Geezers of Gear

Futuretech Featuring ETC ETC is making a major leadership shift with Darren Beckley stepping into a new European operations role while David Lincecum refocuses on automated lighting growth and APAC oversight. The episode also highlights ETC’s new community support through Geezers of Gear and its partnership with Eventwire.

FUTURETECH Featuring Artistry In Motion  and Pangolin Laser Systems. This week on Geezers Of Gear - FutureTech, Chris and Lacy dive into the massive news shaking up the special effects world: Artistry In Motion (AIM) is merging with Pangolin Laser Systems. We break down what this means for live production, touring crews, and the future of spectacular show design. Will we see laser-guided confetti,...

FUTURETECH Featuring Pyrotecnico We explore the massive logistics behind Washington, D.C.’s planned Fourth of July spectacle, from ten launch sites and barges on the Potomac to hand-packed shells and a laptop that couldn’t handle the programming load. The episode also looks at how Pyrotecnico and Live Events combine old-school craftsmanship with high-tech synchronization to create a jaw-dropping e...

Episode #356 Paul Klimson has spent more than two decades behind the scenes helping some of the biggest artists in the world sound their best. As a world-class monitor engineer and audio professional, he has worked with an extraordinary roster that includes Justin Timberlake, Drake, Madonna, John Legend, The Roots, Kelly Clarkson, Eric Clapton, and countless others. His career has taken him from i...

Ryan Goldbacher, a Tour Manager, Production Manager, and Front of House Engineer with more than 20 years of experience in the live entertainment industry. Ryan has toured the world with artists including, The HU, Accept, Sebastian Bach, Thin Lizzy, and many others, managing everything from international logistics and production to front-of-house audio A Nashville-based professional and owner of Sh...

FUTURETECH Featuring Inner Circle Distribution Chris and Lacy preview  InfoComm 2026  in Las Vegas, breaking down the show floor split between  Work  and  Play  and why the North Hall is the place to be for live events and production gear. They also spotlight Inner Circle Distribution’s Booth N6063, including new products from ROXX, MADRIX, Claypaky, and Portman, plus a free exhibit hall pass code...

FUTURETECH featuring ETC This episode explores the legacy of ETC founder Fred Foster and how his Student Mentorship Program connects emerging lighting professionals with industry veterans. It also spotlights the 2026 cohort, from themed entertainment and immersive design to opera, dance, and international production work.

EPISODE: 354 In this episode, we go behind the scenes of one of the most ambitious lighting projects imaginable—illuminating the Hoover Dam for a major event. What began as a simple question, "Can we light it up and make it a wow?" quickly turned into a race against time as the team navigated complex technical challenges, rigging logistics, weather concerns, and the sheer scale of one of America's...

Geezers Of Gear Episode #353 Indigo is the founder and solo operator of Showco Archives. As the daughter of legendary senior Showco sound engineer Donnie 'DK' Kretzschmar, she grew up surrounded by the history of the crews who built stadium touring from scratch. Today, she meticulously catalogs thousands of legacy artifacts and spearheads the campaign to induct Showco into the Rock and Rol...

LEADING LADIES PODCAST - Episode 352 Tiff Hudson | Psychotherapist & Founder, Therapy on Tour Tiff spent 21 years in the trenches of the music industry as a lighting tech and tour manager. After years of running on fumes, she transitioned from the lighting desk to the therapy room, earning her Masters in Psychotherapy to support the "road family." Through Therapy on Tour, Tiff provid...

FUTURETECH Featuring Pyrutechnico Explore Pyrotecnico’s Shop to Show initiative, a mentorship program that fast-tracks warehouse technicians into high-stakes roles for global tours and festivals. Discover how hands-on technical training and professional guidance are helping the next generation of crew chiefs bridge the gap from the shop floor to the main stage.

EPISODE 351 In this episode we’re joined by two of the live event industry’s most respected creative and technical minds — Roland Greil and Shannon Gobell. Roland is an internationally acclaimed lighting and production designer whose work spans artists like Adele, Phil Collins, The Rolling Stones, Genesis, and Rammstein, along with global events including the Eurovision Song Contest and the AFC As...

