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Joanna Benauer shares her inspiring journey from a costume shop to becoming a renowned arena rigger, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, continuous learning, and community support in the live entertainment industry.
LEADING LADIES PODCAST - EPISODE #29 Spotlight: Joanna Benauer | Founder & Owner, NSNS Entertainment SolutionsFrom local New England venues to arena grids across 40+ countries, Joanna Benauer has built a 16-year career at the intersection of creative production design and structural engineering.As an ETCP-certified rigger for over a decade, Joanna’s expertise spans: Advanced 3D drafting & Vectorworks overlays . Structural weight studies & load distribution analysis. Rigging advancing & tour management. Complex automation, motor tech, & dynamic flying systemsThrough her company, NSNS Entertainment Solutions (Lititz, PA), Joanna and her team bridge the gap between ambitious visual concepts and safe, real-world execution. Her portfolio includes world-class tours and productions for major artists including Weezer, Madonna, The Smashing Pumpkins, Conan Gray, Leon Bridges, KISS, and Cirque du Soleil.Whether she's managing multi-axis automated lighting pods on arena tours or advancing complex venue grids, Joanna brings a collaborative, safety-first mindset to every project.This episode is brought to you by Lightswitch
Chapters
00:00 Joanna's Unexpected Entry into the Industry
02:00 Introduction to Joanna and her current work
03:58 Challenges for women riggers in a male-dominated field
07:11 The importance of continuous learning and skill expansion
10:04 From stagehand to professional rigger
14:58 Securing her first big tour opportunity
19:58 Handling safety and technical challenges on tour
24:56 The mental health and well-being of touring crew
30:05 The role of mentorship and industry support
34:58 The impact of technology on rigging planning
39:57 Balancing work, life, and personal passions
44:58 Joanna's advice for aspiring riggers
49:59 The future of women in live entertainment rigging
54:53 Joanna's personal reflections and proudest achievements
owner NSNS Entertainment Solutions / Production Rigger
Joanna Benauer has 16 years in stagecraft, and 12 years touring experience in high profile concerts / events. Her current roles are production rigging, production coordinating, and production design. Her technical skill sets include advanced 3D drafting, weight studies, overlays, and rigging advancing for high profile clients worldwide. She has been ETCP-certified for 10 years.
Known for her collaborative and problem-solving mindset, Joanna has earned a reputation for being both approachable and highly professional, upholding the highest levels of safety while fostering positive working relationships across every team she joins.
She enjoys gardening, collecting books and vinyl, and playing music.