Robe Chats - The Podcast

On this episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast, we're back at USITT and joined by the charismatic Bill Digneit, a creative leader and educator who serves as the Department Head and Professor of Theatre & Dance at Northern Michigan University. Additionally, Bill is the Director of SISU: The Innovation Institute at NMU, the founder of the fully inclusive audience experience "Theatre for All” program, and he has over a decade as Production Manager for LDI. But if that wasn't enough, Bill is also the co-founder of Double Trouble Entertainment, a Michigan-based production company, and he is a proud co-owner of DIGS Gastropub in downtown Marquette — where creativity and community come together. We get into it all.

On this episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast, recorded at Main Light South prior to the 3G acquisition, we sat down with Andrew Smith, Director of Operations at Pulse Lighting, where we chatted about his journey into the live production world; starting from a stalled culinary career and into the local music venue where his passion for design took flight. We also chat about his current role with Pulse Lighting and what it means to be a Director of Operations in a fast-paced world of not only live production, but also systems installation and architectural lighting. Check it out!  

On this episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast we are joined by Main Light National Business Development Manager, Rick McKinney, in Nashville where we chat about his early days as a drummer/guitarist in the band Deep Root, how he started his career at Main Light and rose through the organization as it grew, and his home life as a farmer in Pennsylvania where his love of animals has led to raising chickens, goats, rabbits, dogs, cats, and his beloved potbelly pig, Taz. Check it out! 

Prior to the 3G Productions acquisition of Main Light South in 2025, which now operates as 3G Nashville supporting its East coast operations, we sat with 3G CEO Keith Conrad to chat about how he first got started in the live production industry and how he has taken the helm of one of the most dynamic live event production providers in North America. We also dive into the nuances of leading a team and what it takes to be an effective leader in today's fast-paced production world, while having a laugh at the humbling effects of being a "girl-dad". Check it out!

Once again recording from the show floor at USITT, on this episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast we are joined by lighting designer Amy Lux who shares with us how her interests for both entertainment and architectural lighting turned into a long-lasting career with many unique design installations, including the  immersive, multimedia experiences at Meow Wolf, plus we chat about her multidisciplinary design and consultant firm LoboLux, and her founding of the Golden Ghostlight Runners, a tribe of industry pros who found a way to turn passion into purpose to support the Behind The Scenes Foundation.https://goldenghostlightrunners.com/

On this episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast we are joined by lighting designer and educator Matt Taylor, from the show floor at USITT, where we chat about his early career as an actor which led to his passion of lighting design, plus we discuss his design philosophy, his love of Detroit, and his current position as the Head of Lighting Design at Wayne State University's Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre & Dance where he is leads the MFA and BFA studies in Lighting Design for Live Entertainment. 

Keeping the conversations going at USITT, we sat with lighting designer and educator Kevin Lawson on our next episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast to chat about how he got hooked by the live production industry at a young age which led to being involved with many high-profile live event and production design teams, as well as to a successful career as an educator with the goal of inspiring the next generation of lighting and production designers.#therobeway #robelighting #robechatspodcast #lightinglife

On this episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast, we are joined by acclaimed lighting director Wally Lees from the show floor at USITT. From his humble beginning at a Cabaret in Watford, to touring the world with Sir Paul McCartney, Wally has had an incredible career filled with countless experiences on the road, and we were delighted for him to sit with us to share his story, his insights into the industry he loves, and his advice for the next generation.#therobeway #robelighting #robechatspodcast #lightingdirector #lightinglife

On this episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast, we are joined by lighting designer, projection designer, and programmer Sharon Huizinga who stops by the USITT show floor where we discuss her early days as a young designer building a career in the industry, plus we chat about her distinguished career as an educator, and her published book, Lighting Design Beyond Theatre: A Process for the Evolving Entertainment Industry, co-authored with designer Allan Branton. #therobeway #robelighting #robechatspodcast #lightingdesigner #projectiondesigner #lightingprogrammer

Recording once again at USITT, we are joined by award-winning lighting designer Mike Berger from Innovative Intensity to chat about his early days as a young attendee at USITT and as a student at Carnegie Mellon, plus we chat about his approach to lighting design, and his LA-based lighting design firm which specializes in television lighting, theatrical lighting, immersive installations, and live event production.#therobeway #robelighting #robechatspodcast #innovativeintensity #televisionlighting #concertlighting #eventlighting #podcast  

We've taken to the show floor at USITT for our next episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast where we are joined by acclaimed lighting designers and educators M.L. Geiger and Jane Cox who take the time to chat about their early career paths that led them both to Broadway, their educational programs at NYU and Princeton (respectively), plus a bit of advice for the next generation of designers looking to make their impact on the world of theatre.#therobeway #robelighting #robechatspodcast #lightinglife

Recording once again at Soundcheck in Nashville, we sat down for a chat with lighting designer Joshua Schultz where we discussed his early days as a BMX hopeful, how he got his start in the lighting industry, his design process, and the beautiful bonds of camaraderie that exist within the lighting community.#therobeway #robelighting #robechatspodcast #lightingdesigner #lightinglife  

