Live Event Production Industry remains healthy, growing, and AI-resilient. Here’s your cheat-sheet on why & how to get involved.

Industry Growth

• The live events industry is experiencing expansion, with projections showing the global market set to nearly double by early 2030s as audiences crave immersive, in-person and hybrid experiences.
• Specific to the United States, the Live Event industry is projected to reach between $300B and $530B by 2030 with industry growth rates between 5 - 13% [Allied Market Research, Grand View Research]
• The supporting US Live Event Production Services has similar projected growth reaching $75B by 2034 [Wise Guy Reports]

But I read that AI will take away all the production jobs?

The more AI enables effectively infinite video content, the more consumer demand will increase for authentic LIVE experiences!

• Generative AI is indeed impacting the creation of tv, film, animation, and video content for entertainment and marketing.
• Very soon generative AI generated video content will be indistinguishable from ‘real’ content
• This will trigger a shift from the attention-economy to a trust-economy and a connection-economy.  And the most trust-worthy, authentic, and ‘real’ moments are delivered via live in-person events and live-streaming.
• Hence humans will seek out live experiences with other real humans

From a workforce perspective live production is simply much more AI-resistant than non-live produciton.

• Live is unpredictable and exception-based and one way or another the show must go on.
• What is the norm is equipment malfunction, performer issues, odd audience behavior, and/or last-minute changes - imagine the microphone stops working mid-song or a spotlight motor fails or an esports competitor arrives late or one thousand other exceptions.
• Fundamentally there is a physical, hands-on nature to the work --  Eg.  Coiling cables, lifting trusses, placing mics, assembling stages -- combined with the digital aspect.
• This physical nature of the venue, performers, and audience make these live production jobs far more resistant to full automation than film post-production, CGI, or editing where AI can already generate and manipulate digital visuals effectively.

Examples of 2025 Live Event Investments Local to Georgia:

• Trilith Live -  a 530,000-square foot live entertainment complex including a 2,200 seat theatre and two 25,000 sq foot sound stages for live.
• Centennial Yards - a 5,300 seat venue as part of the $5 billion redevelopment in downtown Atlanta; adding concert and event capability to the entertainment district alongside State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Ravine at Underground - announced two-stage, 181,000 sq foot live music and performance venue at Underground Atlanta
• Gas South Arena - a $170 million expansion and renovation of Gas South Arena and District, home to a 13,000 seat arena a 708-seat theater and convention center with 90,000 sq ft of exhibit space
• The Gathering at South Forsyth - County approved plans for a $3 billion mixed-use development that includes proposed arena aimed at attracting an NHL franchise and broader entertainment uses.
• Resurgens Center - Skillshot Media’s home at Uptown Atlanta with purpose built infrastructure for gaming, esports, and experiential or hybrid livestreamed events.
• And expanded and more varied live event programming coming to Georgia World Congress Center, State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz, Sanford Stadium (UGA), Center Parc Credit Union Stadium (GSU), etc

Interested?  Here are attributes of people who thrive in live production

Calm Under Pressure.  Live events are high stakes and unforgiving in that the show goes on no matter what.

• Don’t panic when something breaks 5 minutes before live
• Can troubleshoot quickly and accept imperfect solutions
• Stay focused during long days, loud environments, and tight turnar

Strong Work Ethic + Team Mentality.  Live production is a team sport.

• Jump in without being asked
• Don’t disappear during load-in or load-out
• Respect every role, from cable-layer to show runner to department head to client or sponsor

Curiosity and Willingness to Learn.  The industry is always evolving.

• Ask smart questions a the right time
• Learn signal flow, not just button-pushing
• Take notes, watch experienced folks and practice on your own time
• Adapt to new tech and workflow without ego

Still interested???   What is the next step?

• You DO need some initial hands-on experiential training and just as importantly you need industry connections.  It is both what you know and who you know that will get you projects.
• Look for a certification program that is 1) Hands On and 2) Taught by professionals actively working in the live production industry.
• Skillshot has partnered with the Georgia Film Academy to offer a full Live Production pathway! If you are in Georgia we strongly recommend this pathway rrhttps://georgiafilmacademy.edu/academics/courses-pathways/live-production-streaming-esports

Post training, how do I get my first production gig?

Start Where the Work Actually is - Local Crews & Venues

• Most people don’t break in through touring, they start locally.
• Apply or reach out to local production companies, AV houses, staging/lighting/sound vendors, and venues.
• Look for roles like Stagehand, Audio / Lighting / Video tech assistant, Load-in / Load-out crew
• Sign up with local labor providers and freelance lists

Be Extremely Reliable Before Being Extremely Talented

• Live production hires on trust first and skill second when it comes to entry level.  So show up early, listen more than you talk, don’t touch gear unless told and finish jobs.
• Production managers remember Who shows up, Who works hard, & Who doesn't complain at 2 a.m.

