Fireplay’s Chief Creative Officer and CEO Nick Whitehouse has honed his craft with nearly a quarter of a century in this business. Starting as a Lighting Designer and with the guidance of a mentor, Whitehouse expanded his role to production designer and creative producer with a bold style that has won the admiration of music’s most prominent figures and a 15-year collaboration with Justin Timberlake. From Super Bowl performances and award shows to pivotal moments in popular culture, chances are you’ve seen Whitehouse’s work without even knowing it. The UK native created Fireplay to bring a unique and collaborative touch to the industry and to provide services that go beyond artists’ expectations to revolutionize production and design. In our discussion, we talk about ways the entertainment industry has been at the forefront of sustainability through technological innovations, the approach that makes Fireplay unique within the industry, and the opportunities that exist in AR/VR coming out of the pandemic.

Veteran Risk Management and Security Specialist Malchijah Bailey has built a sterling reputation working with artists of all genres at the highest level. During his 25 years in business, Bailey has taken a wealth of experiences as a Road Manager, Tour Manager and One Man Tour de Force handling Personal and Venue Security on stadium tours, gaining intimate knowledge of the different audiences that come see his clients, resulting in a security mindset that prioritizes people and relationships. In our discussion with Bailey we talk about how backstage will need to evolve when we return to the road, the best way to create and preserve the right tour vibe, and learn tricks of the trade that have made him a source of knowledge and inspiration.

Megan Duckett came to the US with dreams of becoming a rock 'n' roll lighting tech. Unfortunately, that dream was never fully realized, but with the true hustler spirit, Megan carved out her own unique space in soft goods, and has taken her business from an 800-square-foot operation in Torrance to a 50,000-square-foot operation in Compton, employing more than 30 people, making backdrops and custom soft goods for groups like KISS, The Foo Fighters, Guns 'N' Roses, and Kendrick Lamar. In our discussion, we talk about Megan's hustler spirit, the innovative ways she's incorporated technology into her business, her pivot to PPE during COVID, and the importance of finding purpose in the face of adversity. 

Noelle Scaggs is best known for her stage presence as the co-frontperson for multi-platinum group Fitz and the Tantrums, as well as an accomplished songwriter whose credits include co-writing her band’s singles, “Out Of My League” and “The Walker.” But today we are talking to Noelle about her work behind the stage rather than on it. In the spring of 2020 Noelle felt the urge to transform the workforce of the live music industry into a better reflection of the diverse communities through a new movement she dubbed Diversify the Stage (DTS). DTS counts on the support of industry professionals and artists to collectively and actively build a culture of accountability that establishes more inclusive hiring practices and greater access to opportunities for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and female-identifying and gender non-conforming individuals. In less than a year, Diversify The Stage has set forth long-term change by partnering with the Music Forward Foundation to create educational and mentorship opportunities, in addition to working with NeverFamous.com to establish a central hub for accessing a wide pool of qualified crew members. In our show we talk about the creation of DTS, the industry response to the movement, and the need to get more artists on board with the message.

Few combine Tami Blevins' genuine warmth and no-nonsense attitude, two attributes which make her uniquely suited to handle Artist Relations for C3 Presents' portfolio of festivals, including Lollapalooza (worldwide), Austin City Limits, Voodoo Festival and more. In our discussion with Tami we talk about creating opportunities for PoC in the music industry, taking responsibility on the road, and the current return to work prospects. Then, in an enjoyable twist, Tami turns the tables asking questions of the hosts as well. Something tells us this won't be the last time people hear from Tami on HLUB.

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"Women working in professional audio make up just 5% of all audio engineers," says tour veteran and host of the SoundGirls podcast Beckie ("Bex") Campbell. That number is staggeringly low, and is something that SoundGirls endeavors to fix. Founded by Karrie Keyes and Michelle Sabolchick Pettinato, SoundGirls "supports women working in professional audio and music production by highlighting their success and providing a place for them to connect, network, and share advice." In this episode, we speak to Bex and Claire Murphy, guitar tech and author of Girl on the Road: How to Break into Touring from a Female Perspective, about SoundGirls approach to providing unique opportunities for aspiring young women, the challenges that need to be overcome, and the roadmap to equality in concert touring.

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Over the past decade, Kimberly Hurtarte has been working with artists, corporations, individuals, and nonprofit organizations to design and implement sustainable campaigns generating meaningful impact on a global scale. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Incubus’ Make Yourself Foundation and as an advisor at Global Impact. She began touring with Linkin Park in 2015 as part of their foundation’s fan engagement initiative, which gave way to an unexpected but exciting new career as tour manager soon after. Her passion for logistics, problem-solving, and relationship building has led to rewarding opportunities working for artists like Incubus, Meghan Trainor, and Lizzo. In our discussion with Kimberly we talk about her origins in the Peace Corp, her transition to touring, and helping artists activate their fans around worthy causes.

The Weeknd. Motley Crue. Imagine Dragons. Kelsea Ballerini. Bon Jovi. The Lumineers. Muse. Pentatonix. Halsey. Game of Thrones? If you're asking what those all have in common, the answer is simple: Sooner Routhier, one of the top designers in the entertainment industry. Beginning her career working for New England based Rainbow Productions, Sooner would quickly take her lighting talents to groups like Chevelle and Audioslave. From there, the sky was the limit, as Sooner has piled up awards and recognitions (Parnelli, Top Dawg, Live Design, etc.). In our discussion, we talk about her path from small-town Vermonter to world renowned designer, the many people she credits for helping her along the way, and what it takes to bring an artist's creative vision to life.

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