Nashville-Based Production and Stage Managers

BUYERSGUIDE
Nashville-Based Production and
Stage Managers By NookSchoenfeld
O
ften, you hear that the gear on stage is only as good as the crew who’s working with it.
This is gospel in the live entertainment business. So often it’s the gig of the production
and stage managers to find the perfect match of people to work on their shows. They
pick and choose who to hire for each tour or event. But how does a management company go
about finding the perfect fit for their respective tours?
In Nashville, that’s often by word of mouth. PLSN is offering an easier solution. Right here, we
are listing the cream of the crop, the best darn production and stage managers working out of
the Nashville area. Because of their skills, they all keep pretty busy. But never too busy to take
your call and talk about the next gig coming up.”
Chris Coffie
Title: Production Manager
Recently with: Carrie Underwood
Years in the Biz: 27
Years in Nashville Area: 23
Other Job Titles Held: Stage Manager, Gaffer, LD, Carpenter,
backline, LED tech
Previous Acts/Tours: Carrie Underwood (2006-present),
Ricky Martin, Romeo Santos, WWE
Other Major Events: Robinhood Charity, ATF Stadium
shows, Amway 50th Anniversary, Rockin Rev
Comments: “Be safe. Just because you can hang it or build
it, doesn’t mean you should.”
Recently with: Brad Paisley
Years in the Biz: 30
Years in Nashville Area: 20
Other Job Titles Held: Production and Tour management
Previous Acts/Tours: Reba (90-97), LeAnn Rimes (98-06),
Brad (2007-present)
Other Major Events: Countless shows around town
Comments: “Lucky to have worked with most people here
because this road is not travelled alone.”
Title: Production Manager
Recently with: The Band Perry
Years in the Biz: 24
Years in Nashville Area: 23
Other Job Titles Held: Monitor Engineer, FOH Audio
Engineer
Previous Acts/Tours: The Band Perry (2011-present),
Engelbert Humperdinck, Toby Keith, Patty Loveless
Other Major Events: CMA Fest - Live Events Production
Manager
[email protected]
Bill “Uncle Bill” Farris
Title: Stage Manager
Earl Neal
[email protected]
[email protected]
Art Rich
Ben “Snake” Schmitt
Title: Production Manager, Technical Director
Title: Production Manager, FOH Audio Engineer
Recently with: CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium
Recently with: Kip Moore
Years in the Biz: 30
Years in the Biz: 6
Years in Nashville Area: 2
Other Job Titles Held: Site Coordinator, Stage Manager,
Years in Nashville Area: 10
Lighting Guy
Other Job Titles Held: Studio Audio Engineer
Previous Acts/Tours: Blake Shelton, Judds, Keith Urban
Previous Acts/Tours: David Nail, Dirt Drivers
Other Major Events: CM Fest 2012-2016, Internet of World
Things in Dubai, many large scale corporate shows
[email protected]
Kevin Freeman
Title: Stage Manager
Recently with: Tech with Carrie Underwood/Stage Manager
at Ryman Auditorium since 2009
Years in the Biz: 28
Years in Nashville Area: 26
Other Job Titles Held: Guitar Tech, Stage Manager
Previous Acts/Tours: Hank Williams Jr., Travis Tritt, Lynyrd
Skynyrd, Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood
Other Major Events: Stage Manager for Charlie Daniels
Volunteer Jam at Bridgestone
Comments: “Thought I would get some rest when I came
off the road and went to a house gig at the Ryman. Boy was
I wrong.”
[email protected]
Randy “Baja” Fletcher
Title: Production Manager
Recently with: Keith Urban
Years in the Biz: 47
Years in Nashville Area: 11 + 25 in Knoxville
Other Job Titles Held: Stage Manager, Lighting Designer,
Event Coordinator, Producer for video shoots
Previous Acts/Tours: ZZ Top, Waylon Jennings, Randy
Travis, Brooks & Dunn, Keith Urban
Other Major Events: Production Manager for Coors Field
show w/Toby Keith, Event Coordinator LSU stadium, Brooks
& Dunn College Kickoff
Bud Phillips
Other Major Events: Studio work
[email protected]
Randy Gardner
[email protected]
Jay Schwartz
Dave “Shep” Shepard
Title: Production Manager, FOH mixer
Title: Stage Manager
Title: Production Manager
Title: Stage Manager
Recently with: Brad Paisley
Recently with: The Band Perry
Recently with: Rascal Flatts
Recently with: Rascal Flatts
Years in the Biz: 35 or so
Years in the Biz: 29
Years in the Biz: 30+
Years in the Biz: 34
Years in Nashville Area: 20
Years in Nashville Area: 19
Years in Nashville Area: 29
Other Job Titles Held: Tour Manager, Road Manager
Previous Acts/Tours: Brad Paisley 1999-present, LeAnn
Other Job Titles Held: Production Manager, FOH engineer,
Monitor Engineer, Lighting Director
Other Job Titles Held: Stage Manager, Master Electrician,
Lighting Crew Chief, Rigger, Set Carpenter
Years in Nashville Area: 22
Other Job Titles Held: Tour Manager, Production Manager,
Previous Acts/Tours: David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Clapton,
Rigger, Lighting Designer/Director
Previous Acts/Tours: The Band Perry (2013-present), Darryl
Def Leppard, Andrea Bocelli
Previous Acts/Tours: Jo Dee Messina, Sugarland, Fleetwood
Rimes, Billy Dean, Bellamy Bros.
