Rachel Pfenning Hales started her career touring around the world with the Black Eyed Peas, and then, with Lynyrd Skynyrd. She has spent the last several years working at one-of-a-kind Rock Lititz helping with various touring rehearsals and building up the live event culture on campus. She has also maintained a passion for writing about the live event industry and beyond. In this episode, we discuss Tour Book, which explores a show day in the life of roadies in the live event industry, and how the book can help crew and their friends and family understand what really goes on in a roadie’s day-to-day life. We also discuss the importance of asking questions and listening to the answers in order to make sense of a non-traditional career path, especially if you want to work out on the road. You can find her on Instagram @rapfenhales About the book: "It's show night. You've bought tickets and are waiting with your friends. The lights drop. The darkness swells in anticipation. A collective cheer grows. A breath of silence. Then, that first chord screams from the speakers. Lights flash to flood the stage, radiating as the concert comes to life. We are there, too, in the dark under the show, behind it, and above it. Each prop or cool trick, every costume or scene change requires the hidden help of someone behind the scenes. In a few hours, you will have gone home, but we will still be here, tearing it all down. We will pack up the gear, load up more than a dozen tractor-trailers, and head out to the next city." --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

The Tour Life

Tour Book, Behind the Scenes of the Live Event Industry with Rachel Pfenning Hales

Suzi Green is a Tour Manager and Naturopathic Nutritionist who has worked with artists such as Wolf Alice, Placebo, Katie Melua, PJ Harvey, Marina Diamandis, The Chemical Brothers, and James Blake. She is the creator of The Back Lounge, a support group where touring professionals have come together throughout the pandemic to share their experiences as well to prepare to get back on the road in a healthier and more sustainable way. She is also a member of the Tour Production Group which looks to make touring a friendlier and more inclusive place. In this episode, we discuss the magic of going on your first tour, getting back to work after experiencing burnout, how the illusions of being on tour contrast with reality, how The Back Lounge came to be, as well as ways we can bring wellness on tour. You can find her on Instagram @suzigr & @thebackloungetouring and also at healthy-touring.com Read Suzi's Pollstar feature here. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

Bringing Wellness on Tour to Avoid Burnout with Tour Manager & Naturopathic Nutritionist Suzi Green

Jim Runge is an award-winning tour manager who has worked with artists such as The Black Keys, Lil Dicky, Major Lazer, Imagine Dragons, Lucinda Williams, the Replacements, Chase Rice, and a long list of others. His 30+ years of entertainment industry experience has brought him to nearly every major venue and festival in the US. His career has taken him from promoting punk bands in the early '80s to managing large-scale tours. He is also a co-host and co-producer of Tour Management 101. In this episode, we discuss the importance of mentor/mentee relationships, how to stay connected to “the real world” while on the road, being a working parent, nurturing a culture of respect, how it feels to be so close to returning to the road, as well as crisis management while on the road and the toll it can take on our mental health. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

Crisis Management & Returning to Life on the Road with The Black Keys Tour Manager Jim Runge

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. You can find him on Instagram @justinpress_photo. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

Why Following Up is Key & Avoiding Burnout with Tour Photographer Justin Press

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. You can find him on Instagram @digbyjim. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

Becoming a Better Leader Through Self-Reflection & Mental Health First Aid Training with Linkin Park Tour Director Jim Digby

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. You can find him on Instagram @grahamrolak. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

Reexamining the Relationship Between You & Your Career with Lighting Designer Graham Rolak

Thank you so much for all of your support--I love and will continue to bring you new episodes of The Tour Life! In the meantime, find music Industry wellness resources at wellbetterbest.com. -Janine --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

The Tour Life Podcast Update

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. You can find him on Instagram @ladrumguy and at MyGhostTech.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

Safe Live Music Tour Management During & Post COVID Pandemic with Sai Hanif of Ghost Tech

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. You can find her on Instagram @jkellogg11. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

Touring and Parenting with Jen Kellogg

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. You can find him on Instagram @thehomster. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

Finding Fulfillment, Diversity, and Healthcare in Touring with Rolling Stones Tour Manager Marty Hom

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. You can find her on Instagram @rayzemel. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

Representation, Equity, and Community in a post-COVID World with Playback Engineer Rayna Zemel

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. You can find him on Instagram @realrealpauldalen. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

Practicing Self-Awareness for a Sustainable Life & Career with Paul Dalen

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. You can find him on Instagram @philipapayne. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

Leaning Into the Discomfort with Talent Manager Philip Payne

Kevin McGuire is a 20 year veteran of the live event industry, Musician, and LED Tech/Media Server operator who has worked with artists such as Duran Duran, John Legend, The Weeknd, Shakira, Hugh Jackman, and on the VMAs and Grammy Awards. His new single is dropping on Feb 26th with a full-length release on April 2nd for his collective The Gama Sennin. In this episode we discuss experiencing loss, retreating, reflecting, choosing wellness one small habit at a time, and the wonders that come from taking care of plants. You can find him on Instagram @dr_m_11 & @thegamasennin --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

Life-Changing Small Habits with Kevin McGuire of The Gama Sennin

John Gaurnieri is a former member of the United States Secret Service and the Chief Operating Officer of Silver Spear Security, LLC, a private security firm. He is the security Director for the band Shinedown and Smith & Myers. In this episode, we discuss what it was like to have his tour shut down because of coronavirus in March 2020, what it’s like to be out touring during the pandemic, the vital role of COVID Compliance Officers & training, as well as how starting a podcast has helped him continue to learn & grow. Follow John on Instagram @johnsilverspear and @speartalkpodcast. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetourlife/support

Touring During & After the COVID-19 Pandemic with Security Director John Gaurnieri

Stories from music industry professionals about life on & off the road to help you lead a happier & healthier life. Hosted by Janine, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and NASM-CPT. Follow on Instagram @thetourlifepodcast & check out thetourlifepodcast.com.