Beyond the Spotlight
The point of this podcast is simple. We want to pull back the curtain and bring you backstage, beyond the spotlight, to give you a glimpse into the world of folks like you and me who are working in the trenches of the music, theater, and entertainment industries. They may not be household names, but they are key players in bringing to life the shows we all enjoy. Over the last 41 years, your host Jon Diener has worked as a musician, producer, recording engineer, videographer, editor, motion graphics artist, and photographer. He's spent most of his life around people working hard behind the scenes and wants to learn more about their journeys and share their stories with you.
Episodes
46 episodes
Update - January 29, 2022
Hey, everyone! Are you still out there? I've missed you!Just a quick episode to update you on some things and let you know I'll be back with new episodes soon, as time permits.Feel free to reach out with guest ideas or ...
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6:35
Ep. 045: Matthew Rifino - Sound Mixer, TODAY Show
When Matthew Rifino picked up an acoustic guitar at 5, a 30 year love affair with music began. 3 years later, he convinced his grandfather to buy him a four-track cassette recorder and Matthew would sit for hours recording and overdub...
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Episode 45
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39:01
Ep. 044: Michael Jeffers - Touring Bassist
Michael Jeffers is a life long music professional, performer and player. He started out in music performing with his father’s family band, then became a founding member of the critically acclaimed band Pinmonkey and got signed to RCA Records. M...
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Episode 44
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26:33
Ep. 043: Mark Clark - Tour Manager / Production Manager / Tour Accountant
Mark Clark has worked in the touring industry for over 10 years. He got his start in his home state of Alabama, driving artists at music festivals, and is currently based in New Orleans. Mark has managed tours throughout North America, South Am...
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Episode 43
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42:34
Ep. 042: Angelique Mark - Production Coordinator
Angelique Mark has amassed over two decades' experience traveling the globe, working with a variety of musical acts in rooms ranging from small clubs to stadiums. Her work focuses mainly in: logistics; immigration; accounting; and high-level ti...
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Episode 42
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32:42
Ep. 041: Marty Hom - Tour Manager, Production Coordinator
TOUR EXPERIENCEPresentROLLING STONES – Tour Manager1997 - PresentFLEETWOOD MAC – Tour Manager1999 – PresentBARBRA STREISAND – Tour DirectorJanuary 24, 2020MUSICARES PERSON OF THE YEAR HONOR...
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Episode 41
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30:12
Ep. 040: Aoife Ahern - Tour Manager, Production Coordinator
Aoife Ahern has a huge amount of Project Management experience, having been a Global Producer, Tour Manager, Production Coordinator, Advance Manager|Artist Relations and a Talent Booker. She has advanced many large scale festivals (80,000+ capa...
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Episode 40
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27:48
Ep. 039: Rayna Zemel - Playback Engineer, Producer, Composer
Passionate and extroverted, Rayna’s varied background gives her a unique perspective as well as an ability to engage people from all walks of life. Before graduating with a degree in Political Science from the University of Vermont, Rayna grew ...
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Episode 39
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40:33
Ep. 038: Sai Hanif - CEO, Drum Tech, Tour Manager
Sai Hanif has been working in the music industry for over sixteen years. In addition to live event production, he founded and continues to run a successful musical instrument brand. Sai has taken his business acumen and applied it to the artist...
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Episode 38
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32:36
Ep. 037: Cherise P - Chief Marketing Officer, Special Brand + FanGage Nation
Innovator, digital marketer, brand positioning expert, data geek, and even musician, are just some of the ways that Cherise P has been described. These words have been applied whether from the halls of Coca-Cola where she served as Senior Marke...
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Episode 37
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28:55
Ep. 036: Alex Prince - Tour Manager, Production Coordinator
Alex Prince has been involved in the live music industry for years, working primarily as a Production Coordinator, but also as Tour Manager and Production Manager. He is a California native who recently relocated to Minnesota.His list o...
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Episode 36
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26:52
Ep. 035: Paul Dalen - Tour Manager, Production Manager, FOH Mixer
After 20+ years of traveling as a Tour Manager and FOH Sound Engineer, Paul Dalen retired from touring in the ‘90s and worked for Bill Graham Presents in San Francisco as production manager at The Fillmore, The Warfield and a number of other ba...
