Live Event Crew and LinkedIn. Resource or waste of time?

How many artist managers, road managers, event planners or people tasked with finding road or event personnel used LinkedIn? Many of us understand the dynamic of first call, second call, third call, hey do you know anyone call.

I am curious how LinkedIn has or has not worked as a tool to attract the attention of decision makers in the specialized or "outside the norm" world of entertainment. There are tons of profiles on LinkedIn of people quite fluent in touring, event execution, and other entertainment-centric positions with specialty jobs like Ableton tech, Video Content Creator, Lighting Designer, Tour Manager, Production Manager, Stage Manager, Performer, FOH or Monitor Engineer, Project Manager, Coordinator or any of the other special skill set that falls under the umbrella of touring or event personnel. If you're a freelancer face it you market a business. The business of YOU. If you aren't the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd call what works in marketing yourself? Facebook and other social media outlets may get you a lot of likes and friends (and unfriended sometimes) but is it producing leads in the industry you desire? Does it generate revenue?

Curiosity has gotten the best of me and I am hoping I can get managers, agents and the others to chime in on recruiting and prospecting for your events or tours or industry jobs. I mention events because even events like corporate shows, corporate shows with entertainment, political rallies, festivals, etc at some point go looking for people with skill sets born of the entertainment industry. I am sure there are cases where someone has put someone with little or no experience in charge of production on a show (budget conscious and expedient) because they rely on the production provider to handle the "heavy lifting" with mixed results. Or, an acceptable percentage of fail. But who looks after the nuts and bolts and interfaces with those providers or personnel on your behalf and how do you find them?

Let's say you are a new manager, or person charged with putting together a crew or a production.

1.) It could be that you're older, or uninformed, and just don't have the network of connections that you would gain after years of staging shows in these regards.

2.) It could be your fresh and new in this arena with little or no concept of the pitfalls, safety factors, equipment needs, hospitality concerns, access concerns, labor requirements to fit in budget, etc.

3.) Maybe you don't like to look uneducated or inexperienced so instead of hiring the proper people you "fake it till you make it" or go on the advice of friends?

4.) Let's say you have exhausted your 1st, 2nd, 3rd call and you're now faced with connecting with someone new?

Regardless, the concept of NOT finding a pro can have consequences. Some major with show stopping potential or possibly leaving your future employment teetering on edge with one foot on the bus, and the other on a banana peel.

What platforms would you use, that would give you an over all good look at candidates? Facebook? Snapchat? Twitter? Bobnet? The social media choices are many. But do those portray the skill sets or specialty you are looking for? Why not LinkedIn? Are there other networking sites I am missing, out of ignorance? I don't mean the job boards like music-match.com, or bobnetrocks.com or entertainmentcareers.com I mean human voiced platforms.

This is a great platform for entertainment people to highlight themselves and market their brand. I just wonder how useful it has been to others in recruiting, or in job contracting and procuring. Or how successful has it been for you as a candidate seeking new opportunities and obtaining work?

The entertainment business really is no different, other than the stigmas attached to it and the promise of glamorous worldwide travel to some of the nicest loading docks in the world. It's a changing and evolving industry. What about newer skilled candidates coming up but they live in Terre Haute or Salt Lake City and not the hotbed capitols of LA, NY or Nashville? Or, an older road dog who's looking to slow down from the traveling. Talent comes from all over the world. I am sure I am not alone when I say I have hired people that in hindsight would never consider again. Considering the dynamics of the gig, the personalities of those on the gig, the prospect of sticking them in a long silver tube and jettisoning them down the road with no privacy for weeks on end with 10 people they don't really know, these all play into the dynamics of chemistry. Something that although overlooked often on the front end, becomes glaringly clear on the butt end.

What about corporate personnel who need to plan an extravaganza to impress the company or clients and can't get past the limited resources of a hotel AV department? Where do you look for the people that will make you shine and take all that business pain you as an event planner or manager shoulders? When there is a whole slew of talent that can relieve that pain and make you look like a solid leader. What about touring personnel that want to get off the road, and their skill set would be a great resource?

I bounce from touring back into events and corporate because I just don't see a distinct division of overall skill sets needed to pull off an amazing show. Whether it be the circus, a general session for 2,000, an EDM show, a new product reveal at some high level function, or a concert for 25,000 screaming fans. There are some specialty skills that one would learn by having a history in a particular aspect of the industry, but all in all, the big picture and agenda remains fairly the same.

So my question is what influence does LinkedIn have on recruiting for the music, event, or entertainment industry? Actually it could be how much influence does it have on any recruiting at all? The music/entertainment business seems particularly precarious only because of it's perceived exclusivity.

Have you ever contacted a professional because of a LinkedIn profile? Have you ever been contacted for a position because of a LinkedIn profile? Is marketing yourself via LinkedIn a waste of time?