I like to say that the event business rescued me because before I started my event production career at 18 years old in Atlanta, GA as a Stagehand. I was a high school drop out, homeless, and strung out on drugs.
Production work was medicinal for me in the early days.
As a Stagehand, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do yet, so I worked my ass off in every area of production, from Audio, Lighting, to staging, and learned as much as I could.
I then spent time bouncing around as a freelancer and stagehand doing gig after gig, honestly thinking my new career is turning into a J.O.B.
Same stuff, different gig. I was working hard and doing the work I loved, but not in the capacity in which I wanted to. I wanted to go on tour, travel the world, and work directly WITH the tours, like the touring crew I've worked around while I've been a local crew hire.
I felt like I had plenty of experience, just needed some direction, or know someone, or...? I just wasn't sure.