The Life of a Production Manager

Ok kiddies, this is my first blog so cut me some slack as I have no clue what I'm doing. My name is Erik and I am Production Manager for Insomniac Events for the Central Texas Area. This covers The Austin Area and San Antonio.

INSOMNIAC
First a little background About Insomniac Events. Insomniac was founded in LA By Pasquale Rotella in 1993 as a small little production company like many small time promoters start out. Through lots of hard work and Making his shows the best in the country, Insomniac has Become probably the Largest and most successful Electronic Music Events Company in the country. With Insomniac now co-owned by the legendary Disco Donnie it is a events company unrivaled. Doing events In over 42 states and Puerto Rico on a regular basis. For example. Electric Daisy Carnival in LA Last year had a 2 day paid attendance of over 200,000 people making it the largest Electronic Music festival In the US. EDC Las Vegas is on par to do more this year. If you don't believe my just get on YouTube and check it out.

ME
Now a little bit about myself. I have been working on and off in Nightclubs and bars since 1994 with a few breaks here and there. My most current exploits are. General Manager of GRUV in Austin from December 06 until its sale in 09. In April 09 the owners of GRUV purchased 2 other clubs which used to be called Element. I was general Manager of Republic LIVE (as it is now known) from April 09 until august of 2010.  During my tenure at Republic the Venue hosted many events for Insomniac such as, Travis Barker, Kaskade, Dave Aude, MSTRKRFT, Infected Mushroom, Bad Boy Bill just to name a few. People whom know me well will tell you that when I am working its work time and not party time. I have never smoked pot, done coke, x heroin or any of that other bullshit. I figure cigarettes and alcohol is bad enough for me and I don't need another Vice. Besides If you have ever met me you would know that I am naturally wired enough. If I did Cocaine my head would explode.


THE BIG SWITCH
I had been contacted in July of 2010 by Insomniac to Manage production at one of the stages of the upcoming Nocturnal Festival at the end of August In 2010. This was a major opportunity for me to Learn from the best and add some nice stuff to my resume so I gladly accepted. This opportunity coupled with a Very bad breakup with girlfriend and Burnout Running Republic led me to quit Republic Just to work this show. It was Completely worth it. I cannot tell you the feeling you get when you spend a week setting everything up and when some one like Armin Van Buren goes on stage and 15,000 people go crazy before your eyes. Its gotta be a better high than drugs. Also when you get emails and texts from people like Pavo from Above & Beyond and Wolfgang Gartner thanking you for making it the favorite show they have done this year its just utterly awesome.

So Nocturnal was over with and I am unemployed (Ouch)  Fortunately my bar tending skills are still very good. My very good friend Mike Persinger 

Offered me a job bar tending at the World Famous Yellow Rose right here in Austin

SCORE!!! So now I have a Job that is a lot less stressful (Most of the Time)  I was still going to Insomniac shows and enjoying myself. Caspa was Insane!  Right around the beginning of February Insomniac put together a 2 night event at the Austin Music Hall Called Dayglow. A gigantic Paint party. This required them to Carpet the floor as people would fall and break bones on a concrete floor covered in paint. The show was sold out both days (I was not there :(  )  The person contracted to get rid of this carpet flaked so they called me because I can get stuff done in a pinch. Anyhow Solved that problem quickly for them. I was then Asked to work the Skrillex show the next weekend. After that event I was hired on a permanent Basis to handle production.


WHAT IS A PRODUCTION MANAGER?
A Production Manager is a guy that gets shit done. My job is to review the artists Technical riders and make sure that everything is to there exact required specifications. Sounds easy and sometimes it is but more than often not. Some shows are very simple which basically require 2 CD players and a mixer. most require specific items and added monitors and other technical parts all working to exact specifications. Making sure the Video and dancers are all choreographed exactly the way they are supposed to be. And making sure set times are strictly followed. I have to make it perfect for the artists. Also I have to be able to fix something on the fly and very quickly if something should go wrong. I also have to keep the stage in smooth running order which means making sure there are no tripping hazards (wires, empty bottles, people) and keeping the idiots off the stage. Some artists like a few people on the stage with them. Others want no one near them at all period, no exceptions. A lot of people think I am a complete asshole because I don't let anybody on the stage. The truth of it is the artist doesn't want your dumb ass up there anyway. Sorry, but that's the truth.





NOCTURNAL 2011
This is going to be a big one. Once again I have the honor of Running the Queens Ground Stage. If you where there last year its the pyramid stage. While I can release the specific artists for that stage needless to say its going to be epic. Two 12hr sets of the best Electronic music in the world. April 29th and 30th from 4pm to 4am in Rockdale Texas. INSOMNIAC PRESENTS: NOCTURNAL FESTIVAL 2011 TEXAS. 

Its going to be an amazing 2 nights.