Live Nation and the U.S. Army announced a dynamic web series, Tour Ops: the Tech Behind Rock on the Road, featuring two U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers working onsite with OneRepublic on tour. The series consist of six total episodes, three spotlighting U.S. Army Capt. Andrew Freinberg and three featuring U.S. Army Capt. Moises Abraham Cruz.
These episodes share the story of Freinberg and Cruz, who serve as crew members in an active production setting during a tour. Demonstrating their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) training acquired through the Army, both men are working along with the tour crew on a variety of tasks.
In each episode, Freinberg and Cruz are on site collaborating with OneRepublic’s crew members and becoming familiarized with the technical and structural elements of what happens backstage and as part of the concert performance.
“Capts. Cruz and Freinberg are great examples of how the Army is constantly evolving to provide unmatched training in a variety of cutting-edge skills,” said U.S. Army Marketing & Research Group Active Army Brand Manager LTC. Karl S. Ivey. “The success they have achieved highlights the diversity of experience soldiers gain that is highly sought after in the civilian world.”
Both Cruz and Freinberg believe that the roles associated with putting on an unforgettable show are similar to the roles they took on in the Army.
“The Army enabled me to go to college, get a commission and trained me to be a leader, which has allowed me to be successful in business,” said Cruz. He now owns and operates a small structural engineering company.
In discussing his thoughts on Army service, Freinberg said, “The most appealing aspect is that I am giving my time to something much larger than myself and that I am able to positively influence others’ lives.” Currently an engineer, Freinberg says the military influenced his project management skills as well.
Cruz and Freinberg used what they gained from the Army to offer technical insight and discuss engineering practices on the many tasks of producing a high-tech show on tour with OneRepublic’s crew. For example, Cruz, an Army-trained civil engineer, met with the tour’s Head Rigger, Bill Heinzlemeir. The two discussed how the rigging team is responsible for safely and precisely hanging lights, video screens, chain motors and the PA system, and how the AutoCAD system Cruz employs in his work is also used to assist the riggers to determine how to set the weight when rigging a stage.
“The U.S. Army STEM training provides American soldiers with what is needed to accomplish any task—abroad or back home,” said Jeremy Levine, SVP, digital sales at Live Nation. “We’re honored to create this content series that profiles Army Reserve Soldiers putting their training to work within the world of live music and touring.”
www.LiveNation.com o keep up with the action as the web series will begin to air on Sept. 19.
