Gearsource Geezers Of Gear Podcast

Robert (Bob) Harmon is one of the hands down NICEST guys in the industry. You know you've made a mark in this industry when Bob approaches you at a tradeshow and hands you a bag of Hawaiian coffee. Bob started his first business at 12 years old and founded Eggshell at 16.This year Eggshell Light Company will be celebrating 50 years. Eggshell Light Company has been a boutique production company handling the light and visual needs for all who graces their shores.They combine the sublime methods of lighting from the world theater with speed and efficiency of touring road shows. An award winning combination that ensures their clients get the quality of services they demand. From the smallest, most intimate wedding to a large-scale, televised concert, they are confident that they can give you the perfect experience. We have had the pleasure of having Bob on the Podcast two times already, first time back in November 2019, episode #58 then in November 2023, episode #206 and now, today, we can celebrate 50 year

⁠Claude Viens is a Product Specialist at Lighting at AVL Media Group  in Montreal, Canada. Claude is responsible for projects and support in North America. Claude spearheaded AVL’s continued growth in the professional lighting and visual effects marketplace. His 30+ years of experience spans a wide range of disciplines from Lighting, Live Events, Lighting Design, Stage Lighting, Lighting Control, Tour Management, Architectural Lighting, LED Lighting Systems and Event Planning. Claudes international experience as a lighting designer, programmer, and board operator in every type of production from music to dance to film is an incredible benefit to AVL Media Group’s customers as they look to the industry leading technology to help them wow their audiences. Claude has his own Podcast called BackStage Cowboys, he started it back in 2018.  He has also written two self-published books on weight loss and self achievement. This episode has been brought to you by ACT Entertainment and GearSource.   --- Send in a

Jim Woodward is an award-winning designer whose expertise is 3D visualization, rendering, and modeling for a wide variety of industries including concert & theatrical events, film, television, corporate events, trade shows, museums, architectural firms, and retail. Jim has been incorporating CAD and 3D visualization into the entertainment workflow since 1986. He's produced corporate and concert events for widely recognized companies and entertainment artists for over 40 years.  Now Jim is the senior Entertainment Product Specialist at Vectorworks focused on  providing training and support for lighting design, production design, previsualization, rendering, and more.  This episode has been sponsored by RZI Lighting and AVL Media Group. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

Steve Warren was a Shareholder and Director of Avolites Ltd until to its recent sale to Robe. For over 35 years, Steve was the public face of the console and dimming manufacturer. He began his career designing electrical layouts for hospitals, police stations, and public buildings, before joining Avolites in 1984 and working his way up into a technical sales role. Then the opportunity came, in 1991, to purchase Avolites from the original owners, Steve bought the assets of the company and became the new Manager where he stayed until the recent sale.   Steve has done a lot of other interesting things along the way, and we can not wait to hear about what has been going on in Steve’s life and what he has in store for 2024 now that sale of Avolites has completed.  Episode 242 is sponsored by Elation and Mainlight. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

Michael has spent 30+ years in the entertainment industry. First as a freelancer, then in 2011, Michael joined forces with other designers to create Crossfade Design, LLC. During that time, he has created designs for small,medium and large-scale events worldwide. Michael is the President / Senior Designer at Crossfade Design and guides its overall business operations. This episode is brought to you by Roe Visual and Stratum Productions. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

David has been in the industry more than 40 years. He was President at Morris | Light & Sound, Integration before SoloTech acquired Morris. David is now the President of Business Development for Gateway Studios & Production Services (GSPS).  Gateway Studios & Production Services offers turnkey production service solutions for the live music touring, motion picture/television and corporate event industries. Gateway Studios, scheduled to open this year, with more than 300,000 square feet, Gateway will be the largest and most technologically-advanced facility of its kind in the United States.  David is also a lover of animals and supports The St Thomas Humane Society. I am really looking forward to catching up. This episode is brought to you by Ultimate Support and GearSource.   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

