Giggs Podcast

Recorded live at Rock Lititz, this episode features Suzi Meyer, Chief of Staff, in a candid conversation about workforce development, burnout, leadership, and the future of live events.
If you care about crew culture, retention, or building a sustainable career in this industry, this one hits home. Suzi breaks down what COVID exposed, why respectful leadership is outperforming pay in recent polling, and how we can stop “accidentally” entering the industry and start building real pathways.
What you’ll learn:
Why respectful leadership ranked above pay in industry polling
The real reason burnout is rising on bigger tours
What employers say is missing in new hires (hint: it’s not technical skill)
How gatekeeping hurts long-term industry growth
Why structure doesn’t have to mean “corporate”
What Workforce LIVE is doing to recruit and retain talent
Suzi Meyer Bio:
Versatility and creative problem solving have been the foundation of Suzi’s career. Over the past nine years at Rick Lititz, Suzi worked with the team to grow and expand the business, manage building operations and provide insight and care to those she leads. As Chief of Staff, she is able to focus on expansion into new geographic areas focusing on workforce development, leadership + inclusion, mental health and sustainability. Suzi also works with an incredible group of industry professionals through the non-profit Workforce LIVE, an organization focused in attracting and retaining talent in the live event industry. 
Suzi started her professional career working on college campuses creating community and leadership programming for college students in her role as Director of Residence Life + International Student Advisor. Suzi started her career in the live event industry in 2008, where she served as the Accounting and HR Director before finding her home at Rock Lititz in 2016.
Find your next Gigg: 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

Recorded live at Rock Lititz, Nikki Sanz sits down with touring production manager, Jesse Sandler, for a behind-the-scenes look at how a touring career actually gets built—one cosign, one good attitude, and one “figure it out” moment at a time.

Jesse walks through his path from an early runner/production assistant role to touring internationally as an audio tech, and eventually stepping into the production manager seat—sometimes faster than expected.

What you’ll learn:
The difference between production assistant, production coordinator, and production manager
Why “pay attention and do your job” can beat formal training (early on)
How mentorship actually shows up on tour (even when no one labels it “mentorship”)
A calm leadership approach that keeps problems from becoming chaos
How to ask for the job without overstepping the room
Why attitude is often the deciding factor when hiring crews
The “cosign effect”: how introductions create career momentum
Jesse Sandler bio:
Jesse Sandler is a highly respected touring professional with over 25 years of touring experience in production management and related disciplines. He has managed complex shows globally for top-tier artists, including Bon Jovi, Nickelback, Phish, The Eagles, Prince, Aerosmith, Morrissey, and Steely Dan. His diverse background includes roles as a production assistant, production coordinator, Clair audio technician, managing tour catering, ticketing and production accounting.

Find your next Gigg: https://www.giggs.live/

Stay up to date:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggs.live
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@GIGGS-live
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggs.live

Host: Nikki Sanz
Find your next Gigg: 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

Recorded live from Rock Lititz, Nikki Sanz sits down with Butch Allen, VP of Global Business Development at TAIT, and a touring veteran who’s done nearly every job on the road (“everything but audio”).

Butch breaks down what actually moves your career forward in live events: learning fast, contributing solutions, and being someone people want in the “fishbowl” when the pressure is high and the clock is ticking. If you’re trying to level up—whether you’re a stagehand, tech, designer, or production leader—this one is a blueprint.

What you’ll learn:
Why “make the effort” is the real unlock for growth on tour
How being a “good hang” can matter as much as raw technical skill
What changed between early touring days and today’s professionalized crews
The moment Butch knew he was done with the grind—and what he did next
How show design really works: from blank page to build to reality
Why live events are “purely human” in an AI-heavy world
What it takes to thrive in touring’s “fishbowl” environment
Butch Allen Bio:
Ladies and gentlemen, technicians, professionals, and artists of questionable sleep schedules—this is fully Giggs’ fault with the full knowledge of TAIT, who bravely agreed to let Butch speak into a microphone unsupervised. Prepare for insights, unseeables, and the unfiltered thoughts of a man who once said, “Um, sure. Let’s do that,” before knowing what “that” was. Let the chaos begin. 🙃

