Giggs Podcast

Our guest is Zito — one of the most respected and accomplished production managers in the world. Over the past 25 years, he’s worked with artists like Green Day, Ariana Grande, Josh Groban, Babyface, OneRepublic, Blink-182, the Backstreet Boys, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, and many more. Starting in the late ’90s as a band member and part-time sound guy, he slowly worked his way up from vans and s...

This special episode of The GIGGS Podcast pulls the best Rapid Fire moments from across the series into one fast-moving, feel-good mashup. From first concerts and favorite venues, to after-show food, bus bunk politics, can’t-tour-without items, and the best career advice they’ve ever received, touring pros share the stories, laughs, and lessons that only happen on the road. You’ll hear: First conc...

Join us on a high-flying adventure as Nikki Sanz boards a VIP-configured Boeing 757 for Giggs’ first-ever in-flight episode with TrueSkies Aviation Group—the team moving A-list artists, sports teams, and high-profile clients around the world. Co-founders David Young and Christian Meiley share how they went from rock tours, EDM shows, and NASA launches to building one of the most trusted names in p...

Learn more about Musicians On Call: https://www.musiciansoncall.org/ Pete Griffin is the President & CEO of Musicians On Call, the nonprofit that brings live music to hospital patients, caregivers, and veterans across all 50 states. Under his leadership, MOC has grown from a local charity to an internationally recognized organization that’s delivered the healing power of music to over one mill...

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 mo...

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community. Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/ Stay up to date: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giggs-llc/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.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 s...

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community. Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/ Stay up to date: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giggs-llc/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggs.live Host: Nikki Sanz

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 Brow...

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...

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community. Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/ Stay up to date: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giggs-llc/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggs.live Host: Nikki Sanz

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 nev...

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community. Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/ Stay up to date: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giggs-llc/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggs.live Host: Nikki Sanz

"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" sug...

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 developm...

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community. Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/ Stay up to date: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giggs-llc/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggs.live Host: Nikki Sanz

Founder & CEO Nikki Sanz answers YOUR questions from the Giggs Community. Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for the live events industry: https://www.giggs.live/ Stay up to date: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live Youtube: https://youtube.com/@giggs-live LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giggs-llc/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggs.live Host: Nikki Sanz

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...

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 a...

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 re...

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...

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 o...

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 ever...

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 everyo...

Katie Everett is the producer, creative director, and founder of Katalyst Productions. With over 20 years of experience in the live event industry, Katie has produced large-scale events and brand activations for clients like the Four Seasons, Central Park Conservancy, and FIFA 2026. Her agency is known for bold, high-touch, and message-driven experiences across entertainment, lifestyle, civic, and...