Episode 42

full
Published on:

17th Sep 2020

Building a Better Tour, with Chris Gratton

Chris Gratton is a roadies' roadie. A live event production mogul, Gratton has been a tour director, tour producer, designer, production manager, and every job in between. A student of the school of hard knocks, Gratton's passion for music and theater came at an early age, fueled by a similarly inclined family, and has built that passion into a career spanning more than three decades. He's worked with Justin Bieber, Kanye, Janet Jackson, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Ariana Grande, and countless others. What sets Chris Gratton apart from many in the industry, are his efforts to build new institutions to support the concert techs he relies on. A member of the board of directors for The Roadie Clinic, an organizer behind #RedAlertRESTART, and a driving force behind upcoming fundraisers for the music industry, Gratton has made it clear that he wants the industry to do better and will put in the work to make sure it does. In our discussion with Chris we talk about how he has personally defined a healthy work-life balance, tour standards implemented on the newest Bieber dates that may permanently raise the bar for crew care, and the need to blow up the status quo in the resurgence of the music industry.

Show artwork for Hustle Like U Broke

About the Podcast

Hustle Like U Broke
A Balanced Look from Behind the Scenes, Celebrating the Working-Class Heroes of the Concert Industry
Matthew Walt, Kyle Hamilton, Christine Dallas, and Chris Lee tell their stories from the trenches of the live entertainment world. With over 80 combined years of experience, working with a wide range of A-list artists - including Kendrick Lamar, Stevie Wonder, JLo, Rihanna, Jay Z, Drake, Mac Miller and more - these concert veterans share their unique perspectives on surviving and thriving in the music world. Joining them each week are the people that make the shows happen – the working-class heroes - including production vendors, touring and production managers, engineers and techs, MDs, stylists and backstage managers, bus drivers, tour accountants, travel agents and many more.