Jeff Founded Special Event Services in 1986 with Jim Brammer in Brammer’s Winston-Salem garage. SES is an industry leader in audio, lighting, video, design, staging, and live event production for businesses, religious organizations, and major recording artists. Since 1987 Jeff has provided scenic, show and lighting design for SES clients worldwide. Jeff has also toured with many of these SES clients as their lighting director for over the past 30 plus years. This additionally includes being the lighting designer and director on several music videos and television broadcasts that SES provides production for. This episode is brought to you by AVL Media Group and RZI Lighting. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

David sold his lighting business, TLS Inc to 4Wall back in 2012 and stayed on to work with the company for three years before taking a different approach to life. Now David is retired and manages some real estate and spends time renovating his current house with his wife DeAnn. They both did some community theater work and consulted on a few lighting projects.  David and DeAnn bought boats and traveled a lot which is fantastic BUT David’s main source of income these days is winning $ from buddies at golf. This episode is proudly sponsored by Elation Lighting and Mainlight. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

Glenn Roggeman is the CEO of The AED Group. He founded AED in Belgium in 1985 as a dry-hire rental company for lighting and sound equipment. Today, the AED group is a major player in the audio-visual market in Europe, employing more than 300 people in eight countries - Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy and United Arab Emirates.  In 2013, Glenn acquired AED Studios and transformed it into the most eco-friendly entertainment complex, catering to film and TV productions, show rehearsals, and corporate events. He’s also founded an Audio brand, Lighting brand, Trussing, and so much more.  This episode is sponsored by Stratum Productions and Roe Visual. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

Talk about career spans - Dan Braun started his legendary career path more than 45 years ago. In fact this year will mark Dan’s 30th year working with mega-act, Metallica where he remains their Show Director today - while delivering the best show he can to their massive audiences around the world. Longevity in this industry isn’t by accident, and Dan is no exception. This episode is brought to you by ACT Entertainment and GearSource. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

Matthias Hinrichs is a Product designer and innovator. Specializing in the Obsidian Control Systems for Elation Professional. Matthias has a focus on user experience, usability and workflows to make complicated tasks easy and fun for the user. As a product manager for lighting control systems he was tasked to analyze the creative process of lighting and visual design so it can be programmed into computer systems fast and efficiently. The challenge of managing tens of thousands of control parameters in an easy to understand workflow is challenging but fun to solve as the final result is so stunning and inspiring. Matthias loves dreaming up great products and ideas for the lighting industry and working with incredible teams to realize them from the napkin drawing to highly integrated manufacturing across the globe. There is of course more to life than work where Matthias and his wife have a big heart for animal welfare and volunteer in the local human society to help animals in need of foster and care.  This

Richard Cadena is an ETCP Recognized Trainer, an ETCP Certified Entertainment Electrician with over 36 years of experience in live event production. He is the author of several books, and the technical editor for Lighting and Sound America, Lighting and Sound International, and Protocol magazines. As a freelance lighting designer and lighting consultant he has worked on concert tours, television, theatre, motion picture productions, sporting events and more. His latest projects include supplying battery/solar power for festival stages, lighting the basketball courts for the NBA Playoff Games and lighting comedy clubs in Austin, Texas. He is a member of IATSE Local 205 in good standing, and he is in demand as a speaker and trainer. This episode is brought to you by Elation Lighting and Mainlight. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

Josh Allen has been actively contributing to the lighting industry for more than thirty years. He held the position of principal consultant with Theatre Consultants Collaborative (TCC), where for over a decade, as member of the American Society of Theatre Consultants (ASTC), he consulted on the design of hundreds of performing arts venues throughout the United States, Canada, and beyond. In 2016, Josh co-founded 3LR Design, Inc. His projects range from ship-wide lighting and controls systems designs for Carnival Cruise Lines and Viking River Cruises, and multitudes of professional and educational facilities, performing arts and sporting venues, houses of worship, television and broadcast studios, and museums, to provide the lighting specifications documentation for the new MGM Las Vegas Sphere - and everything in between. This episode is brought to you by Stratum Productions and Roe Visual. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

