Beyond the Spotlight Jon Diener
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- Arts
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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.
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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 comments at beyondthespotlightpodcast@gmail.com
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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 overdubbing. He started recording his first band at their first rehearsal and honed his basic recording chops by trial and error. Matthew and his friends threw themselves into the NJ Hardcore and Punk scene of the mid 90's. Forming an indie label and throwing shows, Matthew wanted to be immersed in the music community.
Channel surfing after school, Matthew stumbled upon a show being filmed at a recording studio only one town over from his house! He showed up at their door and told them he wanted to learn how to record. Matthew lucked out and the owner Tee DiMura took him under his wing. It was an old school 16 track analog 70's studio with floor to ceiling shag carpet and the smell of cigarettes in the air. Matthew spent all four years of high school afternoons learning as much as he could about recording and mixing.
It was Avatar Studios (The Power Station) that gave Matthew his first real taste of what it’s like working with big names in the music industry. At 19-years-old, he scored a 3 month unpaid internship that turned into 4 years on staff at this legendary facility. Everyday, Matthew was in awe while learning from Grammy winning engineers and producers. Al Schmidt, Jack Joseph Puig, Michael Brauer, Jason Corsaro, Neil Dorfsman, and Rich Costey were some the greats he got to watch perform their craft. The years he spent at Avatar still influenced the rest of his life.
After 4 years, he wanted to make the move to freelance. Matthew had a couple of indie records lined up and then by a chance meeting he got a gig mixing monitors for the NBC Today Show. He had never mixed anything live before but got thrown right into the fire on his first show mixing Elvis Costello. At the same time with an inherent gravitational pull towards his recording studio roots he signed on as a staff engineer at Granite Alps Studios in NJ and later as Chief Engineer at Fenix Studios in Staten Island, NY. During that time, Matthew worked with Living Colour, James Blood Ulmer, Bernard Purdie (Steely Dan, Aretha Franklin, Hall and Oates), Wu Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean plus lots of independent rock and pop artists. While at Fenix, he also had the opportunity to mix jingles for television, radio, as well as tracks that would end up in major motion pictures.
At just 27, Matthew took on the role of Broadcast Music Mixer for the NBC TODAY SHOW. Mixing the 5.1 Surround Sound on air-mixes that millions watch daily along with millions of streams on the net. During his time at NBC, Matthew has worked with a cornucopia of artists such as Adele, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band, Robert Plant, Fleetwood Mac, Lady Gaga, Sting, Aretha Franklin, Taylor Swift, John Mellencamp, among many others.
After a few years away from the record business to focus on television, he could not resist the urge to get back into the studio. Having recently completed his personal mix room "Stone House Studios”, Matthew has started mixing records again. His goal is to be able to deliver high quality mixes to all his clients.
Guest Links:
https://www.mattrifinomusicmixer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/rifinomatthew/
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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. Michael’s been traveling town to town on tour buses since 1999, loves to golf, and he is a lover of all things real.
Experience
Touring Bass player
Joe Nichols
Jan 2008 – Present
Founding member and bass player
Pinmonkey
Jan 1999 – Jan 2006
Doc Jeffers Band
Education
Middle Tennessee State University
Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc)
Field Of Study: Music Business
Guest Links:
https://www.instagram.com/michaeljeffers/
https://joenichols.com/
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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 America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe. In his day-to-day work, he oversees a 360-degree advanced process, from show advance, to tour accounting, to settlements, visas, production, logistics, press, and all the ins-and-outs of the vital show day process. Some of Mark’s notable previous clients include American Authors, Kayzo, TOKiMONSTA, NGHTMRE, Snails, Savoy, and Boombox.
Co Host, Tour Management 101
Mar 2020 – Present
Location New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Tour Management 101 is an educational resource for anyone learning the ropes in the live events industry. We host a weekly webinar on Zoom, and YouTube with industry pros and provide free material and templates on our website.
Tour Management / Production Management / Tour Accounting
Mark Clark Touring LLC Self-employed
Jan 2019 – Present
Location New Orleans, LA
Full 360 tour advance, management, and show execution. Domestic and Worldwide.
Freelance Professional
Tour Manager Sep 2013 – Present
Guest Links:
http://www.markclarktouring.com
https://www.tourmgmt.org/
https://www.instagram.com/markclarktm
https://www.instagram.com/tourmgmt101
Show Links:
http://www.beyondthespotlightpodcast.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheSpotlightPodcast
https://www.instagram.com/BeyondtheSpotlightPodcast
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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 time management, often under the most stressful of situations. Most recently, Angelique has been working as a mentor through Grammy U and the Well Dunn organization, helping young people learn about the world of live shows and touring.
