The one-named musical sensation Halsey is thrilled to have Nashville’s veteran stage manager Clay Hutson take the helm on her world tour as it travels through Australia. On this eagerly anticipated tour, Halsey will be joined by a rotating cast of female pop singers. The exciting line-up of women musicians is sure to delight Halsey’s passionate fans.
From Social Media to International Stardom
Before Halsey adopted her stage name, she was known as Ashley Nicolette Frangipane. She was born in New Jersey and, while still a teenager, began making music videos, which she posted to YouTube and other social media sites.
Many people dream of becoming famous by posting their music on social media, but Halsey was one of the rare people who actually had the talent to do it. A song posted on SoundCloud went viral, and the dream came true for her. Several major record companies reached out and contacted her, and she signed a contract with Astralwerks, the recording label that was the best match for her artistic interests.
She chose the name Halsey because it was an anagram of her first name, Ashley, and also because it was the name of a subway station in an area of Brooklyn that she had liked when she was a child. With her new name and her new record label, she started touring and releasing albums. She was a sensation at the Austin festival South by Southwest in 2015. Her first studio album rose instantly to #2 on the Billboard charts. A new pop star was born.
The Hopeless Fountain Kingdom World Tour
Halsey’s second studio album, “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom,” surpassed even the popularity of her previous album. The album, which was released in June 2017, hit the very top of the U.S. Billboard 200. It was inspired by both comics books and Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet.”
The Hopeless Fountain Kingdom World Tour began at the end of September 2017 in Connecticut. In just the last three months of 2017 alone, the tour grossed more than $9 million and performed 28 shows for delighted fans.
The Tour’s Final Installment
For the final leg of the Hopeless Fountain Kingdom World Tour, Halsey will travel through Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. The tour will then play in 14 sites in Canada and the United States. Continuing around the world, Halsey will appear in South Korea, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The tour’s last stop will be in London on September 22, 2018.
Many special guests will be joining the tour. Kehlani will appear in Australia and New Zealand, Lauren Jauregui in Latin America, Jessie Reyez in North America, Niki in Asia, and Alma & Raye in the London finale.
The Challenges of Managing a Worldwide Tour
There are many things that have to be taken care of to make an international tour run smoothly. Every concert on a first-class tour must have the best in lighting, audio, sets, video, and equipment. No day is like the next. As the tour plays in a constant stream of changing venues, the manager has to make sure that all the different components that make up a production are functioning as they should be in the new environment.
Being a tour manager requires advanced technical knowledge, amazing social skills, outstanding organizational ability, stamina for working long hours, and a talent for thinking on one’s feet when dealing with the unexpected.
Clay Hutson has what it takes to get the job done with precision and flair. It’s no wonder that he has been chosen to work for many musical legends, including Prince, Kelly Clarkson, Kanye West, Guns N’ Roses, Pink, and Kid Rock. Hutson loves music, and he loves the drama of live performances. He feels fortunate to have kind of life that enables him to be a part of the things he loves.
The Intersection of Technology and Artistry
To be a great production manager, one must have an affinity for technology and a talent for artistry. Clay Hutson is equally excited about both aspects of his work. He is passionate about creating a memorable experience for the audience on every single tour performance.
Hutson starts with a vision in his mind of how he wants the set and the lighting to look and what he wants to do with the sound. He then uses the latest high-tech planning tools to bring that vision to life.
Audiences always want to have new experiences, and Hutson loves the way that advances in technology let him create new things for the audiences to enjoy.
Clay Hutson’s Production Management Company
After working in the live event production management industry for several years, Hutson learned enough to start his own company. His production crew members are as dedicated as he is, and together they are an impressive force.
Hutson has a knack for finding talented people to work for him. He looks for people who have a passion for what they do that matches his own. Hutson and his crew spare no effort to make sure that every detail is handled in the best possible way.
A Passion for Music From a Young Age
Clayton Hutson has loved music his whole life, starting when he was a small child. He is fortunate in being able to make his passion into his career. He wears many hats: production manager, production design, stage management, logistics management, monitor engineer, show producer, and event manager.
Hutsin majored in theater design and technical production in college, then went on to complete a Master of Business Administration. This combination of business, technical, and artistic skills make him a powerhouse in the industry.
Clay Hutson to Join the New Faith Hill and Tim McGraw Tour
After managing Halsey’s Australian tour, the always in-demand Hutson will join Soul2Soul World Tour 2018. This is an exciting new tour featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, as it travels through the U.S. and Canada.
The Soul2Soul album, released in November 2017, is the first album Grammy winners Faith Hill and Tim McGraw have released together. The tour is the first one that the husband-and-wife superstars have been on together in 10 years.
The Soul2Soul tour is a major event in country music history, and Clay Hutson is thrilled to be a part of it. Hill and McGraw have been on the tour since April 2017. They sing both solos and duets. The tour has been a huge hit, selling out arenas throughout North America.
Clay Hutson brings his experience, expertise, and passion to the Soul2Soul show. The show has a lot of moving parts. Clay and his crew look forward to the challenge of coordinating the lights, huge video screens, lasers, moving risers, and spectacular special effects.
Critics have raved about the tour so far. They have praised both the beauty of the solos and the true love and tenderness Faith Hill and Tim McGraw showed towards each other in their duets. The chemistry between husband and wife was electrifying. So was the elaborate stage production. When Hutson joins the show, that production will be in the hands of one of the production management industry’s most talented and exciting rising stars.
Be sure to check out Clay Hutson on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
