Beyond the Spotlight

Hey, everyone! Are you still out there? I've missed you! Just a quick episode to update you on some things and let you know I'll be back with new episodes soon, as time permits. Feel free to reach out with guest ideas or comments at beyondthespotlightpodcast@gmail.com Support the show [https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9JCBNUCRNRVKY&source=url]

When Matthew Rifino picked up an acoustic guitar at 5, a 30 year love affair with music began. 3 years later, he convinced his grandfather to buy him a four-track cassette recorder and Matthew would sit for hours recording and overdubbing. He started recording his first band at their first rehearsal and honed his basic recording chops by trial and error. Matthew and his friends threw themselves into the NJ Hardcore and Punk scene of the mid 90's. Forming an indie label and throwing shows, Matthew wanted to be immersed in the music community. Channel surfing after school, Matthew stumbled upon a show being filmed at a recording studio only one town over from his house! He showed up at their door and told them he wanted to learn how to record. Matthew lucked out and the owner Tee DiMura took him under his wing. It was an old school 16 track analog 70's studio with floor to ceiling shag carpet and the smell of cigarettes in the air. Matthew spent all four years of high school afternoons learning as much as he could about recording and mixing. It was Avatar Studios (The Power Station) that gave Matthew his first real taste of what it’s like working with big names in the music industry. At 19-years-old, he scored a 3 month unpaid internship that turned into 4 years on staff at this legendary facility.  Everyday, Matthew was in awe while learning from Grammy winning engineers and producers. Al Schmidt, Jack Joseph Puig, Michael Brauer, Jason Corsaro, Neil Dorfsman, and Rich Costey were some the greats he got to watch perform their craft. The years he spent at Avatar still influenced the rest of his life. After 4 years, he wanted to make the move to freelance. Matthew had a couple of indie records lined up and then by a chance meeting he got a gig mixing monitors for the NBC Today Show. He had never mixed anything live before but got thrown right into the fire on his first show mixing Elvis Costello. At the same time with an inherent gravitational pull towards his recording studio roots he signed on as a staff engineer at Granite Alps Studios in NJ and later as Chief Engineer at Fenix Studios in Staten Island, NY. During that time, Matthew worked with Living Colour, James Blood Ulmer, Bernard Purdie (Steely Dan, Aretha Franklin, Hall and Oates), Wu Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean plus lots of independent rock and pop artists. While at Fenix, he also had the opportunity to mix jingles for television, radio, as well as tracks that would end up in major motion pictures. At just 27, Matthew took on the role of Broadcast Music Mixer for the NBC TODAY SHOW. Mixing the 5.1 Surround Sound on air-mixes that millions watch daily along with millions of streams on the net. During his time at NBC, Matthew has worked with a cornucopia of artists such as Adele, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band, Robert Plant, Fleetwood Mac, Lady Gaga, Sting, Aretha Franklin, Taylor Swift, John Mellencamp, among many others. After a few years away from the record business to focus on television, he could not resist the urge to get back into the studio. Having recently completed his personal mix room "Stone House Studios”, Matthew has started mixing records again. His goal is to be able to deliver high quality mixes to all his clients. Guest Links: https://www.mattrifinomusicmixer.com/ [https://www.mattrifinomusicmixer.com/] https://www.instagram.com/rifinomatthew/ [https://www.instagram.com/rifinomatthew/] Support the show [https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9JCBNUCRNRVKY&source=url]

Michael Jeffers is a life long music professional, performer and player. He started out in music performing with his father’s family band, then became a founding member of the critically acclaimed band Pinmonkey and got signed to RCA Records. Michael’s been traveling town to town on tour buses since 1999, loves to golf, and he is a lover of all things real. Experience Touring Bass player Joe Nichols Jan 2008 – Present Founding member and bass player Pinmonkey Jan 1999 – Jan 2006 Doc Jeffers Band Education Middle Tennessee State University Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) Field Of Study: Music Business Guest Links: https://www.instagram.com/michaeljeffers/ [https://www.instagram.com/michaeljeffers/] https://joenichols.com/ [https://joenichols.com/] Support the show [https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9JCBNUCRNRVKY&source=url]

