Oftentimes, this column is devoted to LDs who have enjoyed fruitful collaborations with their clients over a number of years. But at some point, every long-term creative partnership starts out as a new relationship. So, we asked ourselves, how does a successful connection between a designer and a band begin in the first place?

This is led us to look back on one of our stories from last year, about Jeff Maker signing on “late in the game,” with multi-platinum metal monsters I Prevail for a European headline and festival show, followed in rapid succession by a 22-date North American coheadline tour with Halestorm. Such baptisms of fire don’t always, turn out well, but the talented Las Vegas-based LD, who had cut his teeth working with bands like Dresden Dolls, Megadeth, All Time Low, and Gaslight Anthem immediately hit it off with his new client.

Tweaking the tour’s original design, and smoothly handling all of the challenges that came his way on the road, Maker quickly won over the band, management and everyone one else involved. The connection has become only tighter with each passing month, and today, about a year-and-a-half after joining the tour, he is I Prevail’s PM in addition to working as their LD.

Maker spoke to us about how this relationship got off to such a great start. There are a lot of lessons to be learned in his story. And stay tuned—maybe down the road, we’ll be writing about the fifth, or even tenth, anniversary of the working relationship between this power-packed band and their talented LD.

When you hooked up with I Prevail last year, it was a sudden, unexpected event. How was it getting accustomed to the band at first, and how has that changed now that some time has passed?
“It was unexpected but very welcomed. I was looking for a long-term home on the road and they made me feel like part of their family right away. Both the band and the crew are very easy to get to know and an absolute pleasure to work with. They’re total pros and I can’t sing their praises enough. Hardworking gents! Now that I’ve been with them for over a year, they offered me production managing duties on top of my LD duties.”

You and the band clicked and now you are their production manager and lighting designer. Why this connection worked between you and the band?
“The reason I think this connection works so well is that the band and myself love attention to detail and we established trust pretty quickly. And truth be told, when our wonderful PM Nick Engle had to rejoin Disturbed’ s team, my long-time friend and colleague Brian Southall recommended I Prevail give me a shot. They gave me the ball and with a lot of help from my PM friends, I’ve running with it. I’ve production managed in the past at venues in Boston and a bit on the road but it’s been a minute.”

Now that you been with the band for over a year. What are the new things you learned about them?
“They’re a smart, well-oiled machine. As a group, they work in harmony but like anyone else. They also have their own individual hobbies and things they enjoy doing on their own free time.”

How has hooking up with the band influenced you as a designer?
“For me, every band or artist influences me in different ways through their music, story, or album art. I love designing around their ideas. I Prevail are very involved in the set design and riser deck design process. This provides me a great stage canvass to paint a lighting design onto.”

How involved does the band get in lighting design?
“They get involved with the set more than the lighting. Once we decided on a set and riser set-up, they give me a fair amount of freedom with placement and fixture types.”

What three words best describe the experience of working with I Prevail?
“Grateful. Inspired. Harmonious.”

 

Jeff Maker dedicates this article to Dave Shapiro, the band’s agent, manager and friend who died in a plane accident in May