The Giggs Podcast: #41 Shawn Worlow | Touring Tech to Producer of the NFL Draft & F1
Oct 15, 2025
NFL Draft. Formula 1 Las Vegas. SEMA Fest. March Madness Music Festival. These aren’t just massive shows — they’re logistical monsters, built from scratch, permitted through cities, and loaded in by armies of crews.
And when they run smoothly, you probably won’t see the name Shawn Worlow. But he’s the one who made it happen.
In this episode of The Giggs Podcast, we sit down with Shawn Worlow, Founder of The Production Collective and Collective Payroll, to unpack what it really takes to lead high-pressure events — and why true success means the show day feels… calm.
From Shooting Pyro to Running the Show
Shawn didn’t go to school for event production. In fact, his high school guidance counselor told him to be an accountant. (He jokes he still owes that guy a throat punch.)
Instead, Shawn stumbled into touring through a faith-based internship that put him on a pyrotechnics crew at age 20. From there, he went on to work as a local stagehand, lighting tech, video crew chief, rigger, driver — you name it.
“The only thing I haven’t done is audio,” he says. “Guess I didn’t have the ears for it.”
That all-in, figure-it-out mindset laid the foundation for the rest of his career. By the early 2000s, he was tour managing and working with major vendors like Bandit Lights and Nocturne Productions. But eventually, he made the leap into something even more chaotic than the road: entrepreneurship.
Building Two Companies (And One Emergency Tent)
In 2005, Shawn started a small business so he didn’t have to file taxes in 36 states after a year of touring. That business eventually became The Production Collective — a full-service production company supporting major festivals and events across the country.
Then, in 2022, he co-founded Collective Payroll, which helps streamline crew payment, insurance, and compliance for companies navigating complex labor needs.
But not everything goes according to plan — like the time an entire truck carrying the structure for an activation event never showed up.
“We found the truck two days later… but it missed the event. I had to rent a tent on a Sunday. It cost me $20,000. That’s on me.”
What Calm Under Pressure Really Looks Like
For Shawn, success means you’ve already done the hard work before doors open.
“If I’ve done my job right, show day is my day off.”
But that calm isn’t passive — it’s the product of preparation, clarity, and knowing exactly who to call when the unexpected happens.
He shared a story about a show where the main stage manager quit mid-load-in — throwing a radio and walking off. The promoter looked at Shawn, wide-eyed.
Shawn just said:
“Don’t worry. I got it covered.”
And he did. The show went on. No one noticed a thing.
What He Looks for in Crew (And What He Won’t Tolerate)
As someone who staffs festivals like Lollapalooza and ACL, Shawn’s standards are clear. Stage managers? They’re not just traffic cops — they’re mini production managers running every minute of the show.
He looks for:
People who take ownership
Talent balanced with emotional intelligence
Strong communicators who stay calm when things shift
But the one thing he won’t tolerate?
“Dishonesty. If I can’t trust you, I can’t work with you.”
On Life, Touring, and Letting Go
Shawn also opened up about balancing family life with 15+ years on the road, getting married young, and how COVID gave him a rare pause:
“That was the longest I’d been home since high school. I took my kids to school. Played golf. It reminded me what normal life feels like.”
He’s since moved into a new chapter, with both of his companies acquired by RockForce, where he now helps lead national efforts to train, staff, and support the next generation of live event professionals. The headquarters? Right here in Nashville.
Final Advice for Breaking In
Shawn’s advice for young professionals trying to make it in the industry is direct:
“Skip the degree if you want to do tech. Go intern. Learn in the shop. Get paid to learn. If you’ve got work ethic and aptitude, you’ll be on the road in no time.”
🎧 Listen to the full episode:
📍Catch us next at Giggs Industry Nights in Vegas (Nov 10) and LA (Nov 12) — events designed to connect crew, companies, and real opportunities.