Behind-the-Scenes of Designing the World’s Largest Country Tour Productions

If you’ve attended Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time tour this year, you’ve seen the impressive production behind his stadium shows. The expansive video board, multiple stages with sets including his Mamaw Boots’ house and his high school bleachers, pyrotechnics, and the dramatic entrance where he bursts through a wall all combine to create a memorable experience. Much of this is the work of Raw Cereal, a company founded by Cort Lawrence and Anders Rahm, known for working with top artists to create unforgettable shows.

Raw Cereal has made a mark in country music, collaborating with artists like Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, and HARDY. According to Lawrence, the design process varies for each artist but always starts with the music. “The music is what drives these tours. The music is what drives our creativity,” he explains.

From there, Lawrence and Rahm work with the artist to bring their vision to life, whether it’s pyrotechnics or unique stage props. “Morgan breaks through a door – that’s genius. And that was his idea. He’s had that idea for quite awhile,” Lawrence says. Raw Cereal then develops the entire story arc of the show, integrating the artist’s ideas into the bigger picture.

Artists often have specific concepts in mind, but Raw Cereal’s job is to expand on these ideas and fit them into the show’s overall narrative. Rahm elaborates, “Artists have ideas… but what artists really come to us for is to develop the entire story arc of the show.” They also work closely with the artist’s entire team, coordinating elements to make each show seamless.

Working with Morgan Wallen, Raw Cereal collaborated with his drummer on setlist flow and management teams on future goals, incorporating new technologies to meet the artist’s vision. Often, artists don’t know the technicalities of what’s possible, so it’s up to Raw Cereal to bring new ideas to the table and help shape the show.

“Each of these artists are their own brand,” Rahm says. “Our job is always to represent their brand for them and bring that out during the show.” Different artists have different levels of involvement, with some being more hands-on than others. Regardless, Raw Cereal works to reflect the unique personality and style of each artist.

Tour goals also vary depending on an artist’s past shows, the duration of the tour, and changes to the setlist. For example, when Morgan Wallen decided to include his duet with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help,” midway through the tour, Raw Cereal adjusted the show to accommodate the new addition.

One challenging aspect is the precision required to fit everything perfectly in large venues. Lawrence notes, “We had to dial it in to the exact inches to make everything fit perfectly on that stage.” This attention to detail enhances the overall production quality and ensures everything works smoothly.

Chad Guy, Morgan Wallen’s production manager, praises Raw Cereal for their collaboration. “Their ability to translate our overall performance vision into the live space, in ways that truly represent the diverse nature of Morgan and his music, is second to none.”

The designing process for Morgan’s show took about 10 months, including a month of rehearsals. However, sometimes they have less rehearsal time, and Raw Cereal must still deliver a finished product, no matter the constraints.

Ultimately, the goal is to help the artist tell their story and provide fans with the best experience possible. Lawrence emphasizes the excitement of working in country music, where storytelling is crucial. “It’s so exciting, the fans love it,” he says. “We’re there to give an environment so that when the audience is listening they have something that can really imprint in their minds.”

Country artists often want their show’s mood to reflect their music’s themes, leading to better storytelling in concerts. For most fans, the work behind the production is easy to overlook. You enjoy the concert, impressed by the visuals and sets, unaware of the months of hard work and talent that went into making it happen. Knowing the effort behind the scenes can make you appreciate it even more.

To see more of Raw Cereal’s creative work, check out Lainey Wilson’s stage that includes a rotating pickup truck, Riley Green’s duck blind, and Morgan Wallen’s replica of his Mamaw’s house.

Source: Particlenews.com