Thomas Kubik started his career 28 years ago and took the classic course from stagehand to behind the console and touring. He has been touring since 1999 with Euro and metal bands including InFlames, Nevermore, Arch Enemy, Fear Factory, Angra, Lacuna Coil, Moonspell and Chimaira. Thomas has been extremely lucky to travel to pretty much all continents.  Thomas has been with InFlames for 25 years in June as their Sound engineer and Tour Manager or in Thomas’s words, the babysitter. Thomas loves coffee, wine & Champagne and generally good food.  This episode was brought to you by Ultimate Support and GearSource. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

We are very happy to have Mickey Curbishley back on the Podcast, the last time he was on the show was back in September 2019. You can listen to Mickey’s previous Podcast recording on Spotify episode #45 and hear all about how he got into the industry by selling t.shirts on tour with AC DC and his first Lighting Tour with Sir Elton. Stories from growing up with his legendary father who was the tour manager for The Who, Robert Plant, Jimmy page etc  Five years later we are going to hear everything Mickey has been up to. Mickey is now the President of SoloTech with some amazing stories to tell. We will also be talking about sustainability in our industry. Mickey was taught an incredible work ethic and continues to teach that today.  This episode is brought to you by AVL Media Group and The ESA. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

Todd’s career spans more than 25 years with firms varying in size from $1M to $3B in revenues, with over 18 years in executive leadership roles, working with both startups and established companies to guide strategic and operational growth, acquisitions, turn-arounds, and business sales. Really smart guy with a very patient and collaborative approach to business. An asset to any company looking to grow, work through change management, and more. Episode 230 is brought to you by Elation Lighting and Mainlight. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

Marian Sandberg Started doing PR for Jack Kelly/Group One in 1996 and barely left the industry since!  Marian has diverse work experience spanning several industries and is currently the Vice President & Market Leader for LDI, DSE, and XLIVE at Questex. Prior to this, Marian worked at Informa from November 2016 to December 2019 as the Content Director for the Live Experience Group, where she was responsible for digital editorial, content strategy, video production, and conference content. Marian also shaped brand marketing strategy and monitored site metrics to optimize practices. Before Informa, Marian was the Editor at Live Design Magazine from February 2004 to November 2016.  Marian also completed the New York Iron Man in September 2023 which is a huge achievement.  This episode sponsored by Roe and Stratum Productions. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

Rocko was Stage Manager for 30 Years for U2, recently visiting The Sphere in Las Vegas where he saw the gig from FOH. The first time he had ever watched a U2 show from the front, as a punter, as a fan and looking at the band’s faces vs their backs! Rocko has retired from the road since 2019 but has continued making music. His most recent video was a rendition of Sex Is on Fire by Kings of Leon, uploaded to his Facebook page on Valentine’s day. This episode is proudly sponsored by ACT Entertainment and GearSource. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

Paul established himself as an industry visionary, one of the early leaders in Fiber Optic lighting solutions and a go-to-source for high-tech, high-touch creative lighting solutions for, working with high profile jobs including the Grammy awards, Broadway shows and major concert tours. After selling his company in 2007, Paul reinvented himself as consultant, author and motivational speaker. He wrote a book, Blue Collar Buddha based on Winning Wisdom Gained on a Journey from Flight Attendant to Cancer Survivor and finally, Entrepreneurial Millionaire. Most recently, Paul has founded and grown a new company in LED for Agricultural applications called Lumen Pros (lumen-pros.com). This episode is brought to you by AVL Media Group and Event Safety Alliance. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message

Creech has been in the industry for over 40 years. Steven started as a stagehand in Dallas and then his first BIG tour was with Motley Crew in 1985. Stevens' career just kept on getting better and better, working with incredible artists such as Metallica, Scorpions, Rush, Elton John, Bob Seger and Aerosmith to name but a few.  Now with Premier Global Production Company for 24 years, Steven has applied a hands-on approach to each lighting project he has been involved with. Customer service is the most important aspect of the industry and with his passion he has been able to succeed. When he is not under the lights and visiting clients, he can be found in the ocean, following his other passions, scuba diving, and photographing sharks and other marine life. This episode is brought to you by Mainlight and Elation Professional. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geezersofgear/message