdrive Energy Solutions.Neel is a driving force in the movement to bring green technology to the events industry. His engineering background and experience with both sustainable energy and live entertainment business development has led him to found Overdrive Energy Solutions with his co-founder Jahn "BOXER" Hardison.In 2003 he founded Apex Speed Technology, a provider of control systems and engineering consulting for prototype, research & develop...
249
June 19, 2024

#249 Michael Keeling

Michael Keeling is a Production Designer, Creative/Show Designer Director and as it says on his website, Veteran (he said it not us!) as Creative and Producer for ​Live Concert, Festivals, Content, Artist-Production, Media Campaigns and Creative Productions. Michael has worked with incredible artists including Lenny Kravitz, Coldplay, Justin Timberlake, Aerosmith, No Doubt, Incubus, Genesis, Pink Floyd and Frank Zappa to name but a few. Michaelis is the CEO of Project X, he started Project X nea...
248
June 12, 2024

#248 - Phay MacMahon

Phay Mac Mahon started his career in production management in 1976 with Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats. Since then he has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Pink, Shakira, George Michael, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Nicki Minaj, Ricky Martin and Garth Brooks. Phay has also provided Production Management for corporate clients such as Volvo Ocean Race, Orange Arrows Formula One, Gulf Air Formula One, Guinness and South African Breweries Phay has just returned from Jap...
247
June 5, 2024

#247 - Joe Casanova

Joe started back in the 80’s on the rental and production side of Century Music Systems Inc and worked as a staff engineer prepping tours, repairing equipment, training new road staff, and then engineering shows for Showco. Some of the artists for Showco were Prince, Vince Gill, Eric Clapton, James Taylor, The Rolling Stones, and Paul McCartney. For nearly 17 years Joe was the Senior National Account Executive and co-founder of the Audio Division at VER. Joe is now the Managing Partner, the co...
246
May 30, 2024

#246 - Mike “FINN” Finocchiaro

Mike “FINN” Finocchiaro is a twenty-five year veteran of the live entertainment industry. With roots as a touring lighting technician and a successful career in event production, Mike has grown to be one of the most well respected production managers working today. Over two decades spent touring the world Mike honed his skills as a master of organization while overcoming some of the most technically challenging production designs, venues, and event logistics in the process. Mike developed a hei...
245
May 29, 2024

#245 - Bob Harmon - Eggshell Lighting Company

Robert (Bob) Harmon is one of the hands down NICEST guys in the industry. You know you've made a mark in this industry when Bob approaches you at a tradeshow and hands you a bag of Hawaiian coffee. Bob started his first business at 12 years old and founded Eggshell at 16.This year Eggshell Light Company will be celebrating 50 years. Eggshell Light Company has been a boutique production company handling the light and visual needs for all who graces their shores.They combine the sublime methods ...
244
May 22, 2024

#244 - Claude Viens

⁠Claude Viens is a Product Specialist at Lighting at AVL Media Group in Montreal, Canada. Claude is responsible for projects and support in North America. Claude spearheaded AVL’s continued growth in the professional lighting and visual effects marketplace. His 30+ years of experience spans a wide range of disciplines from Lighting, Live Events, Lighting Design, Stage Lighting, Lighting Control, Tour Management, Architectural Lighting, LED Lighting Systems and Event Planning. Claudes internati...
243
May 15, 2024

#243 - Jim Woodward

Jim Woodward is an award-winning designer whose expertise is 3D visualization, rendering, and modeling for a wide variety of industries including concert & theatrical events, film, television, corporate events, trade shows, museums, architectural firms, and retail. Jim has been incorporating CAD and 3D visualization into the entertainment workflow since 1986. He's produced corporate and concert events for widely recognized companies and entertainment artists for over 40 years. Now Jim is the se...
242
May 8, 2024

#242 - Steve Warren

Steve Warren was a Shareholder and Director of Avolites Ltd until to its recent sale to Robe. For over 35 years, Steve was the public face of the console and dimming manufacturer. He began his career designing electrical layouts for hospitals, police stations, and public buildings, before joining Avolites in 1984 and working his way up into a technical sales role. Then the opportunity came, in 1991, to purchase Avolites from the original owners, Steve bought the assets of the company and became ...