Giggs Podcast

Josh Castle is currently on tour with Dierks Bentley as the Quality of Life Manager, and we get into what that job really is…For over 17 years, Josh Castle has worked on some of the biggest shows in entertainment, including the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the Academy Awards, CMA Awards, and ACM Awards. His roles have ranged from production assistant to talent manager and everything in between, but n...

Kat Gauss has been a tour manager, production coordinator, and personal assistant to some of the biggest names in music. Kat has worked with OneRepublic, Queen + Adam Lambert, Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath, Maroon 5, the Black Eyed Peas, and Iron Maiden, just to name a few. With a career spanning nearly two decades, Kat has been at the helm of some of the most ambitious tours across the globe, ensurin...

Step inside the world of luxury tour buses with Dreamliner ! We take you behind the scenes of how these rolling homes are built from the ground up. Host Nikki Sanz gets an exclusive tour of Dreamliner’s Nashville facility with CEO Rich Thompson , exploring the craftsmanship, innovation, and passion that go into every bus. From empty shells to fully customized artist suites, hear from the experts w...

Jason Geisinger has over 20 years of experience in tour management and production with artists like Rihanna, Francesco Yates, BT, Dubfire, and The Cult, as well as producing corporate events for major brands and collaborating with artists Katy Perry, Maroon 5, and Imagine Dragons. He’s worked with industry giants like Live Nation, AEG, and Disney and is currently tour managing the theatrical produ...

Scott Welch is an artist manager, tour manager, investor, consultant, advisor, dear friend, and pain in Nikki’s ass. Scott has spent decades managing multi-platinum artists like Alanis Morissette, LeAnn Rimes, Steve Perry, Paula Abdul, and Collective Soul. In the tech world, he helped launch MP3.com’s $370 million IPO and invested in StubHub, which later sold to eBay for $310 million. Today, Scott...

Rachel Pfennig Hales is the Experience Manager at Rock Lititz, where she builds live event culture and gives a voice to the brand. Rachel began her career touring with the Black Eyed Peas and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and now focuses on celebrating crews through education and experiences. She’s also the author of Tour Book , a fascinating look backstage in concert touring, featuring interviews with industry...

Mike Bolton is the Managing Director at Go for Wardrobe and former tour manager for Adam Kay, overseeing arena and large theater tours. With a wealth of experience in live events and touring, Mike brings unique insights into the behind-the-scenes operations that make shows run seamlessly. Lisa Bruno is a music industry veteran with over 20 years of experience working with legendary artists like Ri...

Jim Digby is a live entertainment veteran with four decades of experience working with artists like Linkin Park, The Killers, and Phil Collins, as well as spearheading major projects like Saudi Arabia’s first international music festival. As President and Co-Founder of the Event Safety Alliance, Jim’s career has been shaped by a steadfast dedication to safety and wellness in the industry. Event Sa...

Joanne Croxford is a seasoned tour professional with a career spanning work with Robbie Williams, Sia, Duran Duran, and Anastacia. Beyond touring, she’s been a mental health advocate with Music Support and co-founded Roadies in Recovery, a support group championing sobriety in the live event industry. Joanne’s initiatives, like the ‘sober table’ at the TPi Awards, are paving the way for meaningful...

Kelly Clague is the Senior Vice President at EM.Co where she oversees the career of Tim McGraw across music, film, branding, and partnerships. Kelly’s contributions extend beyond artist management—she’s the founder of SafeTour, a groundbreaking initiative launched in 2019 to create safe, equitable, and inclusive workspaces for the music touring community. Through her work with Tim McGraw and as a...

Brandon Fitzgerald, AKA FITZ, is a tour rigger based in Washington, DC, with a strong background in IATSE Local 22. He specializes in tour rigging, permanent installations, counterweight rigging, and VectorWorks drafting. Recently, Brandon finished a tour with SZA and is currently touring with Lainey Wilson. Dan Hart, AKA ICE, is a Live Nation production manager and promoter rep with years of expe...

Ina Jacobs handles financial analytics and global touring operations at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in the music touring department. With a background as a tour accountant for major acts like John Mayer, One Direction, Mumford & Sons, and Swedish House Mafia, Ina brings deep insights into the financial side of the live entertainment industry. Find your next Gigg and join the #1 community for...

