Opportunity knocks in strange ways, sometimes even in the form of a crumpled piece of paper that lands on your desk. A little over 13 years ago, Justin Kitchenman was working at Premier Global Productions in their previz suite. Things were going well for the talented young LD from Philadelphia, and then one day, Creech Anderson walked by, threw a piece of paper on the table, and said, “Call this guy, they’re looking for an LD.”

That “guy” turned out to be someone representing Luke Bryan. Kitchenman had seen Bryan perform the previous year when he was lighting another band. Back then, he knew there was something special about the country singer-songwriter from Georgia, the “it factor” he now calls it, so he picked up the scrap of paper and made the call.

He hasn’t looked back since! The easy-going Kitchenman has been with his superstar client every step of the way. It’s been quite a journey, too, as Bryan has been named “Entertainer of the Year” five times by various organizations and emerged as one of the world’s best-selling musical artists with over 75 million records sold.

Kitchenman talked to us about life on the road during this magical journey, which all started with a piece of paper that fluttered to his desk.

Luke is a very active, hard-working performer who appears at a variety of events and venues. How does that influence you as a lighting designer?
“I definitely design with future uses in mind. We routinely play shows of every scale. In any given tour, we can play amphitheaters, arenas, stadiums, and festivals, as well as a wide range of special events like corporate meetings to weddings, and birthdays. To be able to take our core show and modify it to be scaled up or down to match the event has been something I feel we have mastered.

“Having foresight to put elements in a design that can be used in festival situations that make our show stand out from a weekend of performances on the same stage has become an important part of the process. Also, having a plan for cloning any special fixture in the design that may not be available in all situations. There’s rarely a perfect clone or an ideal one-off rig that you are merging into, but if you know the important elements you’re trying to reproduce and have a plan for the rest, you can turn any challenge into a win.”

There is always this really engaging, emotional warmth on stage with Luke. What is the vibe like on tours?
“Our touring crew is very much an extended family. Most of us have been together for a very long time, and there is not a whole lot of turnover in terms of crew or band members. The family vibe comes from the top down. Luke knows everyone’s name, he knows what your role is on the tour, and when you’re the new guy, he makes sure to introduce himself, just like he’s one of the guys. Since the early days, he has always been approachable and always made sure his people are taken care of.”

You’ve been to a lot of places with Luke. Does any venue or concert stand out as being especially memorable?
“We’ve played so many places, and there are special moments in so many of them. For me, being a Philly native, playing Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field were very proud moments. But to play historic venues like Dodger Stadium, Wrigley Field, Fenway Park… Madison Square Garden is always a special event. A rather random one to put on that list is last year, we played a beach festival in Wildwood, N.J. When I was in college, I worked on the boardwalk there as a ride operator on an amusement pier. It felt like a full circle moment for sure.”

How involved does Luke get in lighting and production design?
“Well, everything gets final approval from Luke before we get too deep into the process. He gets very involved with the show’s setlist and performance aspects, probably more than he gets involved in the technical side of things and the design process. There are times when he has very specific ideas and requests – or, he may not be super keen on some concepts we are proposing. We always tailor the design to meet his ideas. The design team takes the level of trust given to us very seriously and never for granted.”

What is the best thing about being Luke Bryan’s lighting designer?
“There is not a specific thing, but I consider myself very fortunate to be in the position I’m in. I get the opportunity to design for one of the biggest names in country music, I get to run shows in some of the most historic and iconic venues in North America, and I get to travel with really good friends. In my time with Luke, I have been a part of so many amazing moments and events. Prior to my time here, I had been on tours where it just felt like torture, but for the last 13 years, I have been going to work with a sense of pride and true enjoyment.”

How has working with Luke changed you in terms of your work habits, as well as your approach to your work and lighting design?
“I feel like from the very beginning of my career I’ve been evolving and learning. In my time with Luke I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some extraordinary designers, programmers, and great technical minds. I’ve been able to learn from asking ‘stupid questions.’ I have observed the habits and processes of people I admire, and applied them to aspects of my own work flow. There are so many nuances to this job that require different skillsets and mindsets and you may be asked to switch gears in an instant. Sometimes I can feel overwhelmed and lost in the process. But seeing how other people, in the same position, can manage their workflow has helped me continue to improve and grow.”