After decades of working with some of the biggest names in live music, four industry leaders have come together and launched a professional conference that will be unlike anything that has come before it—THE Conference: Live at Lititz. In partnership with the Rock Lititz Community, Charlie Hernandez, Jake Berry, Marty Hom, and Stuart Ross (CJMS) are putting on a one-of-a-kind conference for live-event professionals. Taking place December 7 – 9, 2022 on the Rock Lititz campus in Lititz, PA, THE Conference: Live at Lititz, an event for live-music professionals at all stages of their careers, will deliver interactive, dynamic content to foster the next generation in live-event production. PLSN spoke with Hernandez and Hom about THE Conference, the state of the industry, and the ideas that sparked this conference.
“I think there’s really not a conference that addresses what we need to talk about—labor, equity, mental health, the environment, and philanthropy,” comments Hernandez. “We need to be talking about ‘how do we leave the industry better than we found it?’ I think it’s important to get to that place, especially now after, as I call it, ‘the plague’. There were a lot of things through that that were revealed, and it really brought a lot of subjects up for discussion amongst us. We all thought, ‘So, what do we do? Well, let’s all get together.’ There’s a lot of smart people in our industry. Let’s all get together and try to come up with solutions, have a conversation, try to come up with different ways of doing things.”
Hom agrees with Hernandez, saying, “We’re trying to address some of the issues that our industry really never sits down as a group and talks about. There are specific issues that we want to address, like diversity and sustainability as well as our workforce—where are we going to get our new workforce. I think it’ll be interesting for all of us who attend to see what happens. Then we can grow upon that next year.”
“We want to try to get decision makers and the next generation of people in the room together,” explains Hernandez, “so that we can not only talk about what we’ve done and how we’ve done it, but also talk about what we’re going to do next. Listen to the next generation of what they want and what their needs are, and how we can help make that happen.”
THE Conference will bring together some of the most gifted, experienced, and ethical industry leaders whose objectives are to inspire young professionals to pick up the torch and make their mark on equality, equity, diversity, and sustainability, assuring a better future for all. With diverse panels, one-on-one conversations, town halls, interactive workshops, product demonstrations, tours, and themed social gatherings each night, attendees will leave with mindful ways to take the next step in their live-music production career.
When planning the sessions, it was important for the CJMS team to facilitate real conversation. “It’s not going to be the usual three or four people on the stage talking at a crowd,” says Hernandez. “We’re trying to approach it in a different format, where there’ll be a discussion and then be interactivity, with workshops and deep dives into subjects. I think that we’ve been very successful in getting real experts, real thought leaders into the room. It’s really about not so much being talked to but talking with each other. I hope that we can bring a different view and a more inclusive view to the table. We want diversity, and we want to get more people involved. We all want people that are there to meet other people that they normally would not meet but here they can be in the same room together.”
Hom is particularly pleased with the team agreeing on the need to get younger voices on the panels and to play a large part in THE Conference. “When we started planning, I told Jake and Charlie that nobody wants to hear us talk anymore. We’ve been talking for 30 years and we’re old. We have to get some fresh ideas and some young people on the panels; people who never get a chance to talk or to raise their voices; who never get heard. I think that’s important.” There was also an effort to ensure that women were part of the panels, says Hom, “Out of all our speakers, 40% are women. We’re trying to address some of the issues that our industry really never addresses. We wanted to make sure the conference is reflective of society, that we have diversity on the panels; that we have women on the panel.”
CJMS don’t necessarily see a lot of younger people willing to engage in the business. They want to change that with THE Conference. “One of the main goals of THE Conference is to try to get younger people engaged in our business,” acknowledges Homs. “I think as veteran people, we have to share our experiences with the newer people that are trying to get in and make it in the business. You know, there’s nothing like firsthand experience. We want to help new people to understand what our business is about, and to really understand what a great community of people it is.”
The sincere hope of the CJMS team is that THE Conference is “a real gathering that’s not just about talking, but a real gathering of listening,” concludes Hernandez. “It’s a chance for a real gathering of interaction amongst us all. It is about the state of the industry that we are in now and asking ‘how can we make it better? How can we leave it better than we found it?’ We want to make sure that it’s a safe place now, and in the future. We think this gathering is a great place to start. This is a family business and it’s important to each of us. It’s important to me, Jake, Marty, and Stuart to be hosting this. It’s going to be great.”
To see the sessions, speakers, and to register for THE Conference: Live at Lititz go to https://www.theconferenceliveatlititz.com.
About CJMS
Charlie Hernandez is a production manager and the president of QED Productions. He has produced and consulted on worldwide events with artists and clients such as Sting, The Police, WWE, Farm Aid, Aerosmith, and David Bowie. Hernandez, along with partner Lori Tierney, co-founded JUSTABUNCHOFROADIES.ORG, a non-profit charity organization, whose mission is to respond in a collaborative, efficient manner, along with companies and individuals who work in the live touring music industry, to specific projects based on humanitarian needs both domestic and internationally.
Jake Berry is known as one of the biggest names in tour production management. Over the years he has counted U2, Metallica, The Rolling Stones, Shakira, Madonna, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, the Electric Daisy Carnival, Coldplay, and many, many others as clients.
Marty Hom is a 40-year concert touring veteran who has worked as tour director/manager with The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Nicks, Shakira, Beyonce, Lionel Richie, Van Halen and Justin Bieber. His first job as a tour manager was in 1985 with the legendary Bill Withers. He is also the talent producer for MusiCares Person of the Year.
Stuart Ross has over 40 years in the live-music industry where he has worked with artists like Tom Waits, Metallica, George Michael, Weezer and Spinal Tap. He was COO of festivals at Goldenvoice/AEG and helped launch the Lollapalooza Tour. Ross is currently the tour manager for Journey, as well as the head of his own management company, representing artists such as Puddles Pity Party.