On this episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast, we were back at Soundcheck Nashville for Season 2 and joined by lighting director and programmer James Leach from Pulse Lighting. James joined us to chat about his early aspirations of rock-n-roll fame followed by a discovery of love for the lighting industry, although he does have an audio degree. We also chat about his programming and busking styles, his love of the Avolites system, and his advice for a young James drumming for "The Problem Preachers".#therobeway #robelighting #robechatspodcast #lightingdirector #lightingprogrammer #lightinglife #techlife #podcast

In our final broadcast from the NAB Show Floor, we sat for a chat with Chris Kelly, Event Production Manager at AZUSA Pacific University. Chris takes us back to his early days in pyrotechnics to explain what drew him to the field and how he creates a spectacular pyro show. We also dive into his co-founding of the innovative Cold Spark Technology, as well as his life as an educator at AZUSA Pacific University.#therobeway #robelighting #robechatspodcast #pyrotechnicdesign #productionlife 

Recording once again at the NAB Expo, we took a moment to sit with industry-veteran Steve Washington from Gateway Studios & Production Services. Steve's rich history in the automated lighting and live entertainment production industry is undeniable, and we were excited to chat with him about his beginnings, the journey along the way, and a bit of advice for the next generation of entertainment production professionals. #therobeway #robelighting #robechatspodcast #productionlife

On this episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast, we are joined by Ruben Laine, Founder of Creative Integration Studio, a place where technology, art, and design converge to turn visions into engaging and tangible realities. Ruben joined us in Las Vegas on the NAB Show floor to discuss how he got his start in the live entertainment production industry, and how the team at Creative Integration Studio is able to redefine industry standards to deliver truly cutting-edge design solutions.#therobeway #robelighting #creativeintegrationstudio #robechatspodcast #lightinglife

Recording once again from the show floor at NAB in Vegas, we sat down for a chat with Rane Renshaw from LimeLightWired to hear about his idea that started as a way for working LD's to laugh and be a community together but has grown into so much more to include educational  opportunities, corporate partnerships, industry trends, and the ever-popular March Madness showdown.  #therobeway #robelighting #robechatspodcast #limelightwired

On this episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast we have hit the show floor at the 2024 NAB Expo in Las Vegas where we sat with industry-veteran Chris Musgrave who spoke with us about his rambunctious introduction into the world of live production, his time working Front-of-House Audio, and his vision for the Live Production Summit  which explores all areas and functions of the touring and live events industries, held annually in Palm Springs. California. 

Essential to the success of any production design, the crew behind-the-scenes can make or break the day. Their skill level, attitude, and general knowledge of the environment being created around them, are all crucial to their success. No one knows this better than industry-veteran Mike "Finn" Finocchiaro of Big Fin Productions who took a moment to chat with us at the LPS Summit about his love for cars and production management, along with his dedication to giving back through Santa’s Roadies.

When someone tells you that you can sit with 4 pillars of rock-n-roll lighting and let them riff off each other for about an hour, you do it. In this episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast, we are joined by Bryan Hartley, Michael Keller, Cosmo Wilson, and Rob Koenig at the Live Production Summit in Palm Springs, California, for a chat about lighting, life, and how it feels to look back on a career with some of music's most iconic artists.

From Palm Springs, California, we sat with lighting designer Corey Easterbrook at the Live Production Summit where we chatted about his life in the live production industry, the founding of his company Hothouse AV, how we lights the Neon Trees, and the camaraderie that exists with him and his fellow LD's.#therobeway #robelighting #robechatspodcast #lightinglife

For over 30 years, Lightswitch has been a collective of internationally recognized lighting, media, and visual designers. With experience in creating dynamic designs for live entertainment, events, architectural environments, and more, we were excited to sit with Co-Founder & Principal John Featherstone, Principal Chris Medvitz, and Senior Director "Iggy" Rosenberg for a chat at the Live Production Summit in Palm Springs, California.#therobeway #robechatspodcast #lightswitch #robelighting

Want a deeper understanding of what it takes to create the entertainment and visual design for the Maritime experience? Join us at Robe Chats - The Podcast as we chat with Amir El Yordi, President of Control AV in Miami, Florida, about how he got started in the world of Cruise Lines, and how designers are now being asked to make the experience at sea even more unforgettable. 

Ever wonder what it's like to tour with one of the biggest artists in music? We sat down with Twenty One Pilots lighting designer Tyler Shapard to chat about how he got started in the live production industry, his joy of touring, and what he loves most about the impact of Twenty One Pilots.

IPS CEO Nicholas Brown joins us on our latest episode of Robe Chats - The Podcast to chat about the early days of creating his company and how they have grown into a full-scale production provider for many artists and clients in the live production industry.

Gateway Studios & Production Services President of Business Development David Haskell stops by to see us at Soundcheck Nashville and we take a break to chat about his career, his mentors, his love of golf, and all that's new at Gateway Studios outside St. Louis.

Join us at Robe Chats - The Podcast as we chat with Production and Lighting Designer Chris Lisle about his career in the entertainment production industry and his passion for the Touring Career Workshop.