Lessons from Backstage Banter Ep 23 with Kate Poundstone
In high-pressure live shows, calm isn’t a luxury—it’s a leadership tool. In this recap of Ep 23 of Backstage Banter, we dive into how Kate Poundstone leads labor teams through unpredictability with grace, structure, and trust. Learn what makes a great deck leader and why people still remember how you managed the hard days.
Calm Is a Choice—Even in Loud Places
When you’re running the deck at a rock venue, no one’s handing you a clean script. It’s all happening in real time: trucks arriving late, band gear missing, timelines shifting by the minute. Kate brings a rare kind of calm to it all—not because she’s not stressed, but because she knows calm is contagious.
Kate ran the labor, ran the deck—so well that, as a production manager, you could sit back and let her take it. That’s rare.
That kind of grounded presence isn’t just useful. It’s vital.
Managing Labor Is Managing People
Kate didn’t just make the gear move—she made the people move well. Running the deck means knowing the work, but also knowing how to read the room: which crew needs a moment, which department needs a nudge, and how to protect your team’s energy without letting the schedule slip.
The best stage managers don’t just call cues. They know how to pace a day, hold a boundary, and lead with clarity even when the band’s still soundchecking.
Experience Is the Foundation—But Trust Is the Fuel
It’s easy to assume that experience alone earns respect backstage. But what really stood out about Kate? The trust she built with her crew and production managers alike.
It was like the first day of school—you just knew watching her that the space would be taken care of.
When you show up with consistency, composure, and care, people remember. And when the unknown shows up (as it always does in live events), they look to you.
Listen to the Episode
Want to hear what it’s like to lead through the unknown in the world of live rock shows?
Backstage Banter: Episode 23 – Managing the Unknown w/ Kate Poundstone
Key Takeaways
- The best deck leaders bring structure without rigidity—and calm without control.
- Running labor isn’t about barking orders. It’s about setting tone, pace, and expectations.
- Trust is built one day at a time. It’s what makes the chaos manageable.