About Clayton Hutson

Clayton Hutson owns a business that provides services for musicians and event organizers. Before starting his career in Nashville, he enrolled in university courses on theater design. The audio engineer found employment at companies in the live music industry and succeeded in becoming a project manager. After honing his skills, Hutson decided to establish a firm that manages, produces and designs concerts. Most of this work involves rock music. Clayton Hutson has completed many technical and managerial tasks for well-known performers like Kid Rock, Guns N’ Roses and Pink.

He took part in a 2005 world tour called “Bleed Like Me.” The band known as Garbage traveled to various parts of Europe, Australia and North America while Hutson served as its monitor engineer. Last year, he operated the automatic rigging system for OneRepublic’s “Honda Civic Tour.” The concerts took place in North America and Asia during July, August and September. Clayton Hutson recently took the time to answer several questions about his life and the live music industry.

Clayton Hutson Q&A

Q: How and why did you decide to start your business?

Clayton Huton: My previous jobs helped me develop a range of marketable skills. When the last recession had a big impact on my employer, I determined that it was the right time to start a new firm. This decision involved a considerable amount of risk, but my talents gave me the confidence needed to create a successful business

Q: What steps do you take when you turn an idea into something real?

CH: I sometimes develop new audio, set design or illumination concepts. My work experiences at concerts help me separate realistic ideas from pipe dreams. Computer aided design plays a major role in this process. I pay careful attention to the dimensions; even the most innovative equipment becomes useless when it’s too wide for the performance venue’s entrances.

Q: How does your business attract new clients?

CH: I work hard, pay attention to details and don’t shy away from long hours. This enhances my reputation among performers who value dedication and professionalism. It also encourages them to recommend me when fellow musicians need the services that I offer.

Q: What habits help your business succeed?

CH: I repeatedly check my work for mistakes that could compromise safety or degrade the quality of a show. A serious error might damage my reputation for the rest of my life. I always fully prepare for each event and strive to organize equipment in a sensible way.

Thorough planning helps me manage the crew while boosting productivity and efficiency. As I travel to a concert venue on a bus or airplane, I list every task that we need to perform. I always try to include everything. Some minor chores don’t seem particularly important, but significant problems can occur if people overlook them. I also picture the venue in my mind and envision upcoming projects.

Q: What music industry trends have captured your interest?

CH: Exciting new technology has brought about swift changes. To satisfy clients, it’s crucial for me to keep up with these developments. Mobile lighting equipment has become substantially brighter. At the same time, we can move it around more easily because the newest models are lighter.

Many of today’s concerts boast massive video walls. This technology certainly offers some benefits, but I like it when performers seek to impress fans in more creative ways. For instance, Lady Gaga and Pink have been willing to try new things. Their concerts often feature acrobatics and other eye-catching stunts. I appreciate this artistic creativity much more than a video screen that is bigger or sharper than the rest.

Q: Describe a normal workday. What techniques do you use to accomplish as much as possible?

CH: Kid Rock recently hired me as a stage manager. I usually start the day before 7 a.m. Normally, I’m the first person to reach a performance venue. I begin by exploring the building, reviewing my schedule and developing a daily list of tasks. Next, I figure out how to store the equipment and materials.

My staff thinks ahead by setting up decorations and gear in a way that hastens the band’s departure. During a concert, I plan for the end of the show. I tell each crew-member what to do when it’s time to go. This improves efficiency by making it possible for us to start removing equipment as soon as the event ends.

Q: Almost everyone has regrets about previous decisions. Would you like to offer any advice to a younger Clayton Hutson?

CH: Yes. I would tell myself to prioritize my family before anyone or anything else. Additionally, I’d encourage myself to evaluate every situation with complete honesty. Even when it’s difficult for me or others to accept the truth, a frank assessment is vital.

Q: Tell us about a failure that you experienced in the past. What actions helped you get back on the right track?

