2026 Women Of Live: Reanna Roberts

Reanna Roberts
FPC Live | Director of Production

SAGE ADVICE | “Don’t be afraid to fail – failure is just data. Just get it done first; you can make it great later.”

In 2025, FPC brought stadium shows back to Madison, Wisconsin, at Camp Randall Stadium for the first time since 1997. The 110-year-old stadium is the largest-capacity venue in the state. In June, it hosted two nights of Morgan Wallen and then Coldplay in July – an undertaking that took teamwork to a new level for the promoter, university and city.

For Reanna Roberts, the director of production for FPC Live, it’s only the beginning of what’s possible. 

Pollstar: How did you get your start?

Reanna Roberts: I came from the food & beverage industry, which I worked in for 15 years – moving my way up from dishwashing to running bars and restaurants. In 2009, I went back to college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and I got a job bartending in one of our clubs. A few years later, an Assistant General Manager position became available, and I was hired. Shortly thereafter, an opportunity in Production presented itself, so I moved into that role. None of this was ever planned. Every time an opportunity came my way, I just said “Yes.”

What opportunities and challenges did you see coming up?

Few things inspire me more than seeing a woman in a high-level position in the live events industry, especially in the concert world. There are still many barriers to overcome to level the playing field, but it’s improving. Burnout is high and finding work-life balance, especially for women who have children, is a considerable challenge. There is a leadership and pay gap, both of which are slowly closing. Women are historically under-represented in live events, specifically on the technical side, but the industry continues to grow, and the attrition rate isn’t slowing down, so that opens a lot of opportunities.

How do you achieve work-life balance?

I reclaim my time during the off-season. DND on my phone as often as possible during off-peak times of the year. When it’s busy season, I’m available pretty much 24/7, but when it’s the off-season, I am unapologetically unavailable outside of standard office hours. Also, I very rarely accept meeting invitations without an agenda.