ECCHO Live Hosts 15th Annual Workshop

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HARDY surprises attendees during the 15th annual ECCHO Live Workshop. Photo: Stephanie Cousino

ECCHO Live held its 15th annual workshop on Tuesday (Nov. 10) at Soundcheck at Rock Nashville. The free event brought together live entertainment professionals for an evening of education, career development and networking. This year’s theme, EVOLVE, focused on supporting the people who work behind the scenes in the live events industry.

The event featured touring veterans, production teams and industry specialists across 14 breakout sessions in three rounds. Topics included career development, building industry relationships, personal wellness and creating long-term career opportunities.

HARDY made a surprise appearance, sharing his perspective as an artist and recognizing the crews who work behind the scenes to bring live shows to life.

Chuck Hull addresses attendees during the 15th annual ECCHO Live Workshop. Photo: Stephanie Cousino

The evening also featured a keynote conversation with veteran tour manager and audio engineer Chuck Hull. With more than 50 years in the live music business, Hull began his career with Clair Brothers in the early 1970s and went on to work with artists including Elvis Presley. He also spent 20 years as Keith Urban’s tour manager before retiring from touring in 2024. During the conversation, Hull reflected on his career, changes in the touring industry and the experiences that shaped his time working behind the scenes.

The event also recognized ECCHO Live Co-Founder and Executive Director Chris Lisle, who received an official proclamation from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. Dr. Sarah Childress, Executive Director of the Office of Entertainment, presented the proclamation on behalf of Mayor Freddie O’Connell. The honor recognized Lisle’s 35 years in the live entertainment industry and more than 15 years of work with ECCHO Live. Since founding the organization in 2011 as Touring Career Workshop, Lisle has helped grow it from a volunteer-led effort into a year-round nonprofit offering career development, wellness and mental health resources for live events professionals. The recognition comes as Lisle prepares to step down from his role as Executive Director.

Throughout the evening, sessions addressed a range of challenges and opportunities facing touring professionals. “Leading Through Crisis” and “Prepare Before You Need To” featured leaders from C3 Presents sharing their experiences managing unexpected situations and leading teams under pressure. Members of Jason Aldean’s production team joined “Building Your Dream Team” to discuss communication, collaboration and building strong relationships on the road.

Dr. Sarah Childress, Executive Director of the Office of Entertainment, presents Chris Lisle, Founder of ECCHO Live, with an official proclamation recognizing his contributions to Nashville’s live entertainment industry. Photo: Stephanie Cousino

Several sessions focused on the business skills needed to build a sustainable career in live entertainment. “The Freelancers Playbook,” “Making a Career Out of This,” “Starting Your Business” and “The Long Game” covered topics including managing freelance income, establishing a business, handling taxes and preparing for long-term financial success.

The workshop also addressed the growing role of technology in touring. “AI For Touring” explored ways artificial intelligence can improve workflows while emphasizing the importance of personal connections and human decision-making. Other sessions, including “Level Up,” “Fresh Outta Comps” and “The Tour That Changed My Life,” focused on career growth, networking and lessons learned throughout the industry.

Wellness was also a key focus of the evening, reflecting ECCHO Live’s commitment to supporting professionals both on and off the road. “Load In to Load Out” addressed the importance of personal growth, strong relationships and work-life balance, while “Sleep Like You Mean It” shared practical ways to improve rest and recovery while managing the demanding and often unpredictable schedules of touring.

Madison Hahnen
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