Q&A With Rhino Supervisor Lacey Franklin

Rhino Supervisor in Louisiana Lacey Franklin recently sat down to answer questions about her work as a touring supervisor for Rhino, what makes a stagehand stand out to her as a supervisor, working at Rhino client venue Gateway Studios, her advice to those just starting out as stagehands and more.

What Makes a Stagehand Stand Out

Q: What do you think it is that makes a stagehand stand out on a job site?

A: The willingness to learn sticks out to me most. It’s always ideal to have skilled employees, however, I get excited when I see a new up and comer that is enthusiastic about the job and wants to learn as much as possible. They are generally the people that will go above and beyond in the near future. They will want all the skills and can later fall into whichever department is needed to be filled. 

Q: How did you come to the attention of the Zach Bryan staff?

A: I came to their attention in July of 2024, when they came down to Caesars Superdome in New Orleans for The Quittin’ Time Tour. I thought they were joking when they asked if they were going to see me for the rest of the upcoming dates Rhino was slated to do. I told them I had never left Louisiana. Fast forward to early 2026 and, to the tour’s surprise, I ended up in St. Louis at Gateway Studios for rehearsals. That’s when the realization of my going from location to location took root.

Q: What do you think that you in particular did to make yourself stand out to the folks on the Zach Bryan tour?

A: I come into every job with a positive, workable attitude. I fully know what is expected of me to make a job successful for both Rhino and for Zach Bryan’s tour and I do my best to live up to that expectation. I pay great attention to detail; I like to know the next move before it happens. I communicate clearly with the tour, take notes, and even plan with them.

On the Road With Rhino

Q: It’s pretty self-evident what the value might be for a tour in having you supervising Rhino crews at different tour stops, but are there any perhaps less appreciated and understood values in this?

A: Yes, it seems obvious that it’s beneficial for the tour to have a familiar person with a familiar leadership style at each location. I don’t know that there are elements that are less appreciated, but for myself, I get the pleasure of walking into new places, meeting new people and seeing how other Rhino crews operate with ours. I’m always a little apprehensive, because, let’s be honest, I walk into places where not a single person knows who I am and I have to step in front of all the new faces and see if we can all make magic together. That said, I’ve enjoyed how well-received I’ve been. So far I’ve gotten great impressions from everyone and I look forward to working with them all again in the future. 

Supervisor Lacey Franklin at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ, for the Sept. 5, 2026 Zach Bryan tour date there.
Lacey leading Rhinos into action at State Farm Stadium for Zach Bryan’s Sept. 5, 2026 tour date there.
Lacey, back to camera, instructs the crew at the load in for Zach Bryan’s Sept. 5th tour date at State Farm Stadium.

Q: Have there been particular challenges of the Zach Bryan tour dates that you have worked that you have found especially interesting to you as a professional? 

A: : I think the biggest challenge is the logistics of getting such a large number of people together in one location, to have them departmentalized, vested, and ready to work at the right time. It’s just a couple hundred people. Nothing serious, right? The stage managers of the Zach Bryan Tour (Matt, Timmy, and Ron) are just exceptional. Well in advance we discuss the best location for us to deploy from. It’s part of their load out map. I’m also given priority departments to fill, so we start there. It’s all about planning and even though it is a challenge it can be worked through if you are integrated into planning as part of the team.

Q: Do you like travelling for work and, if so, what appeals to you about it?

A: 2026 is my first year of traveling for work. So far so good. I’ve enjoyed seeing new people and new buildings. I’ve been working exclusively in Louisiana for 12 years. Even if it’s a long drive to some work sites, I get to see things outside of Louisiana that I would otherwise never see. I haven’t really spent any time outside of the work venue once I’m in a location to appreciate the local sights, but I’m good with that as well. I like to be a part of the actual job, start to finish, as I’m really in this for the work.

Getting to Know Gateway

Q: You have worked on tour rehearsals at Gateway Studios, a Rhino client, in St. Louis. What is different about working on a tour rehearsal from working on an actual tour performance and do you prefer one or the other?

A: I’ve done a couple tour rehearsals so far. Each was very different. In some cases, the tour knows exactly how they intend the rehearsals to run and in others they are putting it all together on the spot. The difference between the rehearsal and the actual tour performance is pace. It’s the real deal when these guys hit the road. There is a set performance date and when it is all over, they are off to another location. If you have the luxury of being a part of the rehearsals, you get the heads up on what it is you will be seeing on the road. However, the ease of the rehearsal spot’s loading dock, storage, etc. can mislead you as each location’s accommodation is different. You may find yourself with loading docks or not and so needing all the gear ramped and forked to where it is needed. You may be in the elements or in an air-conditioned building. You may also find yourself hunting down the perfect location to rally up your stagehands for the loadout, which isn’t always the easiest if the show is in the round. Each location comes with a set of unique challenges and it’s important to be aware of them so that you can do your best by your crew for a safe and successful show.

Q: In an interview with Steve Davis, Rhino’s Rigging & Rope Access Advisor, we asked him for his impressions of Gateway Studios, and he told us, “The place is amazing and state of the art. No detail has gone unnoticed from the size of the catering kitchens down to overlaying the rigging beams on the concrete floor to help with marking out the floor.” What are your impressions of Gateway?

A: Gateway Studios is fantastic. There is an ease with the building with the loading docks butted right up to the studios. It can accommodate any size of show and is staffed around the clock to take care of all needs. I had the luxury of running a training class in a production office and the whole building is just beautifully done. Let’s not forget about the building personnel. I spent 21 straight days there this summer and everyone from the custodians, catering personnel, and management were wonderful and ready to take care of anything needed. Guido and Dan are doing great things at Gateway and are making great partners with Rhino. I look forward to seeing what they grow to become and for future trips up there. 

Lacey’s Rhino Journey

Q: How did you get started in the live events industry and what are the different roles you have played for Rhino?

A: I started working in artist management before I worked with Rhino while completing a bachelor’s degree in music business at Full Sail University. I later attempted to work with one of the nation’s top promoters, but was told I needed stagehand experience first. I reached out to friends via social media and was directed to Rhino Staging. Just like most other Rhinos, I started as a stagehand and gradually made my way into corporate gig supervision. In 2018, when we really started leaning into the safety program, I was put through that training, and have since taken on most Safety Supervisor positions here in Louisiana, Field Supervisor positions, the Safety Manager role, and now Traveling Supervisor.

Advice to Newcomers

Q: And finally, what is your advice to someone just getting started as a stagehand in this business?

A: If you are just getting started in this business as a stagehand, be ready to learn. It’s important to link up with someone with skill. Ask your lead to pair you up with someone knowledgeable and then take the constructive criticism. Do your best to be on time and ready to work. Have your tools and PPE and dress for success in your blacks. These are all things we look for as supervisors. This is an amazing industry, but just like everything else, it will come with its challenges. Gaining positive attention with learned skill and the desire to be on site will help elevate you along the way.

Read more interviews with Rhino Staging team members at the links below.