Courtney Warner
On Tuesday, October 11, MIC was visited by a true career professional in the touring industry. Courtney Warner, the production manager and front of house for the Brothers Osborne, has been touring for years. Courtney came to Columbus over Zoom to give the Music Industry Club a masterclass in all things production management.
It was immediately apparent that Courtney was extremely well-versed in his field. He told the story of how he grew from running audio for his church at the age of 13, to making his way through small live gigs, to eventually working up to his current position. He clearly showed a deep love for his job, where he gets to travel the country and do a job that, to him, is much more dynamic and exciting than studio mixing.
Courtney also brought some pointed humor to his talk, admitting to some of the more absurd aspects of the industry. From incompetent managers of supporting artists, to near-death experiences with falling ceiling gear, to his own blunders accumulated over the years.
One of the primary takeaways from Courtney’s visit was that the music industry has room for everyone, as long as you’re willing to work for it. Early on he repeated the adage, “You can make a living by setting up drums every day,” which highlighted the wide variety of skillsets and responsibilities that are valued in touring. Every tiny element of the project — whether it be logistics, audio, video, lighting, mixing, instruments, gear, troubleshooting, communication, whatever — has someone on the payroll to take care of it.
Courtney also highlighted the two main criteria he looks for in new recruits. The first is someone who is willing to work hard and always be learning. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to do your job, as long as you can take in information and make good on it. People who take shortcuts or need to be micromanaged are not welcome in a field full of technological problems and tight deadlines. The second requirement is simply to be a good hang. If you present yourself as someone that people can hang out with all day, then you will have little trouble finding a good job.
Overall, Courtney Warner made for another fantastic experience for MIC, and taught us a lot about what goes into a field that is easy to ignore. When you go to a concert, you likely pull up, see a good show, and leave without thinking about the tireless work that went into making sure it went off without a hitch. This visit was a great opportunity to get a closer look at a lucrative industry.