Butch Allen has spent years working in live entertainment, helping build shows, solve problems, and keep things moving—sometimes literally. He’s known for a practical approach, a dry sense of humor, and the ability to stay surprisingly awake when everyone else is out of coffee. His path through the industry has been shaped by collaboration, curiosity, and saying “yes” maybe one or two times too many. Now, he’s here to talk about the work, the people, and the oddities that come with it.
Butch is the VP of Global Business Development at TAIT and a lifelong touring and live events professional who began in technical theater before falling in love with concert lighting. Over his career, he’s worn nearly every hat on the road—lighting director, production manager, stage manager, designer, backline, and even stepping in to drive a bus or truck when needed (everything but audio). He’s worked with major artists including Eric Church, The Eagles, Metallica, Melanie Martinez, and Paramore, and he’s passionate about building great teams, solving hard problems, and helping projects find their way from big idea to real-world execution.
Find your next Gigg: 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

Recorded live from Rock Lititz in Lititz, Pennsylvania, host Nikki Sanz sits down with Dr. Chayim Newman and Zack Borer—the co-founders of Amber Health—to talk about what it really takes to support touring crews and live event professionals when the days are long, the pressure is constant, and the margin for error is basically zero.
This conversation goes beyond “mental health awareness” and into what support looks like on the ground: proactive tools that help people manage the road and real-time backup for the moments that can derail a camp—conflict, crisis, burnout, and the stuff nobody wants to put on the comms channel.
What you’ll learn:
Why touring can be “lonely in a crowd,” even with a full crew around you
What changes when support is built for the road, not a 9–5 world
The difference between proactive training and crisis response
How trust and industry fluency make care actually usable
Why this is shifting into a standard tour budget line item
How support can reduce conflict, turnover, and operational risk
Dr. Chayim Newman and Zack Borer bios:
Dr. Chayim Newman and Zack Borer, LMFT are the co-founders of Amber Health, the music industry's only full-service mental health and wellness provider. Since launching the organization in 2021, their team has pioneered a new standard of care specifically designed for the unique demands of the music business. Together, they've developed and implemented comprehensive mental health programs that serve everyone from touring crews and live event staff to A-list artists and major music companies. Their innovative approach addresses the full spectrum of mental health needs—from crisis intervention and ongoing support to preventative wellness initiatives and systemic cultural change. Amber Health has forged groundbreaking partnerships with industry leaders including Sony Music, Clair Global, and world-renowned artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Green Day, Ed Sheeran, and Billie Eilish and more.

Dr. Newman holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and maintains a private practice specializing in clinical care for artists and industry members. He utilizes a variety of therapeutic modalities—including ACT, CBT, Mindfulness, and traditional psychotherapy—to address the psychological and emotional challenges unique to the music world. With over two decades of involvement in the industry as a touring performer, event producer, and artist liaison, Dr. Newman brings firsthand insight into its distinct stresses. He was also the co-founder of the Tour Health Research Initiative (THRIV), dedicated to conducting research on mental health in the touring sector, and co-creator of the weekly Come Together music industry online support groups. In his spare time, Dr. Newman can be found studying ancient Jewish spirituality or surfing off the coast of Portugal.

Zack is a Los Angeles-based licensed psychotherapist with a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. After spending a decade as a professional musician and songwriter, he transitioned into mental health with a deep understanding of the unique pressures faced by artists and music industry professionals. His dual background allows him to connect authentically with clients who navigate the intersection of creative expression and mental wellness.

Together, Zack and Dr. Newman are committed to making mental health support accessible and stigma-free for an industry that has historically lacked dedicated resources.
Find your next Gigg: 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

Live video direction isn’t just calling shots—it’s reading the room, listening to the music, and trusting your crew to move with it.
Recorded live from Rock Lititz, Nikki sits down with Nicholas Weldon “nicDUB”, a legacy roadie with over two decades of experience as a live video director.
nicDUB shares how growing up around touring shaped him early, why he fell in love with the visual side of music in the MTV era, and the moment he decided he wanted to make the person in the very back row feel connected to the show. From projection to LED to directing massive multi-cam productions, he breaks down the roles, the pressure, and the people-skills that separate good operators from great ones.
nicDUB bio:
Nicholas Weldon, also known as nicDUB, is a father of four, a legacy roadie, and a Live Video Director with a 20-year career dedicated to telling stories through moving images. Over the last two decades, he has directed, shot, and executive-produced countless award shows, concerts, ceremonies, conventions, and special events across the globe. His philosophy is simple: every patron, in every seat, deserves to feel deeply connected to the moment. Video is the bridge that brings that connection to life. nicDUB’s credits spanning artists and productions including P!nk, Kings of Leon, Pierce The Veil, Ricky Martin, Tina Turner, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Cirque du Soleil, Google, Avril Lavigne, and more.
Find your next Gigg: 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