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Episode 35
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41:52
Ep. 034: Pam Matthews - Exec. Director, IEBA
Pam Matthews is a proven industry leader with four decades of experience in the entertainment business. She began her career at age fifteen as a runner for Mid South Concerts in Memphis. Today, she serves the live entertainment industry as Exec...
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Episode 34
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44:03
Ep. 033: Victor Reed, Sr. - Production Manager
Victor Reed Sr. has been on the road since the late 70s. From his early days with Bobby Brown, Bell Biv DeVoe, and Rick James, to Stevie Wonder’s performance at President Obama’s 2nd inaugural, to recent tours with Kendrick Lamar and Mary J Bli...
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Episode 33
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41:23
Ep. 032: Marcia Ramirez - Singer/Songwriter & Background Vocalist
Many people have seen Marcia Ramirez performing on stage with artists such as Rodney Crowell, Patty Loveless, Pam Tillis and Tanya Tucker. Now people are discovering Marcia's own music as she's becoming an in-demand performer at many venu...
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Episode 32
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52:35
Ep. 031: Lady A - Performer/Manager/Producer
Lady A began her performance career as a back-up singer in a Motown Revue band during the 90's. Her love of music, gospel background, Louisiana roots, and musical family always led her back to the blues and gospel music, mixed with f...
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Episode 31
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43:41
Ep. 030: Gabi Parra - Tour & Production Coordinator
Gabi Parra is a tour production specialist with over 15 years in the live event business. Having begun as venue staff, production runner, and stagehand for a wide array of artists such as Elton John, Bob Dylan, Blue Man Group, Lil Wayne, and To...
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Episode 30
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32:04
Ep. 029: Sarina Larson - Co-Founder, Merch Roadie
Sarina Larson is the Co-Founder of Merch Roadie. In pandemic times, she is focused on Digital-Tour Management work, a new approach to the music business for artists that she's hypothesized. She is from Sacramento, CA, and cu...
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Episode 29
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25:45
Ep. 028: Jim Digby - Event Safety Alliance & Show Makers
Jim has spent three decades bringing celebrated talent to stages across the globe. Longtime Director of Touring for multi-platinum recording artists Linkin Park, he has shepherded productions for diverse and high-profile clients including Enriq...
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Episode 28
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34:58
Ep. 027: Ashley Lomax - Hospitality & VIP Coordinator
Ashley Lomax has 12+ years of singing and songwriting and 8+ years of VIP touring experience with such companies as Live Nation and On The List Presents. She has a deep love and passion for music, songwriting, and the arts in general. Ashley is...
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Episode 27
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37:20
Ep. 026: Janine Diaz - Health Coach & Personal Trainer
Janine Diaz is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and NASM Certified Personal Trainer whose passion for health & wellness led her to create The Tour Life Podcast & The #Thriving Podcast. Through health coaching and her podcasts, Jani...
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Episode 26
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30:30
Ep. 025: Jen Kellogg - Tour Accountant / Educator
Jen Kellogg has spent over 25 adventurous years in the concert industry as a roadie, educator and entrepreneur. Sometimes she’s one part of the large machine that gets a huge show on stage for an arena full of excited fans. Other ti...
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Episode 25
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25:05
Ep. 024: Aaron Adams - Tour Manager, Consultant
With over fifteen years of experience as a Tour Manager, Operations Manager, Event Manager, Producer, Consultant, and founder and principal of Accessible, LLC, Aaron Adams has excellently served personal and professional brands spanning various...
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Episode 24
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46:06
Ep. 023: Jere Righter - Artistic Director, Croswell Opera House
For the past 30 years, Jere Righter has been involved in almost every aspect of the Croswell Opera House in Adrian, Michigan. A native of Adrian, Jere graduated from Siena Heights University with a degree in theater and speech communicatio...
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Episode 23
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28:09
Ep. 022: David '5-1' Norman - Tour Director / Tour Manager
With over 35 years of global touring experience, David has worked on a multitude of tours throughout the world, with artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, Chase Rice, Toni Braxton, John Fogerty, Prince, John Legend, and Toto. His roles have incl...
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Episode 22
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37:57