FUTURETECH Featuring Claypaky Claypaky revives the legendary Sharpy with the Ultimo Sharpy, adding IP66 protection, broadcast-friendly operation, and faster, tougher performance for modern productions. The episode also digs into its 100,000-lux output, low-noise mode, Sharpy Emulation Mode, and the real-world value of keeping a classic beam fixture in the truck.

FUTURETECH Featuring ETC This episode breaks down why ETC’s Response DALI Gateway Mk2 arrives at the right moment as buildings move away from 0-10V dimming toward digital control. The hosts dig into DALI-2 certification, lower labor and wiring costs, better dimming performance, and why open standards matter for long-term facility management.

EPISODE 350 Welcome back to Geezers of Gear and today, we’ve got something really special. This episode brings together an incredible collaboration built on shared passion, purpose, and a deep respect for the people behind the scenes of live entertainment. We’re teaming up with Jamie, founder of Koffee Kult, a company known for its bold, small-batch roasted coffee, and Courtney from The Roadie Cli...

FUTURETECH Featuring ETC Chris and Lacy break down ETC’s education options for live-events crews, from Eos Family levels and Hog hands-on training to modular Lighting Essentials sessions for newer learners. They also cover online tutorials, LearningStage, webinars, and custom training so technicians can keep building skills without waiting for the perfect moment.

FUTURETECH Featuring Live Events Chris and Lacy break down how Radiance 2026 turned a massive venue into a focused, executive-level conference experience through tightly integrated lighting, audio, video, and control systems. From broadcast-clean keynotes to distributed 4K displays, the episode shows how production design creates clarity, trust, and calm for a CFO audience.

FUTURETECH Featuring Inner Circle Distribution This episode takes you inside Inner Circle Distribution, examining its growth, vision, and commitment to quality in lighting and special effects for film and entertainment. Chris and Lacy unpack the company’s values, services, and impact across North America.

Episode 349 - LEADING LADIES Struggling with the invisible toll of touring? Courtney Klimson's story reveals how she transformed her life and those of countless roadies by creating a groundbreaking support network rooted in empathy, resilience, and innovation. From the chaos of last-minute gigs and volcano-interrupted plans to building a sanctuary for roadies in Michigan, Courtney’s journey is...

Geezers Of Gear Episode 348 This Episode we’re joined by a returning friend of the show who literally wrote the book - several of them, in fact - on how we light the stage and power the show. He is an ETCP Certified Entertainment Electrician with over 36 years in the trenches, a technical editor for L&SA, and the mind behind the industry-standard text, Automated Lighting: The Art and Science o...

FutureTech Feturing Live Events and Raw Cereal The hosts break down how JID’s GOD DOES LIKE PARADISE Tour uses a Notch-driven visual system, custom 2D/3D content, and a tightly aligned creative team to build an immersive, emotionally charged world. They also dig into the bunker-like stage design, the apocalyptic Atlanta-inspired palette, and how moving the LED forward turns the show from a window...

EPISODE 347 - LEADING LADIES Jennifer Jacobs is a veteran wardrobe supervisor, costume designer, and stylist with more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry. She began her touring career in 1991 as a wardrobe assistant for Luther Vandross and went on to work with some of the biggest names in music, including Tina Turner, Cher, Janet Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, Pink, Bruce Springste...

Episode 356 In this engaging conversation, Malcolm Weldon shares his journey from aspiring recording engineer to seasoned production manager and event producer. He discusses the challenges and rewards of touring, the importance of mentorship, and the impact of family support on his career. Malcolm reflects on his early experiences, the lessons learned in the music industry, and the inspiration he...

FUTURETECH Featuring ETC A concise technical look at High End Systems’ Lonestar Prime from ETC. Chris and Lacy break down how Prime evolves the original Lonestar platform with an IP54 weatherproof housing, higher output, improved color rendering, expanded gobo and effects package, and the optional RigPOV camera. A fast-paced, spec-focused FutureTech segment aimed at rental houses, production manag...

Episode 345 Today we’re joined by Jeff, a true pioneer from the wild, formative years of rock concert touring — what he calls the “pirate years.” Jeff recently published his book, How to Be a Lighting Guy (During the Pirate Years of Concert Touring), a firsthand account of building a career during the birth of modern concert lighting. From running liquid light shows in the early 1970s — including...