CH: I regret working as a subcontractor for a certain firm. A client became dissatisfied with the company and requested that I begin serving them directly. This resulted in a stressful dispute because the production firm didn’t want me to work independently; it decided to take legal action.

The plaintiff eventually dropped its lawsuit, but my defense costs exceeded $145,000. I also had to devote many hours and a tremendous amount of effort to this legal battle. Nevertheless, I learned valuable lessons in the process. I’ve found effective ways to reduce my company’s vulnerability and safeguard its reputation.

Q: Do you have a strong belief that contradicts the opinions of most people in your industry?

CH: Yes. Many people seem to believe that a staff member’s attitude matters more than the person’s abilities. On the other hand, I think skill ought to hold the most importance. It’s often impossible to fully train a likable but untalented worker.

Genuine talent normally develops out of a passionate interest in a person’s career. Well-suited people frequently feel a strong motivation to learn and perfect the necessary skills on their own. I prefer to collaborate with these individuals, even if some of them are jaded or cantankerous. Cheerful, courteous employees tend to have successful careers. Unfortunately, some use their personalities to compensate for a lack of competence.

Q: Can you think of a specific purchase that significantly benefited your business?

CH: Yes. I’m glad that I decided to buy an iPhone; it allows me to manage my company from any location. Among other things, I can always refer to my list of business contacts or share files on Dropbox.

Q: Do you take inspiration from famous individuals’ words?

CH: I occasionally write down quotes that inspire me. When I need motivation or guidance, I take the time to reread them. A few of my favorite sayings come from Thomas Jefferson and Vince Lombardi. I also appreciate an amusing quote from W.C. Fields about persistence and knowing when to give up on a plan that doesn’t work.

Q: Would you like to recommend a good book?

CH: Yes. I encourage people to read Richard Carlson’s “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff… and It’s All Small Stuff.” The advice in this paperback helped make my job less stressful. Carlson tells readers how to focus on the details that matter and skip everything else. He also wrote popular “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” books about work, relationships and life as a teenager.

Follow Clayton Hutson – @clayhutson1

UPDATE: Clayton Hutson Steers Kid Rock’s Tour Despite Controversies

There has been quite a bit of controversy during Kid Rock’s latest tour, American Rock and Roll Tour, including even its name. The tour manager for this has been Clay Hutson and he has managed to keep the focus of the crew on doing their part to put on fantastic shows. He was chosen because of his past experience managing gargantuan shows of similar scale.

An example of the controversies was the National Hockey League deciding to have Kid Rock headline their All-Star hockey match. Many fans were very unhappy with this because they don’t like his image or all of the controversial stuff he says. They also weren’t happy that Kid Rock recently started a website stating that he would run for political office, something that some in the GOP applauded. As it turns out he never had any actual intention of running and just wanted to drum up publicity for his tour.

The American Rock and Roll Tour was originally named The Greatest Show On Earth. That term, though, is owned by Feld Entertainment Group who owns both Barnum & Bailey and Ringling Bros. They sued Kid Rock, forcing him to change the name. He may have to pay damages because he has used that name before but that hasn’t been decided as yet.

Managing through these distractions, Clayton Hutson has kept his eye on the ball and made sure he and his team focus on producing live entertainment shows. He says he relishes new opportunities such as managing Kid Rock’s tour. He also says he is very used to being on the cutting-edge of technology, like used during this present tour, because in his business you either do so all the time or you are passed by others. He says one example of this is the lights which are more mobile than ever while also weighing less than before.

Clayton Hutson says his favorite performers are those who really get completely involved in their performances. He managed a tour for Prince and he said that was how Prince was. He also brings up Lady Gaga who has acrobatics and aerial tricks as part of her live shows.

Managing his own business for the past decade, Clayton Hutson has been in the music industry for over 20 years. He spent the first half of his careers developing his skills across everything that goes into putting on a live performance and now uses those skills in his own company.