Step inside the shop that keeps tours moving. In this episode, we go behind the scenes at Extreme Lighting & Sound (ELS) for an exclusive look at their team, their process, and the ShowShuttle—the modular cart system built to speed up load-ins, reduce chaos, and keep crews safer. From welding bays to machining, you’ll see how ELS designs, fabricates, and stress-tests the gear that actually moves a show. We talk to employees and sit down with the owners to unpack the real-world probl...

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community. Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/ Stay up to date: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live Host: Nikki Sanz

Shawn Worlow is the Founder and President of The Production Collective, which is the team behind some of the most complex large-scale events in the country: NFL Draft, Formula 1 Las Vegas, SEMA Fest, March Madness Music Festival, and more. He’s also the Founder of Collective Payroll, a company that simplifies workforce management for events. With nearly 30 years of experience across touring and special events, Shawn is the guy you call when things need to run smoothly — and on time. He’...

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community. Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/ Stay up to date: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live Host: Nikki Sanz Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

Mark Oglesby, currently the tour manager for Post Malone, is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the music industry. His career began as road manager for The Clark Family Experience. Since then, Mark has managed tours for high-profile artists including Jennifer Nettles with Sugarland, Billy Carrington, Emerson Drive, Good Charlotte, Sum 41, Pink, OneRepublic, and Kane Brown. Keep up with Mark on the road: Instagram: @onemarkonly Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs....

Cristi Williams is the Founder of Shading the Limelight, a mental wellness coaching company for artists, actors, and entertainment professionals. She’s also an adjunct professor at Belmont University, where she developed the first-ever course on Social and Emotional Intelligence in the Entertainment Industry—a course that’s now required to graduate from the Curb College of Music Business. Cristi spent 17 years as a teacher before joining her daughter Hayley—yes, Hayley Williams of Param...

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community. Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/ Stay up to date: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live Host: Nikki Sanz Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

Ryan Lampa has spent 18 years touring the world with many artists, most notably TobyMac. But in 2008, his mission shifted—from tour life to nonprofit work. Ryan Lampa is the Founder and CEO of People Loving Nashville, one of the most impactful homeless outreach organizations in the city. It started with five meals and a simple prayer: ‘God, teach me how to love people.’ 17 years later, PLN has never missed a Monday night feeding over 800 people every week, and they have helped over 150 indivi...

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community. Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/ Stay up to date: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live Host: Nikki Sanz Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

"How can I work in music industry?" Giggs Founder, Nikki Sanz, answers the most frequently asked question by sharing 18 practical strategies to break into the music, live event, and touring industry. In this episode, she organizes insights from top professionals and her personal experiences to provide actionable advice, moving beyond the typical "just meet the right people" suggestion. This episode is all about strategies you can put into practice. #1 - Build Your Network #2 - Research &...

The duo behind one of the tour collective: The Beehive. Founded in 2016 by Vinnie Ferra and Jonny Stiegler, The Beehive was built to make the touring experience better—for artists, yes—but more importantly, for the crew. What started as two friends backing each other’s clients has become a full-service operation combining tour management, musical direction, custom arrangements, and crew development. They’ve helped shape the live sound and stage for artists like Gracie Abrams, Halsey, Masego, ...

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community. Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/ Stay up to date: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live Host: Nikki Sanz Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community. Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/ Stay up to date: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live Host: Nikki Sanz Producer: Annabelle Wiedower

Sean Porter - better known as Big Daddy - spent years touring with acts like Cage the Elephant, Elle King, Lifehouse, and American Idol. After one too many late nights with nothing but gas station snacks and cold pizza, he had a simple idea: start serving up real food to the late-night crowd. That idea turned into Daddy’s Dogs - a now-iconic Nashville brand with carts, shops, stadium booths, and a huge local following. Named Best Hotdog and Best Late Night Eats year after year, Daddy’s Dogs h...

Brian Kaplan is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Down Home, the media company he launched alongside Tim McGraw and Skydance. He also co-founded the Music City Rodeo—Nashville’s first PRCA-sanctioned rodeo—which sold out three consecutive nights at Bridgestone Arena. Before that, Brian launched the first-ever digital department at Interscope Geffen and went on to lead digital strategy at both Sony and Universal Nashville. He’s also played a key role in building Tim McGraw’s brand f...

Michael Strickland is the Founder and Chairman of Bandit Lites. He started the company at 12 years old, grew it while working as Kenny Rogers’ production manager, and turned it into a global leader serving artists like Queen, Aerosmith, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, and hundreds more. He’s also an advocate for the live event workforce—testifying before Congress, leading pandemic relief efforts, and helping pass the Save Our Stages Act. Michael is the only non-musician to ever ...

Ryan Whelpley is a Touring Director at Red Light Management with over 20 years of experience in live production. He started out mixing front of house at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon, then hit the road full-time tour managing the Gin Blossoms. For The Lost Trailers, he did it all—tour manager, front of house, production manager, merch, van driver. He ran pre-show, carpentry, and automation for Tim McGraw, then spent nearly seven years as Kip Moore’s tour manager. These days, Ryan oversees budg...

Tiffany Kerns is the Senior Vice President of Industry Relations & Philanthropy at the Country Music Association and the Executive Director of the CMA Foundation. She leads strategic programming for CMA’s 6,000+ members and drives over $30 million in music education funding across all 50 states. Whether it’s mental health support, DEI initiatives, or national advocacy for the next generation of creatives, Tiffany is doing the work that makes a real difference. Find your next Gigg: https:/...

On this episode, we’re diving into the side of the industry that keeps everything running—business management and entertainment law. Tate Henshaw and Farrah Usmani break down the hidden costs of touring, must-know contracts, when to bring in a lawyer, and why ChatGPT shouldn’t be your legal team. Tate Henshaw is the Co-Founder of ARC, a business management firm based in Atlanta. He works with everyone from Grammy-winning musicians like Ne-Yo to NBA All-Stars like Blake Griffin, helping them n...

Toni Globis—stage manager, lighting tech, production lead, and all-around road warrior. With 25 years of experience across theater, touring, festivals, and stadium shows, Toni has done it all—from running lighting for Coachella and Bad Bunny to stage managing 3 Doors Down and working pyro for Pitbull. She’s a problem-solver, a calm presence in chaos, and someone who’s literally worked with everyone from royalty to rockstars. Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/ Stay up to date: Insta...