Mark Clark has worked in the touring industry for over 10 years. He got his start in his home state of Alabama, driving artists at music festivals, and is currently based in New Orleans. Mark has managed tours throughout North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe. In his day-to-day work, he oversees a 360-degree advanced process, from show advance, to tour accounting, to settlements, visas, production, logistics, press, and all the ins-and-outs of the vital show day process. Some of Mark’s notable previous clients include American Authors, Kayzo, TOKiMONSTA, NGHTMRE, Snails, Savoy, and Boombox. Co Host, Tour Management 101 Mar 2020 – Present Location New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Tour Management 101 is an educational resource for anyone learning the ropes in the live events industry. We host a weekly webinar on Zoom, and YouTube with industry pros and provide free material and templates on our website. Tour Management / Production Management / Tour Accounting Mark Clark Touring LLC Self-employed Jan 2019 – Present Location New Orleans, LA Full 360 tour advance, management, and show execution. Domestic and Worldwide. Freelance Professional Tour Manager Sep 2013 – Present Guest Links: http://www.markclarktouring.com [http://www.markclarktouring.com] https://www.tourmgmt.org/ [https://www.tourmgmt.org/] https://www.instagram.com/markclarktm [https://www.instagram.com/markclarktm] https://www.instagram.com/tourmgmt101 [https://www.instagram.com/tourmgmt101] Show Links: http://www.beyondthespotlightpodcast.com/ [http://www.beyondthespotlightpodcast.com/] https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheSpotlightPodcast [https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheSpotlightPodcast] https://www.instagram.com/BeyondtheSpotlightPodcast [https://www.instagram.com/BeyondtheSpotlightPodcast] Support the show [https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9JCBNUCRNRVKY&source=url]

Angelique Mark has amassed over two decades' experience traveling the globe, working with a variety of musical acts in rooms ranging from small clubs to stadiums. Her work focuses mainly in: logistics; immigration; accounting; and high-level time management, often under the most stressful of situations. Most recently, Angelique has been working as a mentor through Grammy U and the Well Dunn organization, helping young people learn about the world of live shows and touring. Production Coordinator The 1975 Jan 2020 – Present Production Coordinator Mumford & Sons - Delta Tour Feb 2019 – Mar 2020 Production Coordinator Il Divo - Timeless Tour Aug 2018 – Dec 2018 Production Coordinator Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Apr 2017 – Aug 2018 Artist Transportation Manager Okeechobee Music Festival Feb 2016 – Feb 2017 Production Coordinator Il Divo - Amor y Pasion Tour Sep 2016 – Nov 2016 Wardrobe Mistress Culture Club - Tribes Tour Jul 2015 – Jul 2016 Location US/CA/MX/JP/PH/AU Staff Transportation Coordinator Mysterland Music Festival May 2015 Production Coordinator Arcade Fire - Reflektor Tour Oct 2013 – Aug 2014 Location US/UK/EU/S America/Australia/New Zealand/Japan Assistant Tour Manager My Morning Jacket - Bob Dylan Americanarama Tour Jul 2013 – Aug 2013 Location North America Production Coordinator Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials Tour Jun 2012 – Dec 2012 Location US/UK/Europe Production Coordinator The Black Keys - El Camino Tour Oct 2012 – Nov 2012 Location New Zealand/Australia Wardrobe Mistress Erasure - Total Pop! and Tomorrow's World Tours Mar 2011 – Oct 2011 Location US/UK/Europe/S. America Additional Artists Toured with 2000 – 2011 Location US/UK/Europe Cirque du Soleil - Kooza (Dresser 1) Boy George/Culture Club (Tour Assistant) Gavin Rossdale/Institute (Merchandise Manager) Paul Oakenfold (Merchandise Manager) Jewel (Merchandise Manager)Fuel (Merchandise Manager) Cheetah Girls/Miley Cyrus (Merchandise) Vanessa Hudgens (Merchandise Manager) Corbin Bleu (Merchandise Manager) Guest links: Angelique on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amtours/] Angelique on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/amtours/] Support the show [https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9JCBNUCRNRVKY&source=url]