CMA Hosts Tour Manager & Production Manager Forums

Forums Provide Targeted Professional Development, Community Building and Networking Opportunities for Music Industry Professionals

CMA, the leading trade organization supporting professionals making a living in the Country Music industry, hosted its first-ever Tour and Production Manager Forums in collaboration with the Touring Career Workshop, the association’s longstanding community partner. Taking place this Monday and Tuesday, July 18-19 at CMA’s headquarters in Nashville, the back-to-back events featured comprehensive panels and presentations as well as networking opportunities for attendees. With touring professionals making up the second largest category of CMA membership, Monday’s event was tailored to tour managers, while Tuesday targeted production managers.

Each forum included in-depth discussions and candid conversations around topics relevant to each career path, while also highlighting universal trends in the live entertainment industry, including tactics for growing with artist clients, mentorship for the next generation and the importance of mental health awareness.

“At our core, CMA exists to provide resources, information and support for those in the music business,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Vice President, Industry Relations and Philanthropy. “This type of programming allows us to not only champion and equip industry professionals, but also remain at the forefront of an ever-evolving industry through continued learning, education and engagement. We say it often, but to keep our business strong, it is so important to support each and every person who makes this business possible.”

Highlights from the two-day forum include:

• A Call to Action: Leadership and Mentorship with Chris Lisle (Executive Director, Touring Career Workshop)
• Growing with Your Artist – From Clubs to Stadiums with Erik Leighty (Production Manager, Miranda Lambert) and Curt Jenkins (Tour Manager, Miranda Lambert)
• Mentorship and the Next Generation with Chris Bissinger (SCTV Instructor, Stewarts Creek High School)
• Well Dunn Presentation with David Norman (Tour Manager, My Morning Jacket)
• The Logistics of International Touring with Zito (Production Manager, Green Day)
• Mental Health and Live Entertainment with Zack Borer and Chayim Newman (Co-Founders, Borer Newman)
• Musically Fed Presentation with Maria Brunner (Founder and Director, Musically Fed) and Chad Schultz (Vice President Radio and Streaming, Warner Music Nashville and Musically Fed Board Member)

About Touring Career Workshop

The Touring Career Workshop (TCW) is a free annual event created by Chris Lisle and Erik Parker designed to serve and educate their colleagues in the touring music industry. The inaugural TCW was held in November 2011 at Belmont University and was attended by over fifty industry professionals. In the past several years well over 350 people have attended. Extending beyond the flagship event, TCW now also hosts networking gatherings each year to give a time and place for fellow roadies to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones. TCW’s All Access program provides four sessions of counseling with one of our designated providers, giving touring professionals time and space to discuss difficulties and work through challenging moments. TCW is an official IRS 501c3 nonprofit.