Roadie Free Radio

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158: THE TOUR HEALTH RESEARCH INITIATIVE Feb 10, 2020

Show notes

In this special episode I'm joined by touring veteran Ryan Philip George and clinical psychologist Dr. Chayim Newman, core members of the team behind the Tour Health Research Initiative.

Launched by a small team of psychologists, researchers, and touring professionals who work closely with and care deeply about the well-being of touring personnel, they are committed to the development of scientific, evidence-based strategies to improve the health and mental health of touring artists and crew members.

The Tour Health Research Initiative is a comprehensive scientific study of health and mental health among touring professionals. In recent years, health and mental health issues in the music industry, and especially in the touring sector, have become a well-publicized topic. It has been addressed in panels at conferences, in industry magazine articles, and in countless blogs and posts on social media.

This survey is the first phase of the Tour Health Research Initiative. It's an attempt to gather and analyze detailed information about the nuances of what impacts the health and mental health of touring professionals.

The survey has been IRB approved to ensure that all research is conducted in an ethically and scientifically appropriate manner. Today's episode is sponsored by Stagehands Clothing, Boulevard Carroll, & Gig-Gear. Use the code ROADIE to get great discounts when you check out.

Special Mentions:

Tour Health Research Initiative, Ryan Philip George RFR Interview, Dr. Chayim Newman, This Tour Life, How Live Nation exploits low-wage workers to stage its rock concerts, The Last Seat in the House: The Story of Hanley Sound, ROADIE: My Documentary (TJ Hoffman film), The Power of Podcasting Panel at NAMM, Recording Studio Rockstars, The Six Figure Home Studio, Working Class Audio, The Art of Music Tech podcast, Soundgirls, Mixing Music Live, Roswell Pro Audio Mini K87, Filming Great Concert Footage, Roadie Short Film, Roadie: A True Story (at least the parts I remember), Roadie Free Radio Merch

157: LARRY MARTIN/Founder/Tour Supply Inc. Feb 03, 2020

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Larry Martin is the founder and owner of Tour Supply Inc., accommodating touring professionals with the gear they need from locations in Los Angeles CA (Third Encore) and Nashville, TN (Soundcheck), a showroom location in Lititz, PA (Rock Lititz), and a shop in Manchester, UK. With over two decades of experience, Tour Supply has proven to be the one stop shop for touring professionals. You can trace the origins all the way back to a fortuitous meeting Larry had while he was trying to figure out the next steps of his young life. That chance meeting and job offer would change Larry's life forever and create a network for him that would last almost 30 years.

Today's episode is sponsored by Stagehands Clothing, Boulevard Carroll, Gig-Gear. Use the code ROADIE to get great discounts when you check out.

Special Mentions:

Tour Supply Inc., How Live Nation exploits low-wage workers to stage its rock concerts, The Last Seat in the House: The Story of Hanley Sound, ROADIE: My Documentary (TJ Hoffman film), The Power of Podcasting Panel at NAMM, Recording Studio Rockstars, The Six Figure Home Studio, Working Class Audio, The Art of Music Tech podcast, Soundgirls, Mixing Music Live, Roswell Pro Audio Mini K87, Filming Great Concert Footage, Roadie Short Film, Roadie: A True Story (at least the parts I remember), Roadie Free Radio Merch

156: The Power of Podcasting Panel - NAMM 2020 Jan 27, 2020

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Here's a replay from our panel at this year's NAMM show:

Join hosts from some of the top podcasts in the industry as they take you from inception to launch and beyond. Hear their personal journeys as they organically grew audiences and learned how to navigate the world of brands and sponsorships. The session will be moderated by Larry Milburn, host of Roadie Free Radio, and panelists include Fela Davis (The Art Of Music Tech Podcast), Lij Shaw (Recording Studio Rockstars), Chris Graham (The Six Figure Home Studio Podcast) and Matt Boudreau (Working Class Audio).

Today's episode is sponsored by showprobeardco.com. Use the code ROADIE to get great discounts when you check out!

Special thanks to: Roswell Pro Audio, Presonus, Sound Devices for sponsoring our shows and lending us props!