Production Coordinator
The 1975
Jan 2020 – Present
Production Coordinator
Mumford & Sons - Delta Tour
Feb 2019 – Mar 2020
Production Coordinator
Il Divo - Timeless Tour
Aug 2018 – Dec 2018
Production Coordinator
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Apr 2017 – Aug 2018
Artist Transportation Manager
Okeechobee Music Festival
Feb 2016 – Feb 2017
Production Coordinator
Il Divo - Amor y Pasion Tour
Sep 2016 – Nov 2016
Wardrobe Mistress
Culture Club - Tribes Tour
Jul 2015 – Jul 2016
Location US/CA/MX/JP/PH/AU
Staff Transportation Coordinator
Mysterland Music Festival
May 2015
Production Coordinator
Arcade Fire - Reflektor Tour
Oct 2013 – Aug 2014
Location US/UK/EU/S America/Australia/New Zealand/Japan
Assistant Tour Manager
My Morning Jacket - Bob Dylan Americanarama Tour
Jul 2013 – Aug 2013
Location North America
Production Coordinator
Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials Tour
Jun 2012 – Dec 2012
Location US/UK/Europe
Production Coordinator
The Black Keys - El Camino Tour
Oct 2012 – Nov 2012
Location New Zealand/Australia
Wardrobe Mistress
Erasure - Total Pop! and Tomorrow's World Tours
Mar 2011 – Oct 2011
Location US/UK/Europe/S. America
Additional Artists Toured with
2000 – 2011
Location US/UK/Europe
Cirque du Soleil - Kooza (Dresser 1)
Boy George/Culture Club (Tour Assistant)
Gavin Rossdale/Institute (Merchandise Manager)
Paul Oakenfold (Merchandise Manager)
Jewel (Merchandise Manager)Fuel (Merchandise Manager)
Cheetah Girls/Miley Cyrus (Merchandise)
Vanessa Hudgens (Merchandise Manager)
Corbin Bleu (Merchandise Manager)
Guest links:
Angelique on LinkedIn
Angelique on Instagram
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Ep. 041: Marty Hom - Tour Manager, Production Coordinator
TOUR EXPERIENCE
Present
ROLLING STONES – Tour Manager
1997 - Present
FLEETWOOD MAC – Tour Manager
1999 – Present
BARBRA STREISAND – Tour Director
January 24, 2020
MUSICARES PERSON OF THE YEAR HONORING DOLLY
PARTON - Co-Producer
2010 – Present
SHAKIRA – Tour Director
1997 - Present
STEVIE NICKS - Tour Manager
Dec ’15 – Nov ‘16
BEYONCE – Tour Director/Producer Formation Tour
2012 – Present
VAN HALEN TOUR 2012 & 2015 – Tour Manager
Feb '14 – Dec ‘15
LIONEL RICHIE - Tour Director
1997 - 2001
Jan 2013 – Dec 2013
ALICIA KEYS – Tour Director - World Tour 2010 & 2013
Aug ’02 – Jan 2010
BETTE MIDLER – General Manager “The Showgirl Must Go On”
Las Vegas Residency
Aug ’05 – May ‘07
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL DELIRIUM TOUR – Tour Manager
Dec ’00 – Dec ‘01
BACKSTREET BOYS – Tour Manager
Oct ’00 – Nov ’00
LENNY KRAVITZ – Tour Manager
Aug ’99 – Dec ‘99
RICKY MARTIN - Tour Manager
July '99 - Sept '99
BONNIE RAITT, JACKSON BROWNE, SHAWN COLVIN, BRUCE HORNSBY - Tour Manager
May '99 - Sept '99
BONNIE RAITT - Tour Manager/Accountant
Sept '98 – Aug ‘99
LIONEL RICHIE - Tour Manager/Accountant
April ‘95 - 2015
BOSTON - Tour Manager
October 1996
CHRIS ISAAK - Tour Manager/Accountant
August 1996
CELINE DION - Production Manager
April ‘96 - May ‘96
SHANIA TWAIN - Tour Manager
Apr ‘95 - May ‘95
JIMMY BUFFETT - Tour Accountant
Jan '93 - Sept '94
JANET JACKSON - Tour Manager
June ‘89 - Sept '92
PAULA ABDUL - Tour Manager
1985
BILL WITHERS- Tour Manager / Accountant
GUEST LINKS:
Musicares
NEWS ARTICLES / INTERVIEWS
ROLLING STONE
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/music-in-crisis-marty-horn-tour-manager-rolling-stones-stevie-nicks-995835/
BILLBOARD
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5915668/tour-managers-of-foo-fighters-the-rolling-stones-fleetwood-mac-swap-wild-tales
POLLSTAR
https://www.pollstar.com/toptourmanagers/marty-hom-141383
NEW YORK TIMES
https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/17/archives/10-months-1-million-and-100-headaches.html
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Customer Reviews
GREAT PODCAST!
This podcast is fantastic! Getting such a unique perspective of what creates a concert. The team effort needed to put in a show. And those who don’t get a spotlight but truly deserve it are hero’s to the entertainment industry. Thank you Jon Diener for creating this podcast and do it so well! 5 stars start to finish!
Beyond my expectations! MUST LISTEN!
I should start out by saying this is not my typical podcast genre, I tend to lean towards political podcasts. That being said, I love this podcast. It really makes me appreciate the work that people put into their craft and the true enjoyment they get from it. I love the personal stories and the host asks really insightful and interesting questions to all of his guests! Be sure to check out!
Good show. Can’t wait to hear what’s coming up
Highly recommended! This is a interesting look (listen) at what goes on to make the shows you like tick. If you've ever seen a show that looked and sounded great you can bet there were a lot of people working together "Beyond the Spotlight" to make it all happen.