The Tour Life

Tomas Wolfe is an audio engineer who has toured with artists such as Rune The Jewels, Lettuce, and Baby Keem.

In this episode we discuss his path from unpaid intern to touring pro, the things he learned from facing the COVID industry shutdown, the importance of starting the conversation on mental health in your community, as well as some other great nuggets around resilience and taking risks.

Joseph Farriella is a Tour Manager, Production Manager, and Tour accountant who has worked with artists such as Snoop Dogg, Toni Braxton, Orianthi, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Chromeo, The Ataris, Simple Plan, and Matchbox Twenty, among others.

In this episode, we discuss the state of touring going into fall 2021, how touring has changed over the years, and the importance of being financially responsible in the touring industry.

Justin Press is a tour photographer and podcaster who also provides tour security services through Silver Spear Security. He is the co-host of the Making Waves Podcast and the Scatterbrain Podcast. He is also a contributor to the radio industry magazine, Max Alt Rock.

In this episode, we discuss why following up is so important, how he got his first taste of the Security world with In This Moment, the role podcasting played for out-of-work touring folk in 2020, how he stays connected to the Shiprocked community of fans, and why physical fitness is incredibly important for the touring community.

Jim Digby is a Production Manager and Tour Director who has worked with artists such as Linkin Park, Enrique Iglesias, and Backstreet Boys among many others. He is the Co-Founder and President of the global nonprofit Event Safety Alliance. He is also one of the founders of Show Makers, a platform that was developed to share industry content, facilitate conversations, provide thought leadership, and showcase organizations that are dedicated to the live events community.

In this episode, we discuss how self-reflection can help you understand who you are and what role can play in this world, the importance of prioritizing 'the human' behind the work above all else, the value of becoming an empathetic listener, how Chester Bennington's (Linkin Park) death by suicide opened his eyes to the underlying mental health difficulties that were closer than they appeared, how Mental Health First Aid training shifted his perspective on leadership, and how to invest in yourself in order to be equipped to care for the humans you work with.

Graham Rolak is a lighting designer who has worked with artists such as AFI, Deftones, Primus, Papa Roach, Incubus, At The Drive-In, System of a Down, and The Neighbourhood.

In this episode, we discuss what it has been like living through the pandemic, reexamining the relationship between you and your career, the value of live performances for fans, artists, and crew, as well as the importance of prioritizing transparency and collaboration over competition.

Sai Hanif is a tour director and production manager who has worked with artists such as The Wallflowers, Cage the Elephant, Arctic Monkeys, Walk the Moon, Gabriel “ fluffy” Iglesias, X ambassadors, and Capital Cities. He is also the creator and owner of Masters of Maple Drums and Ghost Tech, a tech company that aims to solve the health and safety challenges of touring during and post-COVID pandemic.

In this episode, we discuss how the world has changed and how important it is to stay on top of and ahead of the health and safety challenges that COVID has brought us, including how to keep your crew and artists’ personal information safe.

Jen Kellogg is a Tour Accountant who has worked on productions such as warped tour and began her career in the industry at Jam Productions in Chicago. She is an adjunct professor at Columbia College Chicago and the Executive Director of Show Makers which was developed to share industry content, facilitate conversations, provide thought leadership, and showcase organizations that are dedicated to the live events community.

In this episode, we discuss finding a career path in the music industry, how to show up for your kids as they find their way in life, being pregnant on tour, understanding your values and priorities in order to establish and enforce personal boundaries, the value of decluttering, as well as the effects of motherhood on Jen’s interpersonal communication style.

Marty Hom is Tour Manager and Tour Director who has worked with artists such as The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Barbara Streisand, Lenny Kravitz, Chicago, Paula Abdul, Alicia Keys, Shakira, Beyoncé, Backstreet Boys, Stevie Nicks, Van Halen, Bette Midler, Ricky Martin, Boston, Janet Jackson, and Bill Withers among many others.

In this episode, we discuss what it’s like to take a leap of faith by leaving the family business to pursue a non-traditional path, how the industry can provide healthcare for touring professionals, the importance of educating people about the industry in order to create diversity in touring, the path to fulfillment in your career, and adapting to home life when you get home from the road.

Rayna Zemel is a music producer, playback engineer, live show designer, photographer, film producer, consultant, and activist who has worked with artists such as Pentatonix, Dua Lipa, Lana Del Rey, and The Lonely Island among many others.

In this episode, we discuss what live music executives and artists can do to care for their crews, the importance of learning emotional intelligence, how nurturing your community can help fight post-tour depression and other mental health issues, the importance of representation, what it’s like being the only black, queer female playback engineer, political activism, and how the tour industry can be more equitable post-COVID.

Paul Dalen is a Tour Manager, Production Manager, and Audio Engineer who has worked with artists such as Animal Collective, Aimee Mann, Bonnie Raitt, Cowboy Junkies, Fiona Apple, Luna, Marc Cohn, Nas, Nick Lowe, Nick Swardson, My Morning Jacket, The Wallflowers, Indigo Girls, tUnE-yArDs, Joe Henry, Rosanne Cash, Bruce Hornsby, The Jayhawks, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Joan Baez, Suzanne Vega, among many others.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of surrounding yourself with people who inspire and encourage you, as well as how practicing self-awareness, empathy, and acceptance can help you be lead a sustainable life and career.

Philip Payne is a Talent Manager who for nearly a decade as a partner of ScoreMore MGMT, has played an intimate role in the career of Tory Lanez with past responsibilities including tour manager, DJ, Music Director, security, A&R, and songwriter.

In this episode we discuss what it’s like to have to pivot from football into working in the music industry, leaning into uncomfortable feelings in order to reach your full potential, being self-aware in order to grow and hold yourself accountable, why failing is an essential part of the journey and the importance of trusting your gut.