Special Mentions:

The Power of Podcasting Panel at NAMM, Recording Studio Rockstars, The Six Figure Home Studio, Working Class Audio, The Art of Music Tech podcast, Soundgirls, Mixing Music Live, Roswell Pro Audio Mini K87, Filming Great Concert Footage, Roadie Short Film, Roadie: A True Story (at least the parts I remember), Roadie Free Radio Merch

155: JIMMY PETTINATO/Production Manager/Trans-Siberian Orchestra, No Doubt, Goo Goo Dolls Jan 13, 2020

Show notes

Jimmy Pettinato is a veteran Production Manager based in his hometown of Scranton, PA.

In spite of his long resume marked by some of the biggest names in the music business, Jimmy has never strayed far from his family's hard-working, no-nonsense, Italian-American roots. Born into a legacy of carpenters, day laborers, and mechanics, Jimmy's career choices seemed predetermined. However, once he discovered he had a knack for lighting design, it was only a matter of time before a life on the road would change his fortunes for good.

After several years as both Lighting Designer and Production Manager, Jimmy ultimately made the switch to focus solely on being the best Production Manger he could, and through his career he has worked with the likes of Trans Siberian Orchestra, No Doubt, Spin Doctors, PINK, New Kids On the Block, Backstreet Boys, Goo Goo Dolls, and many, many more.

Sharing the ride with Jimmy is his wife, FOH Engineer Michelle Pettinato.

Today's episode is sponsored by Boulevardcarroll.com, showprobeardco.com, and Stagehandsclothing.com. Use the code ROADIE to get great discounts when you check out.

Special Mentions:

The Power of Podcasting Panel at NAMM, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Soundgirls, Mixing Music Live, Roswell Pro Audio Mini K87, Filming Great Concert Footage, Roadie Short Film, Roadie: A True Story (at least the parts I remember), Roadie Free Radio Merch

154: JESSICA SANDERS/Lighting Designer/Tech/BTS, Mumford & Sons, Simple Minds Jan 07, 2020

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Jessica Sanders is a Lighting Designer/Tech currently based in Nashville, TN.

Raised by music-loving parents in Macon, GA, and named after and Allman Brother's song, Jessica and her family eventually settled in Houston where she ultimately got her start in the audio field.

A graduate of Media Technical Institute, Jessica started working as a stagehand upon graduating. With no fear of rigging or climbing structures, Jessica always seemed to find herself with the lighting department even though she was always wanting to go hang with the audio crew.

Before long, she worked her way up from being a lighting technician doing AV and one-offs for a few key companies in Florida and building a reputation there. After an opportunity to start doing more and more large one-offs, and smaller festivals, the work started coming as a touring technician.

Jessica spent most of 2019 with pop sensation BTS. Ever passionate about her career, she is creating an online resource for others looking to get some ongoing education or those just starting out.

Today's episode is sponsored by Boulevard Carroll, showprobeardco.com, and Stagehandsclothing.com. Use the code ROADIE to get great discounts when you check out.

Special Mentions:

BTS – Tour, Marty Grebb, The Power of Podcasting Panel at NAMM, A Life On the Road, Roswell Pro Audio Mini K87, Filming Great Concert Footage, Roadie Short Film, Roadie: A True Story (at least the parts I remember), Roadie Free Radio Merch, Samson Q2U Handheld Dynamic USB Microphone Recording and Podcasting Pack, ShowPro Beard Co., Over the Bridge.org

153: MICHELLE SABOLCHICK PETTINATO/FOH Engineer/Elvis Costello, Adam Lambert, Gwen Stefani, Ke$ha Jan 01, 2020

Show notes

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Michelle Sabolchick Pettinato is a professional live sound engineer currently mixing FOH for Elvis Costello.

Over the last thirty years, Michelle has worked with/for some of the most recognizable names in music including: the Spin Doctors, Styx, Gwen Stefani, Goo Goo Dolls, Melissa Etheridge, Indigo Girls, Mr. Big, Big Time Rush, Ke$ha, Jewel, Adam Lambert, and more.

She has participated as a panelist and speaker at industry conferences and various universities, and has also written numerous articles and blogs about industry topics ranging from live sound techniques and career development to life on the road.