A true legend in the touring world: Marty Hom . With over 40 years of experience, Marty has been the driving force behind some of the biggest tours and most iconic artists on the planet - The Rolling Stones, Beyonce, Fleetwood Mac, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Nicks…He’s held roles as a tour manager, director, and producer, guiding artists like Shakira, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Van Halen, Olivia Ro...

Rachael Bronstein is the Founder of Life’s Jam, a financial coaching service specifically for the touring community. Rachael has a background in production finance and a passion for supporting behind-the-scenes professionals. We’ll dive deep into how she’s helping people get organized, make sustainable choices, and secure their financial futures. Follow along with Rachael and Life's Jam! life...

Chris Thacker is an industry veteran who started his career as a guitar tech on tour with Butch Walker back in 2010. Since then, Chris has worn many hats on the road—from backline tech to set carpenter, playback tech, and stage manager. Now, he’s the tour manager for country artist Dierks Bentley. In addition to his work on the road, Chris recently co-founded StageWater, a canned water brand that...

Cue , an incredible tech company whose solutions are already being used across the NFL, college teams, European soccer, and even the Olympics Hear about how this tech is making its debut in the music world with none other than country artist Riley Green. Ryan Dokke , the Senior Vice President of Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment, a part of Big Machine Label Group. Ryan continues to over...

Please welcome Big Loud Manager, Drew Magid, to the Giggs podcast. Drew has spent over a decade working with some of the biggest names in Rock, Pop, and Country, including Imagine Dragons, Charlie Puth, The War On Drugs, FGL, and alt-J. He started his career on the road, working nearly every role imaginable before transitioning to full-time tour management with Grouplove. Drew then joined Big Loud...

Production Designer, Lighting Designer, Production Manager, and Show Producer, Chris Lisle . Owner of CLLD, he has over 32 years of experience, working with legendary acts like Alice Cooper, Robert Plant, Peter Frampton, Brooks and Dunn, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, One Republic, and major events like the Grammys, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and the NFL Draft. He’s also the co-founder o...

We’re honored to be joined by Angie Warner , a true legend in the touring world who’s worked on the road for the last 24 years for Lady Gaga, Madonna, Guns ’N Roses, The Rolling Stones, Imagine Dragons, Jay Z, BTS, and many more. For the past five years, she has been the tour manager for Post Malone, and recently, she’s transitioning into a totally new direction - country music as Tour Manager for...

On this episode, we dive into the explosive world of special effects with Cole Bibler , the President and founder of Showlive SFX. Before starting his own company with Hayden Hale, he worked with some of the biggest names in music, including Metallica, Kanye West, Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Kid Rock, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Marilyn Manson, and many more. We dive into his journey, his love for blow...

Carrie Lelwica is an Artist Manager and the founder of Soar Entertainment. She previously worked on the road as Production Assistant for Alison Krauss, Blake Shelton, and Hunter Hayes and currently works as a Promoter Rep. for Police Productions with Cody Johnson. Additionally, Carrie manages rising country stars like Ashland Craft, Sean Stemaly, Stephen Paul, Sammy Arriaga, and serves as a Day-To...

Jamison Wiersema , an Experiential Marketing Tour Manager, Brand Representative, and CDL-A driver. Jamison has managed marketing campaigns for WME/IMG Live, working with clients like Budweiser, Verizon, and Coca-Cola, and has been involved in some of the biggest events in the industry, including the Super Bowl, World Series, and major music festivals. Currently, Jamison is the Activation Manager f...

"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...

Sooner Rae Routhier is a renowned Principal Designer who is a 2X Parnelli, Live Design Achievement, Live Production Summit Pinnacle, and multi Top Dog award-winning designer. Her designs can be seen on Jimmy Fallon, The AMA’s, The Ellen Show, The Voice, and The Billboard Music Awards. She has crafted iconic shows for artists such as Coldplay, Panic at the Disco, The Weeknd, KISS, Imagine Dragons,...

Jim Yakabuski is a veteran live audio engineer with 43 years of experience. Jim has mixed Front of House for iconic artists such as No Doubt, Shania Twain, Matchbox 20, Gwen Stefani, Rob Thomas, Peter Frampton, and many more. He has worked on massive events like the Super Bowl and Coachella, and is currently the Audio Director for US Live Productions at Solotech. Find your next Gigg and join the #...