Tour: Luke Bryan
Dates: “My Kind of Night Tour” runs Jan. 2014-March 2015. A new production starts May 2015.
The design process:
“Luke’s Production Manager Pete Healey and I come up with concepts and get input from Luke and his manager Kerri Edwards. We then work out the logistics and technical details for a finalized proposal. By including everyone early and often, we can avoid costly, time consuming re-designs.”
Back Story
Home Base: Nashville
First Tour: 1998
Career Spark: “I wanted to become a record producer. However, early opportunities were in live production. I gravitated to lighting where I could be more creative and expressive. Little did I know that meant I would be pulling feeder and climbing truss for the next five years!”
First Industry Gig: “A local cable TV series called “Live At..”. in Philadelphia. I was essentially paid in food, but it led to great opportunities.”
First LD Gig: “I got a call to run lights for Leo Kottke. I never heard of him, didn’t know his music, and I never ran a lighting console before, but I took the gig because it paid $100… and how hard could it be?”
First Tour: “Spirit of the Dance. My first year was as the first electrician; I eventually moved into the board op role.”
Designers to Watch: “Roy Bennett. I have never met him or worked with him, but I have to respect him as someone who has been designing at such a high level on high profile gigs and for such a long time.”
Favorite Past Tours: “I worked for Dolly Parton for about three years as her on-staff designer. Dolly and her management made the environment feel like a big family. I hadn’t found that again until I started working for Luke. This is the best organization I have ever been a part of.”
What do you like about what you do? “I enjoy operating shows, being in the center of a large audience that is totally focused on the show. I enjoy the connection between fan and artist.”
Best advice: “Be willing to do the hard work, the dirty work, the seemingly endless tasks and that may get you the next opportunity.”
Luke Bryan tour photo by Todd Kaplan