Mentoring audio students and young professionals is also extremely important to Michelle and in 2013 she co-founded soundgirls.org to create a supportive community for women working in professional audio, while also inspiring and empowering the next generation.

In 2015 Michelle was inducted into Full Sail University's Hall of Fame.

Most recently, Michelle launched Mixing Music Live, an online video course for Live Sound and Mixing.

Sign-up for Mixing Music Live HERE, use the code ROADIE to save 25%!

Today's episode is sponsored by Soundgirls.org, Boulevardcarroll.com, and showprobeardco.com. Use the code ROADIE to get great discounts when you check out.

Special Mentions:

Soundgirls, Mixing Music Live, Roswell Pro Audio Mini K87, Filming Great Concert Footage, Roadie Short Film, Roadie: A True Story (at least the parts I remember), Roadie Free Radio Merch

152: Happy Holidays! Dec 24, 2019

Show notes

To the entire extended Roadie Free Radio Family, we wish you the merriest of holidays and lot's of good health!

In this quick episode I recap the last few months and give some ideas of things to come in the future. Come along for the ride!

Special Mentions:

Namm – The Power of Podcasting Panel, Ian S. Port: The Birth of Loud, Carla Jean Whitley: Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Roswell Pro Audio Mini K87, A Life On the Road,

Filming Great Concert Footage, Roadie Short Film, Roadie: A True Story (at least the parts I remember), John Kane: Pilgrims of Woodstock, The Last Seat in the House, David Dann: "Guitar King: Michael Bloomfield's Life in the Blues", Roadie Free Radio Merch

151: BORN IN CHICAGO: The Blues of Michael Bloomfield & Paul Butterfield Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

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Born in Chicago: The Blues of Michael Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield, is book signing, film clip viewing and panel discussion on the lives and artistry of guitarist Michael Bloomfield and harmonica player Paul Butterfield. From the late 1950s when, as teenagers, Bloomfield and Butterfield ventured into the black blues clubs on the South Side of Chicago to play with masters like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, both men were dedicated to the blues. With the formation of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band featuring the leader's brilliant harp work and Bloomfield's searing guitar sorties in the mid-1960s, the sound of raw, muscular electric blues reached a vast new audience and created a blues-rock revolution in American popular music. The induction of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 recognized the game-changing music of these two Chicago innovators and their bandmates, Sam Lay, Jerome Arnold and Mark Naftalin.

In 2014, Ravin' Films released an award-winning documentary about Mike Bloomfield called "Sweet Blues: A Film about Michael Bloomfield," and three years later, Abramorama LLC and Gravitas Ventures released "Horn from the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story," a feature-film about Paul Butterfield and his life and music. In October of 2019, the University of Texas Press published "Guitar King: Michael Bloomfield's Life in the Blues," the definitive story of the legendary guitarist's musical career.

The event, "Born in Chicago: The Blues of Michael Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield," will bring together these three productions in a panel discussion that will include clips from both films. Panelists Sandy Warren, co-writer and executive producer of "Horn from the Heart," and David Dann, author of "Guitar King," will discuss the impact of Bloomfield and Butterfield's artistry on pop culture and will share stories of the musicians' adventures in the heady counterculture music world of the late '60s and early '70s.

Today's episode is sponsored by boulevardcarroll.com.

Special Mentions:

Guitar King: Michael Bloomfield's Life in the Blues (David Dann), Horn From the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story (Sandra Warren), Sweet Blues: A Film About Michael Bloomfield (Bob Sarles), Super Session – Bloomfield, Kooper, Stills, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, East-West, Highway 61 Revisited (Bob Dylan), A Michael Bloomfield Primer (Larry Milburn), The Hickory Stick Bookshop, The Judy Black Memorial Park & Gardens

150: T.J. HOFFMAN/PM, TM, Filmmaker/Skid Row, M.O.D., ROADIE: My Documentary Oct 14, 2019

Show notes

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Thank you all so much for joining me on this incredible journey!

