Fireplay’s Chief Creative Officer and CEO Nick Whitehouse has honed his craft with nearly a quarter of a century in this business. Starting as a Lighting Designer and with the guidance of a mentor, Whitehouse expanded his role to production designer and creative producer with a bold style that has won the admiration of music’s most prominent figures and a 15-year collaboration with Justin Timberlake. From Super Bowl performances and award shows to pivotal moments in popular culture, chances are you’ve seen Whitehouse’s work without even knowing it. The UK native created Fireplay to bring a unique and collaborative touch to the industry and to provide services that go beyond artists’ expectations to revolutionize production and design. In our discussion, we talk about ways the entertainment industry has been at the forefront of sustainability through technological innovations, the approach that makes Fireplay unique within the industry, and the opportunities that exist in AR/VR coming out of the pandemic.

Veteran Risk Management and Security Specialist Malchijah Bailey has built a sterling reputation working with artists of all genres at the highest level. During his 25 years in business, Bailey has taken a wealth of experiences as a Road Manager, Tour Manager and One Man Tour de Force handling Personal and Venue Security on stadium tours, gaining intimate knowledge of the different audiences that come see his clients, resulting in a security mindset that prioritizes people and relationships. In our discussion with Bailey we talk about how backstage will need to evolve when we return to the road, the best way to create and preserve the right tour vibe, and learn tricks of the trade that have made him a source of knowledge and inspiration.

Megan Duckett came to the US with dreams of becoming a rock 'n' roll lighting tech. Unfortunately, that dream was never fully realized, but with the true hustler spirit, Megan carved out her own unique space in soft goods, and has taken her business from an 800-square-foot operation in Torrance to a 50,000-square-foot operation in Compton, employing more than 30 people, making backdrops and custom soft goods for groups like KISS, The Foo Fighters, Guns 'N' Roses, and Kendrick Lamar. In our discussion, we talk about Megan's hustler spirit, the innovative ways she's incorporated technology into her business, her pivot to PPE during COVID, and the importance of finding purpose in the face of adversity.