A world first in production industry crew resources, Entourage Pro is a new, free-to-join global networking platform bridges the gap between artists and the production world, and aims to revolutionise how production personnel are sourced, accredited and availed to the wider production and music industries.

The venture draws on director Joel Perry’s 20-year-plus association with live music production, as well as its partnership with Showcase Music, which has 52 years of industry heritage to add to the platform’s offering.

‘With the global events sector starting to re-emerge, we knew the time was right to launch a service that has real relevance for the live music industry,’ Perry says. ‘It’s an idea that has been in the making for some time and took considerable resources to define, but that’s because we wanted to make sure we got it absolutely right.’

‘Entourage Pro has to be as comprehensive as possible and relevant to the industry, both now and in the future,’ adds fellow director, Showcase Music’s James Stanbridge. ‘We are in a critical window of opportunity, and we want this to be our way of helping the industry get back on its feet and bringing it closer together.’

Entourage Pro covers 140 professional freelance roles, from front of house engineer, backline tech, lighting designer and rigger to video content creator and LED technician. It has been designed to be a quick and easy resource for anyone putting together anything from a one-off show to a worldwide tour to be able to source verified personnel. The business has the backing of leading industry players, including, Yamaha, d&b audiotechnik, Neutrik, Robe Chainmaster, MDG and Avolites.

‘The touring world is where d&b first made its mark,’ says d&b Director of Segment Development and Artist Relations, Michael Case. ‘It takes dedicated, hardworking individuals to deliver great live events, and we are proud to support Entourage Pro’s efforts in creating a platform that will reconnect the industry, benefitting artists, production companies and crew alike.’

‘The moment we were introduced to the concept of Entourage Pro, the team at Yamaha immediately recognised the opportunities that it could bring to both crew and production companies,’ adds Karl Christmas, European Product Manager at Yamaha Music Europe. ‘In supporting the development of this platform, Yamaha is confident that it will be a significant resource for our friends and colleagues in the industry as it gets back on its feet.’

Entourage Pro defines registrants via role, department, discipline, experience, and availability. It includes your profile, accreditations, certificates, availability and rate bracket, all of which will be made available to qualifying music industry representatives, worldwide, from artists, labels, management, agents, promoters and rental houses to manufacturers and beyond.

‘The critical role of connectivity is something we appreciate at the Neutrik Group; it is everything we do,’ says Neutrik UK Product Marketing Manager, David Morbey. ‘So, the value of greater connectivity across the myriad of disciplines and the talented people which is the touring and event production sector is immediately obvious to us. We look forward to a great working relationship with the talented team at Entourage Pro in reaching production professionals everywhere.’

With a monumental fightback commencing, and the industry starting to resurface, Entourage Pro is ready to be a positive resource to harness the talent so compromised by Covid-19.

‘This past couple of years has reinforced what we already knew; this industry is nothing without our people,’ says Robe CEO, Josef Valchar. ‘You can have as much technology as you like - but without those to prep it, deliver it, implement it, program it and use it in so many creative ways, we are nowhere. We are proud to be supporting Entourage Pro and the platform it will provide for everyone to get involved and be recognised for what they bring to their profession.’

‘Our industry is returning, and it will be stronger,’ Perry concludes. ‘Entourage Pro is ready to help it get back to work and to look after the incredibly talented people who deserve to be back out there, doing what they do best. By promoting this talent in a way that’s right for them, we are turning the recent challenges into new opportunities.’

More: www.entouragepro.com