Ever wondered how you turn a Montana cattle ranch into a full-scale music festival with 20,000 people, two stages, a rodeo, and enough power to run a small city? Host Megan Martin hops in a cart with Mark Lopez, Chief Experience Officer at Show Imaging, for a behind-the-scenes ride through Under the Big Sky Festival.
From mapping out roads on raw land to building docks for semi-truck load-ins, adding shore power to cut down generators, and setting up safety systems that rival any major venue, Mark shares what it really takes to pull off a festival in the middle of Big Sky Country.
Plus, we stop by the rodeo ring, VIP cabanas, and even the “bone yard” to see where the real magic (and chaos) happens.
🔥 What You’ll Learn:
How Show Imaging transforms a rural ranch into a festival site, from roads to power grids
What it takes to load in massive stages and gear without traditional loading docks
The safety systems and communication chains in place for when the unexpected happens
How rodeos, VIP builds, and local vendors create a uniquely “Montana” festival vibe
Why thoughtful planning months in advance (even before the snow melts) is key to pulling it all off
About the Guest:
Mark Lopez is the Chief Experience Officer at Show Imaging, where he oversees festival production, brand activations, and large-scale corporate events. With experience managing everything from remote destination festivals to high-profile brand builds, Mark knows how to turn even the most rugged spaces into unforgettable event experiences.
Want more behind-the-scenes tours like this?
Join the Squared Squad at eventaboutitpodcast.com for bonus content, guest deep dives, and insider access to the biggest shows in the business.
Connect with Megan Martin
Connect with Mark Lopez
https://www.showimaging.com/
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.