Brand activations and tours
The same production, built the same way in every city.
Same show. Different every city.
Tours and activation programs get rebuilt at every stop: different vendors, different crews, different results, and a budget nobody can predict.
- Every stop quoted from scratch by a different local vendor?
- A look that changes from city to city?
- No one person who knows the whole run?
- Venue and permit details chased the week before each stop?
Why it hasn’t been fixed yet.
It’s rarely effort. Owners in this business work harder than anyone. It’s usually one of these.
Vendors running their own piece
Every city gets a different vendor’s version
Local vendors quote what they’d bring, not what the brand approved. Without one spec, every stop drifts.
Production planned last
Each stop is advanced on its own
When every stop starts from a blank email, venue details, power and permits are chased late and each city repeats the last one’s mistakes.
Production as a second job
Account teams aren’t on the road
The agency team runs the client and the creative. Nobody is looking at every stop’s production with the whole run in mind.
What I do
What the work includes
- Production package and equipment list that travels, with what tours and what’s sourced locally
- Advance template for each stop: venue, access, power, permits and labor
- Local vendor and crew sourcing at each stop, bid on the same scope
- Trucking, freight and storage between stops
- One production lead across the run, on site for builds and key dates
- Stop-by-stop report on cost, issues and what to change for the next city
What changes
A consistent show in every market, at a cost you can plan.
Scoped to your event. On the first call we go through the date, the venue, the talent and the budget, and decide how much of the production you want me to run.
Proof
Shows I’ve sold and project managed.
Concerts, festivals, tours and brand activations from my time at production companies. They’re my experience, not clients of this business.
- County Line Music FestivalConcert or festival
- Deep Roots FestivalConcert or festival
- REVOLT WORLD 2024Concert or festival
- Robin Thicke TourConcert or festival
- Skillet ConcertConcert or festival
- Atlanta Wine & Jazz Festival 2023Concert or festival
- Pacific Feats Festival 2024Concert or festival
- Kentuckiana Pride FestivalConcert or festival
- Toyota Music Den 2024Fan event
- Credit One Credit Tip Off College TourFan event
- Atlanta United 2023 Block PartyFan event
- New York Fashion WeekLive show
Most production help sells you gear. I’ve worked every side of the show.
I’ve worked every side of a show, from the loading dock to the sales desk. That’s how I know where a production goes wrong, and why I work for you, not the vendors.
Devon RaceManaging Director, Event Production Partner
Outsiders: An account team sees a city list.
I see the docks, the power and the build time in each one, from loading in shows across the country.
From the crew, as a stagehand
Outsiders: A brand sees a branded set.
I see the cases, the truck pack and what travels versus what’s rented locally, from running the warehouse.
From the warehouse, as warehouse manager
Outsiders: An agency sees stops.
I see one production run, from project managing tours, activations and multi-city programs.
From the show, as project manager
The production mistakes that cost events the most
I’ve watched each one happen from inside the company. You get the lesson without the bill.
Where I saw it: StagehandLoad-ins, audio, LED and staging
The mistakeApproving the stage before anyone has walked the site
What it costs
A rebuild on show day, with the crew on overtime
What to do instead
Check ground, power, access and the load-in window before the design is final
Where I saw it: Warehouse managerInventory, prep, trucks and returns
The mistakeTaking the lowest bid without checking what’s in it
What it costs
Cable, power and labor added back later at full price
What to do instead
Bid one scope and equipment list, and compare line by line
Where I saw it: Project manager$500K+ projects, crews and clients
The mistakeLeaving the artist advance until show week
What it costs
Backline bought in a rush, and a soundcheck that runs into doors
What to do instead
Advance every artist as soon as they’re confirmed
Where I saw it: Head of sales and marketingScaled companies from $750K to $3M+
The mistakePromising the client a look before it’s costed
What it costs
Your margin pays for the difference
What to do instead
Get a production budget before the pitch or the deal is signed
Relevant experience and expertise are the top criteria buyers use to evaluate potential service providers.
Took production houses local to regional to national. Built client relationships with Fortune 500 brands.
Common questions
Production for brand activations and event tours
What promoters, agencies and brands ask about this before the first call.
How do you keep a touring activation consistent?
One production package and equipment list, one advance template for every stop, and the same scope sent to local vendors in each city. The look is defined once, and every stop is checked against it.
Devon
Should a tour carry its own gear or rent locally?
It depends on the routing, the gear and how fast the stops turn over. Branded and custom pieces usually travel; standard staging, audio and power is often cheaper sourced locally. I work it out stop by stop.
Devon
Do you handle permits?
I make sure every permit, insurance certificate and venue requirement is identified and chased in the advance. The permits themselves are issued to you or the venue by the local authority.
Devon
What kinds of tours have you worked?
As a project manager at production companies I sold and managed brand activations, college tours, fan events and artist tours. The list is on the events page.
Devon
Keep reading
More of the production I run
- What I run for youStage design and implementationTurn the creative vision into a stage that can actually be built, on budget.Read more
- What I run for youVendor procurement and biddingBids you can compare line by line, from vendors who can deliver them.Read more
- What I run for youArtist liaison and rider procurementEvery rider advanced, sourced and confirmed before the artist arrives.Read more
Start with a conversation
Let’s talk about your next show.
- A 15-minute callBy video, about your company
- A short written planWithin three business days
- You decideNo packages, no pressure