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 crews. Rachel is a key figure in planning ‘The Conference: Live at Lititz,’ shaping its content.

Ryan Smith is the Regional Manager of Artist Relations at Shure, with over 30 years of experience supporting artists and crafting relationships in the music industry. Starting at Shure in 1993, Ryan has worked across customer service and artist relations while maintaining his passion as a drummer and percussionist. When he’s not connecting with artists, he enjoys woodworking, videography, and camping with his family.

Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/

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Host: Nikki Sanz

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 Ricky Martin, Aerosmith, Madonna, and Lady Gaga. Lisa’s versatile career spans wardrobe, talent support, production coordination, and artist care. She also owns a boutique backstage furniture rental company, combining creativity with logistical expertise to enhance live events. 

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Host: Nikki Sanz

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 Safety Alliance:
Web: eventsafetyalliance.org
Email: [email protected]

Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/

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Host: Nikki Sanz

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 change.

Suzi Green is a veteran tour manager with 25 years in the music industry, working with icons like PJ Harvey, Clean Bandit, and Grace Jones. After experiencing burnout, Suzi retrained as a naturopathic nutritionist, blending her expertise in touring with a passion for holistic wellness. She founded ‘The BACK LOUNGE,’ a global peer support group for live music professionals, and is now completing an MA in Psychotherapy to further support the industry.

Roadies In Recovery:
Web: roadiesinrecovery.com
Email: [email protected]

The Back Lounge:
Web: healthy-touring.com/the-back-lounge
FB Group: @thebackloungetouring

Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/

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Host: Nikki Sanz

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 champion for safety and inclusion on the road, Kelly is shaping the future of the live music industry.

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Host: Nikki Sanz

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 experience running shows in Virginia Beach and beyond. He has worked with iconic artists like Patti LaBelle and has taken on roles such as drum tech and stage manager. Known as the go-to expert for Southern Virginia, the Carolinas, and Savannah, Dan brings deep industry knowledge to every production.

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Host: Nikki Sanz

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 the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/

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Host: Nikki Sanz

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 Rodrigo, and Lionel Richie. Known for his expertise and his remarkable leadership style, Marty creates a sense of family on tour. As one of the few Asian Americans in the industry when he began, Marty helped pave the way for greater diversity in tour management.

Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/

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Host: Nikki Sanz

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!
lifesjam.com
IG: @lifesjam
LI: @lifesjam

Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/

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Host: Nikki Sanz

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 gives back to entertainment workers in need.

This episode is sponsored by Showlive SFX - When the lights go down, the lasers come up, and the pyro explodes, who makes sure it's unforgettable? Showlive SFX - your ultimate partner in spectacular effects. Visit ShowliveSFX.com today, and Ignite Your Lifestyle.

Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/

Stay up to date:
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Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giggs-llc/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggs.live

Host: Nikki Sanz