Worley
Other Major Events: Bonnie Raitt, Rascal Flatts, Yngwie
Mac
Other Major Events: Assorted events, mostly a touring guy
Other Major Events: Assorted shows
Malmsteen
Other Major Events: CMA music festivals
[email protected]
[email protected]
Chris “Rock” Glatfelter
[email protected]
Pete Healey
[email protected]
Albert “Indy” West
Will Wilkison
Title: Stage Manager
Title: Production Manager, FOH mixer
Title: Production Manager, Stage Manager, Rigger
Title: Production Manager
Recently with: Lady Antebellum
Recently with: Luke Bryan
Recently with: The Judds, Tway Lifting Products
Recently with: Lady Antebellum
Years in the Biz: 20
Years in the Biz: 20
Years in the Biz: 24
Years in the Biz: 11
Years in Nashville Area: 1
Years in Nashville Area: 16
Years in Nashville Area: 24; Indianapolis is home base now
Years in Nashville Area: 33
Other Job Titles Held: Production Manager, Set Carpenter,
Other Job Titles Held: Production Designer, Monitor
Other Job Titles Held: TD, Operations Manager, Set
Other Job Titles Held: Stage Manager, Automation Tech,
Guitar Tech
Engineer, FOH Audio Engineer, Tour Manager
Carpenter
Carpenter, Audio Tech
Previous Acts/Tours: Lady A, Black Keys, KISS, Daughtry,
Previous Acts/Tours: Luke Bryan, Travis Tritt, Kelly Clarkson,
Previous Acts/Tours: The Judds, Dolly Parton, Reba, John
Previous Acts/Tours: Lady Antebellum (2011-present),
Mötley Crüe
Alter Bridge
Michael Montgomery
Blake Shelton, Roger Waters, Sugarland, TSO
Other Major Events: Nashville Fourth of July Celebration,
Other Major Events: Capitol Records Street Party,
Other Major Events: Flight Decks, from Air Force bases to
Other Major Events: Blake Shelton’s “Healing the Heartland”
C.G. Ryche Theatrical Showcase/Vegas
Mutemath/Armistice Live DVD shoot
POTUS
(Stage Manager)
[email protected]
[email protected]
Brian Leedham
Title: Production Coordinator
Recently with: Reba, Brooks & Dunn (Vegas residency)
Years in the Biz: Long time
Years in Nashville Area: Since 1980
Other Job Titles Held: Director of Operations at Starwood
Amphitheater, Site Coordinator, Promoter Rep, Logistics
Coordinator
Previous Acts/Tours: Reba, Blake Shelton, Lollapalooza,
Goo Goo Dolls,
Other Major Events: Stampede Concerts in Calgary, Olympics, World Cup, Boots and Hearts festival
Comments: “Tell me/show me something I don’t already
know in this business. That’s interesting. And let’s go for it.”
[email protected]
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[email protected]
Erik Leighty
Fred Yanda
Title: Production Manager
Title: Stage Manager
Recently with: Miranda Lambert
Recently with: Miranda Lambert
Years in the Biz: 18
Years in the Biz: 30
Years in Nashville Area: 20
Other Job Titles Held: Production Assistant, Stage Manager
Previous Acts/Tours: Paramore, Staind, Rob Zombie, Nelly
Years in Nashville Area: 22
Other Job Titles Held: Production Manager, FOH/Monitor
Engineer, Scenic/Props, Backline Tech
Previous Acts/Tours: Miranda Lambert (2012-present),
Furtado
WWE, Third Day, Gary Allan
Other Major Events: Live on Penn (Washington, D.C.),
Other Major Events: Country Music Hall of Fame Induction,
Dancing in the District (Nashville), On the Bricks (Atlanta)
Showcases for iHeartMedia, Music City Fourth of July
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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