TJ's story originally started in the late 1980's as a roadie for several New Jersey club bands. After a brief time at New Jersey's legendary Trax East Recording studio, he spent most of the 1990's and 2000's crisscrossing the planet with bands like M.O.D, Agnostic Front, Ignite and many more. Along the way, he formalized his work with the creation Iron Sound Productions; a company providing back line, sound re-enforcement and tour logistics. By 2000, he was pulling triple duty as Tour Manager, Drum Tech and Guitar Tech for Skid Row, who was opening on the legendary KISS Farewell Tour (last tour with the original members of the band), and included a set by Ted Nugent. As the miles and years on the road continued to stack up, he further earned the respect and trust of peers in the industry.

Coming off his last tour, after spending over 20 years on the road, was a time of reflection for TJ; the realization that he was just a local kid from Jersey who had the honor to travel and share a stage with some of the biggest bands in the world. There were more than enough All Access stories to fill the pages of a book, but this wasn't a story to just be seen through the interpreted imagination of a reader. Throughout all his travels, he had been compiling video footage of life on the road. There wasn't a story to be written. It was a story that had to be seen. First hand.

Using his video archive as a basis, he starting from the ground up recording new footage. Talking directly to Roadies; helping his peers to open up to the camera, so he could capture the film in reality. In the life that it is lived, not just as it could be filmed. He knew the business first hand. He knew the life first hand. He had lived that life. His production would be at a level never infiltrated or presented. Without this bonding of a brotherhood he shared, this film and other related projects could never have happened. But they have.

text: ROADIEFILM to 555888 for exclusive content from TJ's upcoming film!

Special Mentions:

Roadie: My Documentary, Ian Campbell Music, The Weight Band, Jason Spooner Band, AES.org, Black Bear Music Festival, Filming Great Concert Footage, Roadie Short Film, Roadie: A True Story (at least the parts I remember), Alan Rogan - Guitar Tech Tribute, John Kane: Pilgrims of Woodstock, The Last Seat in the House, David Dann: "Guitar King: Michael Bloomfield's Life in the Blues", John Joseph: The PMA EFFECT, www.theproductionacademy.com, Roadie Free Radio Merch, Samson Q2U Handheld Dynamic USB Microphone Recording and Podcasting Pack, ShowPro Beard Co., Napkin Sketch Stage, Event Runner Pro, Over the Bridge.org

Today's episode is sponsored by boulevardcarroll.com.

149: IAN CAMPBELL/Multi-Instrumentalist, Singer-Songwriter Oct 07, 2019

Show notes

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Ian Campbell is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter who grew up in Connecticut with seventeen entertaining and musical brothers and sisters. Outrageous family dinner time jam sessions, with instruments like "salt shaker" and "nose" gave Ian a love for music and performance.

After spending five years in the military, Ian drove around the country, adjusting back to civilian life. It was in these travels that Ian cracked open and found the songwriter within.

Ian is the quintessential singer/songwriter; and with his heart on his sleeve, he walks the line between spirituality and humanity... His honest and vulnerable lyrics, decorated with intricate finger-style guitar, open tunings, and powerful piano, blends so well with his soothing voice, and welcoming presence. His music explores the deeper places that make you laugh, cry, hurt, and heal; and always... always looking for the light.

As an endorsed clinician for Ovation guitar, A director and teacher for the National Guitar Workshop, and a full time, traveling singer/songwriter, Ian has honed the sound, communication, experience, and feels of a powerful live performance. His obvious goal is to have you leave with your spirits raised.

Most recently, Ian has is the talent booker for the Black Bear Americana Music Festival in Goshen, Connecticut.

Today's episode is sponsored by showprobeardco.com, airturn.com, and Stagehandsclothing.com. Use the code ROADIE to get great discounts when you check out.

Special Mentions:

Ian Campbell Music, The Weight Band, Jason Spooner Band,

AES.org, Black Bear Music Festival, Filming Great Concert Footage, Roadie Short Film, Roadie: A True Story (at least the parts I remember), Alan Rogan - Guitar Tech Tribute, John Kane: Pilgrims of Woodstock, The Last Seat in the House, David Dann: "Guitar King: Michael Bloomfield's Life in the Blues", John Joseph: The PMA EFFECT, www.theproductionacademy.com, Roadie Free Radio Merch, Samson Q2U Handheld Dynamic USB Microphone Recording and Podcasting Pack, ShowPro Beard Co., Napkin Sketch Stage, Event Runner Pro, Over the Bridge.org

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