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Interview with Harry Smith

Imagine Dragons Stadium Tour 2025

 

 

Q: Harry, can you tell us about your role on the stadium tour with Imagine Dragons?

“As the crew chief, my main responsibility is to oversee the lighting operations and coordinate with the entire production team. I manage a team of eight talented professionals, each with their own roles, and ensure that everything runs smoothly across all the venues we visit.”

Q: What makes stadium tours different from arena shows?

“Stadium tours are uniquely exciting—they’re grand in scale and bring a different energy each day. However, they also come with distinct challenges. Weather is a huge factor; working outdoors means dealing with the elements, which can impact setup, safety, and motivation. In contrast, arena shows are typically held indoors, so the weather isn’t a concern. But stadiums require us to be more flexible and adaptable, especially since every show features a different stage design and layout.”

Q: I understand that the staging is provided locally for each show. How does that affect your work?

“It adds a layer of complexity. Since each venue supplies its own stage, we’re faced with different configurations every day. The lighting rig, in particular, changes each time—so I need to ensure my team can adapt quickly to new setups. Flexibility is key. We work closely with the design team, production, riggers, and stage crew to coordinate and execute these changes efficiently.”

Q: Can you tell us about the custom lighting solutions used on this tour?

“One of the most striking features of our setup is the large back walls of lights. To achieve this, Neg Earth has developed bespoke, custom-manufactured solutions. These are incredibly heavy and require meticulous planning and effort to install and ready for each show. Unlike an arena with a permanent roof structure, our stadium stages are temporary, which makes safety our top priority at every step.”

Q: What’s the most rewarding part of your role?

“Managing and motivating the team is what I find most fulfilling. On this tour, I oversee a diverse team working under sometimes challenging conditions—adverse weather, tight schedules, and complex setups. Seeing the team come together and execute a flawless show is incredibly satisfying. The crew is the backbone of the operation, and my job is to support and coordinate them effectively.”

Q: How does the lighting rig set up evolve over the course of the tour?

“At the start, we could get the rig up in about 8 hours and take it down in 4. By the end of the tour, we’d hope to improve this significantly, setting up in roughly 6 hours and bringing down in 3. This efficiency is a testament to the team’s experience and our continuous refinement of procedures.”

Q: With 20 stadiums on this tour, each very different, what has been a personal highlight?

“The final London show stands out as a highlight. The atmosphere there is electric—there’s nothing quite like a home crowd. It’s always a special moment to see everything come together in such an iconic setting.”

Q: What advice would you give to someone aspiring to be a crew chief in live events?

“Be adaptable and ready to think on your feet. Every venue, every show is different, so flexibility and strong communication are vital. Building a reliable team and fostering good relationships with all departments make the job not only smoother but more enjoyable. And remember, the success of the show really depends on your crew—support them, and the show will shine.”

Q: Any final thoughts?

“I did not imagine, when I started at my local 200-seat theatre fifteen years ago, that one day I would have the opportunity to collaborate on and lead projects of this scale. Each stage of my career has presented a new set of challenges, and I have developed both as an individual and a professional alongside them. It has been hugely rewarding and a privilege to work on these projects.”

Neg Earth are proud to have been shortlisted for a prestigious TPi Magazine Award in the ‘Favourite Lighting Rental Company’ category!

A heartfelt thank you to all our amazing clients and crew for an incredible year of collaboration! Your trust and partnership have been the driving force behind our success, and we couldn’t have done it without you. ❤️

To celebrate world mental health day the Neg earth Lights team took part in a 3-day mental health focus. Day 1 started with a group yoga session with thirty-six people meeting in the Neg rehearsal studio to stretch and focus on breathing exercises!  Next up, the team were treated to a back and neck massage, as we finished off the week with Pizza Friday, which gave people chance to chat with their colleagues. 

This day, each October, thousands of supporters come to celebrate this annual awareness program to bring attention to mental illness and its major effects on people’s lives worldwide. 

With @Music Support, we offer our team mental health training to promote a culture where mental health is supported and openly discussed here at Neg Earth.  

Our commitment to fostering good health and wellbeing is at the forefront of our mission.  

HOME – Music Support 

 

Neg Earth attended the Mount Carmel Primary School in Ealing careers afternoon this month, where we talked to over one hundred children about opportunities in the live event industry. 

We had fun sharing the behind-the-scenes magic with the young, eager students, and they were keen to learn more!  

The forward-thinking primary school focus on educating the children on the different jobs that are available, and over thirty different business across many different industries and professions joined the careers afternoon. 

Deputy Headteacher Siobhan Ponter said.  

Thank you so much for coming to our careers fair! The children loved it, and you made your talk so child-friendly! We really do appreciate you both giving up your time to educate the children.  

Neg Earth are committed to nurturing the next generation of talent.

Neg Earth Donates Truck to British Ukrainian Aid to Support Humanitarian Relief Efforts 

As part of our ongoing commitment to giving back, Neg Earth will be donating a truck through the Donation scheme to support the valuable work of this charity. 

The donated vehicle is a Renault 16T rigid truck, the first of its kind to be contributed through this scheme 

Our trucks journey so far has been an adventurous one. Designed and built to our spec from new in 2015, it has travelled over one hundred thousand miles across most of Europe carrying its precious cargo to prestigious live events such as Rammstein, Iron Maiden, The Eurovision Song Contest, The Rolling Stones, ACDC and closer to home to the Glastonbury Festival every year since. 

In full working order, this vehicle will be instrumental in delivering essential humanitarian aid to those in need. 

 

 

Neg Earth Lights
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