2025 Impact NextGen Honoree: Emily Waller

EMILY WALLER
Production Manager
self employed

WORDS OF WISDOM:
“Gear is replaceable, your crew is not. Invest accordingly.”

As a “theater kid at heart,” Emily Waller always knew she wanted to be in the live entertainment business. After seeing the production design for U2’s “360° Tour” of 2009-2011, she says she knew she wanted to someday be part of something similar.

“I love when artists push the envelope and try something different,” she adds. “As a production manager, there is nothing more fulfilling than having the opportunity to share in that passion to bring an idea to fruition.”

Waller got her first gig in the business working as a lighting tech at age 16 in Detroit for local shows, and then joined her first tour two years later in the same role on PARTYNEXTDOOR’s “Summers Over” Tour in 2016.

The 27-year-old, who is currently working with artists Clairo and Jazmine Sullivan, notes that one of the greatest strengths of her generation is serving as a bridge between the original roadies and the newer wave of touring professionals.

“The younger generation coming are hungry to learn and eager to soak up knowledge. That eagerness is something we still carry, too,” says Waller, who has also worked with Lainey Wilson and Don Toliver. “Every generation has its own approach, and I see ours as bringing a greater sense of open-mindedness to the table. There’s no manual for navigating this industry – it’s all about taking what works for you and leaving the rest behind. As the business evolves, so must we.”

At the heart of Waller’s business philosophy is always having the crew’s back.

“Being on shows and tours where the crew was treated as an inconvenience is what partially made me want to go into production management,” she says. “I am a firm believer that the crew is the backbone to making a tour successful. In order to keep that backbone strong, you have to take care of them.”

One of Waller’s mentors who has helped guide her is veteran tour manager Angie Warner, who just so happened to nominate Waller for the NextGen list.

“[Angie] has shown and taught me how to be a strong and ‘take no BS’ woman in this business while still having kindness and compassion,” Waller says. “As Angie did with me when I first started many years ago – we need to continue seeking out and teaching the next generation of roadies. The industry needs more! As a collective, we can agree it is hard to find good people to put out on tour. That frustration can stop with us. We need to be actively seeking those that want to grow in this business and give them the opportunity to learn.”