📄 Episode Description:

What does it really take to keep a massive country music tour running seamlessly night after night? In this episode of the So Rude Podcast, Paige sits down with Mike Kelly, Tour Manager for Darius Rucker, to pull back the curtain on the high-stakes world of live concert production and tour logistics.

From managing daily schedules, travel, and stage rigging to solving unexpected backstage fires before doors even open, Mike shares what a day in the life of a veteran Tour Manager actually looks like. Plus, we dive into the business of touring - offering invaluable advice for independent artists on when to hire a TM, planning for hidden road costs, and how to build a lasting career behind the scenes in the music industry.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Life on the Road: A backstage look into the daily schedule, travel mechanics, and moving parts of an arena- and amphitheater-scale tour.
• The Reality of Tour Management: What a TM actually handles behind the scenes from dealing with promoters and hotel logistics to navigating the dreaded daily guest list.
• Behind-the-Scenes Problem Solving: How veteran managers handle unpredictable road emergencies and keep operations running smoothly when things don't go according to plan.
• Advice for Indie Artists: Practical strategies for smaller acts to optimize touring budgets, recognize stealth expenses, and know when it’s finally time to bring on a Tour Manager.
• Industry Longevity: How to build trust, maintain strong relationships, and create a sustainable, long-term career in live music production.

🎸 Podcast Sponsors

This episode is proudly sponsored by Working Order Guitars, your go-to for expert guitar repair, maintenance, and custom work in Nashville. Keep your instrument in peak condition and ready for the stage or the studio by visiting ⁠⁠⁠@workingorderguitars⁠
Use Code Word: SO RUDE

🎧 About the So Rude Podcast:

So Rude is hosted by Paige Ruderman and dives into real conversations with artists, songwriters, and creatives in Nashville and beyond. From the highs and lows of the industry to the behind-the-scenes of building a career in music, this show keeps it honest, curious, and always relevant. New episodes drop Tuesdays.

📲 Follow the Show:

• Follow Paige: @paigeruderman_ (⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/paigeruderman⁠⁠_)
• Follow the podcast: @sorude.podcast (⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/sorude.podcast⁠⁠)
• Subscribe:

Want to be a guest or suggest one? ⁠So Rude Podcast Episode Suggestion Form

🔖 SEO Keywords & Tags:

So Rude Podcast, Paige Ruderman, Nashville songwriting podcast, Nashville music business, Tour Manager, Mike Kelly, Darius Rucker, So Rude Podcast, Paige Ruderman, live music production, tour management logistics, concert touring, behind the scenes music industry, and life on the road, Music industry careers, live sound operations, production management, concert production, touring industry, concert tour crew, road manager, and backstage tour operations, Independent artist advice, touring on a budget, how to hire a tour manager, music touring expenses, DIY touring tips, tour budgeting, and music business podcast.

📄 Episode Description:

From touring the world with Brad Paisley to surviving tour pranks and long road days, live audio engineer Kris Heinold has seen it all! This week on So Rude, Paige gets a masterclass in the backstage world of live production from one of the best in the business. Kris breaks down how he got his start in Nashville, what it takes to run sound for major touring acts, and the subtle stage tweaks performers can ask for to sound better live. Plus, we dive into favorite tour venues, rider essentials, and whether you can ever really turn off your "work brain" when attending a concert as a fan.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

- How Kris went from learning the ropes in Nashville to running FOH for Brad Paisley

- The #1 mistake indie artists make on stage that ruins their mix (and how to fix it)- The go-to gear, favorite consoles, and microphone secrets behind great live sound

- Hilarious tour stories, prank culture on the road, and off-day realities

- How sound engineers manage hearing safety through years of loud shows

🎸 Podcast Sponsors

This episode is proudly sponsored by Working Order Guitars, your go-to for expert guitar repair, maintenance, and custom work in Nashville. Keep your instrument in peak condition and ready for the stage or the studio by visiting ⁠⁠⁠@workingorderguitars⁠

Use Code Word: SO RUDE

🎧 About the So Rude Podcast:

So Rude is hosted by Paige Ruderman and dives into real conversations with artists, songwriters, and creatives in Nashville and beyond. From the highs and lows of the industry to the behind-the-scenes of building a career in music, this show keeps it honest, curious, and always relevant.

New episodes drop Tuesdays.

📲 Connect with Kris Heinold

- Instagram: @krisheinold https://www.instagram.com/krisheinold/

📲 Follow the Show:

- Follow Paige: @paigeruderman_ (⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/paigeruderman⁠⁠_)

- Follow the podcast: @sorude.podcast (⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/sorude.podcast⁠⁠)

- Subscribe:

- ⁠Spotify⁠⁠ - https://open.spotify.com/show/0KhcW6IduxjTnvJQUTVhAa?si=eb33dd0e6eb3434b

- ⁠Apple Podcast ⁠⁠- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/so-rude-podcast/id1522530338

- YouTube - ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SoRudePodcast⁠⁠

Want to be a guest or suggest one?

So Rude Podcast Episode Suggestion Form🔖

SEO Keywords & Tags:

So Rude Podcast, Paige Ruderman, Nashville songwriting podcast, Nashville music business, Kris Heinold, Brad Paisley, live sound engineer interview, stage tips for artists, touring stories, behind the scenes music industry, FOH engineer, music podcast Nashville

📄 Episode Description:
In this quick 12-minute episode, Paige dives into the necessity of changing your scenery and hitting the pause button on your craft. Whether it’s traveling somewhere new, soaking in the energy at the Key West Songwriters Festival, or simply putting the pen down for a beat, stepping away from the daily grind isn’t giving up—it’s opening the windows to let fresh creativity in. Tune in for a quick honest check-in on rest, inspiration, and refueling your creative tank.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Breaking the Routine: Why stepping outside your usual environment is essential for clearing mental clutter and unlocking new inspiration.
• The Power of the Pause: Normalizing taking a break from writing and why step-aways leave you feeling refreshed instead of behind.
• Resetting Your Creative Energy: Gentle reminders on letting yourself rest so you can come back to the craft with a clean slate.

🎸 Podcast Sponsors

This episode is proudly sponsored by Working Order Guitars, your go-to for expert guitar repair, maintenance, and custom work in Nashville. Keep your instrument in peak condition and ready for the stage or the studio by visiting ⁠⁠⁠@workingorderguitars⁠

Use Code Word: SO RUDE

🎧 About the So Rude Podcast:

So Rude is hosted by Paige Ruderman and dives into real conversations with artists, songwriters, and creatives in Nashville and beyond. From the highs and lows of the industry to the behind-the-scenes of building a career in music, this show keeps it honest, curious, and always relevant.

New episodes drop Tuesdays.

📲 Follow the Show:

• Follow Paige: @paigeruderman_ (⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/paigeruderman⁠⁠_)
• Follow the podcast: @sorude.podcast (⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/sorude.podcast⁠⁠)
• Subscribe:

Want to be a guest or suggest one? ⁠So Rude Podcast Episode Suggestion Form

🔖 SEO Keywords & Tags:

So Rude Podcast, Paige Ruderman, Nashville songwriting podcast, Nashville music business, Key West Songwriters Festival, creative reset, taking a break from writing, creative burnout, songwriter travel, song writing inspiration, artist mindset