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This one was too good for a single episode.

In this two-part interview, I sit down with Mike Schaeffer, FOH Engineer for Charlie Puth, and Josh Cruz, Monitor Engineer for Charlie Puth, to break down what it takes to build and mix a show at this level from both sides of the console.

We get into the completely different worlds of front of house and monitors, how Mike and Josh work together, the communication required between departments, and how they approach a show where musicianship, detail, and musical precision are such a huge part of the artist’s identity.

Across both parts, we talk about their paths into the industry, the gear and workflows behind the show, how they handle the challenges that come with touring at this level, and some of the decisions happening during a performance that the audience will probably never realize are being made.

What I really enjoyed about this conversation is getting both perspectives in the same interview. Mike is responsible for what thousands of people hear every night, while Josh is responsible for creating the environment Charlie and the band need onstage to perform at their best. Those two jobs are very different, but they have to work together seamlessly.

There is a ton packed into this conversation, which is exactly why we split it into two parts.

If you work in live audio, want to work in touring, or have ever wondered what goes into making a Charlie Puth show happen behind the scenes, you’re going to enjoy this one.

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Band and Crew
Mike's Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/brownhempshoes
Josh's Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/spacebearaudio
Charlie’s Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/charlieputh

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🙏 Shout Outs & Credits
A huge thanks to everyone who helped make this video possible! 

Music by: http://epidemicsound.com  🎶

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Got questions or just want to chat? Email me at: nick@thisisdelacruz.com 

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Ever wonder what it takes to make a Lindsey Stirling show sound as massive, detailed, and dynamic as it looks?

In this episode of This Is DeLaCruz, I sit down with Sage Tichenor, the front of house engineer behind Lindsey Stirling’s live show.
We get into Sage’s path through the live music industry, his approach to mixing a show that moves between huge cinematic moments and incredibly delicate musical details, and what it takes to keep everything consistent night after night while working with a production as unique as Lindsey’s.

We also dig into the gear, the workflow, the challenges of mixing violin in a massive live production, and the decisions happening at front of house that most people in the audience will never know are being made.

One of my favorite things about these conversations is getting beyond the equipment and talking about the person behind the console. Sage has built an incredible career, and there is a lot to learn from the way he approaches both the technical side of the job and the responsibility of helping deliver an artist’s vision every night.

If you’ve ever wanted to know what goes into mixing a Lindsey Stirling show from front of house, this one is for you.

This Is DeLaCruz is your backstage pass to the people, technology, and stories behind live music.

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Band and Crew
Sage’s Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/srtichenor
Christian’s Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lindseystirling

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Join our little family for exclusive content, behind-the-scenes fun, and cool perks!

Website: http://www.thisisdelacruz.com 

🙏 Shout Outs & Credits
A huge thanks to everyone who helped make this video possible! 

Music by: http://epidemicsound.com  🎶

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Got questions or just want to chat? Email me at: nick@thisisdelacruz.com 

🔥 Don’t Forget!
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Toby Francis has mixed some of the biggest artists and most iconic live shows in music history.

In this sit-down interview, Toby shares stories and lessons from a legendary career running sound for artists including Ariana Grande, Aerosmith, Katy Perry, Kendrick Lamar, Justin Bieber, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kanye West, ZZ Top, SZA, and many more.

We talk about how he built his career, what it takes to mix artists at the highest level, how touring and live audio have changed over the years, and the experience, preparation, and instincts required when the pressure is at its highest.

This is more than a conversation about gear or mixing techniques. It is a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the most respected and accomplished live sound engineers in the business.

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Extended Versions 👇
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Running a tour is already a full-time job. Mixing monitors is another. Managing production is another. Owning a business on top of all of it? That’s a different level entirely.

In this episode, I sit down with Luke Reynolds, who serves as Tour Manager, Production Manager, Monitor Engineer, and Tour Director for Max McNown, while also running his own business outside of touring.

We talk about what it takes to balance multiple high-pressure roles on the road, how he manages communication and problem-solving across every part of the production, and the mindset required to keep a tour moving forward night after night. Luke shares insight into the realities of modern touring, the pressure that comes with wearing multiple hats, and how he’s built a career around adaptability and trust.

This conversation goes beyond one job title, it’s about leadership, responsibility, and the unseen work that keeps a live show running smoothly.

If you’ve ever wondered how tours actually function behind the scenes, and what happens when one person becomes the backbone of the operation, this is a rare inside look.

Band and Crew
Max’s Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/maxmcnown
Luke’s Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/goodforshowproductions

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This episode of This Is DeLaCruz is sponsored by Shure Huge thank you to Shure for supporting the channel and helping us continue telling the stories of the unsung heroes behind live music.

Give them a follow! http://www.instagram.com/shure

In this episode, I got to spend the day with the crew behind Luke Combs and get a real look at what it takes to bring one of the biggest shows in country music to life night after night.

From production, audio, lighting, video, backline, and the countless moving pieces happening behind the scenes, this crew shows what it really takes to make a massive tour feel effortless from the crowd’s perspective.

Huge thank you to the Luke Combs crew for letting me hang out, ask questions, and share a small piece of their world.

And yes, as I mentioned in the video, please click the like button below. It helps the channel more than you know and lets YouTube know that people actually care about the crew side of the music industry. Wild concept, I know.

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