Pick One Department First - Choose one area to focus on for 6-12 months while learning basics of others

• Generalists exist but specialist get hired faster
• Common entry gigs include: Audio mic placement patching, Lighting hanging fixtures & cable runs, Video LED walls & camera ops, Stage carpentry, rigging, Production stage manager, runner.

Say Yes Early, Then Raise Your Rate Later

• Early in your career, experience + contacts > money
• Take lower-pay or short-notice gigs early
• Build reputation as “person who saves the day”
• Track your days, skills and responsibilities
• Once people trust you you’ll get first calls, you can raise your day rate, and you’ll get asked to tour or for advance shows

Network Sideways, Not Up

• Most jobs come from other crew members, not bosses
• On every gig:  learn people’s names, ask how they got started, swap contact info after the show goes well, and follow-up:  “great working with you and I’m happy to help in the future
• When someone needs an extra person on the production line they don’t post online - they text someone they already worked with

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Resurgens Gaming, the parent company of Ghost Gaming and Skillshot Media, has taken a strategic equity stake in Insight Marketing, a creative agency known for its work in gaming, cryptocurrency, and Web3 entertainment.

This collaboration brings together some of the most innovative leaders in gaming, marketing, and live entertainment. Julian Caggiano, Managing Director at Ghost Gaming, will continue to lead Insight Marketing, overseeing operations, client strategy, and creative direction. Todd Harris, CEO of Resurgens Gaming and a respected veteran in the interactive media and esports industries, will join Insight Marketing as an advisor, helping guide strategic growth initiatives and cross-company synergies.

“This partnership represents a shared vision for the future of gaming, content, and community,” said Julian Caggiano, CEO of Insight Marketing. “By aligning with Resurgens Gaming, we’re strengthening our foundation and we are unlocking new opportunities for creators, brands, and audiences across the entire ecosystem.”

“Insight has built a reputation for authentic storytelling and cutting-edge digital strategy,” said Todd Harris, CEO of Resurgens Gaming. “We’re thrilled to support Julian and his team as they continue to push the boundaries of creative marketing and brand engagement in gaming, crypto, and more.”

Together, Insight Marketing, Ghost Gaming, and Skillshot Media will continue to develop cross-platform initiatives that connect brands, creators, and fans through live events, digital activations, and innovative content campaigns.

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AI-driven gaming and technology solutions studio August Interactive has entered into a multi-faceted collaboration with Resurgens Gaming to power its upcoming 2026 entertainment projects, uniting expertise in high-stakes event production with operational security.

August Interactive’s current initiatives include ‘Gamers & Guardians‘, a recurring weekly event hosted online and live-streamed that brings together veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families for connection through gaming. The year-round program, which provides a space for participants to unwind, is also shaping the development of the Military Esports League, which aims to become a premier military gaming festival.

The alliance aims to leverage the backgrounds of August Interactive’s co-founders to create new gaming experiences. The partnership will utilise the combined resources of Resurgens Gaming’s portfolio, including esports organisation Ghost Gaming, live events and live-stream production company Skillshot Media, and publisher Launchpad, to support August Interactive’s ambitious roadmap. The collaboration brings together Sarah Kneller‘s experience in shaping Dota 2’s The International and Kristin Wood‘s two-decade career in government intelligence at CIA.

Kneller’s work on The International, which helped establish the tournament’s multi-million dollar prize pools and prestige, is paired with Wood’s background in building secure, mission-critical operations. This combination of creative community-building and operational rigour is positioned as a key differentiator for the new venture.

Sarah Kneller, Co-Founder and CXO of August Interactive, stated, “The International taught us that magical moments in gaming happen when community, competition, and storytelling align perfectly. Partnering with Resurgens gives us even more opportunities to create these experiences for more players and fans.”

Jon “JB” Bukosky, Chief Commercial Officer of Resurgens Gaming and Member of the Advisors Board at August Interactive, highlighted the unique nature of the collaboration. “What makes this partnership particularly unique is the synergy between our founders’ backgrounds,” he said. “When you combine Sarah’s deep understanding of what makes gaming communities thrive… with Kristin’s two decades of building secure, mission-critical operations at the CIA, you get something special. Their complementary expertise allows August Interactive to create gaming experiences that are not only engaging but built on a foundation of trust and operational excellence.”

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Week-Long Event Showcases the $200 Billion Global Gaming Industry

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ATLANTA — Games Week Georgia returns to Atlanta this year October 27 - Nov 2, 2025, to showcase and celebrate all aspects of the global video game and esports industry.  

The annual week of professional development conferences, events and activations, curated by Resurgens Gaming, concludes with the three day gaming lifestyle festival DreamHack Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center from October 31-Nov 2.  Strategically timed during Halloween week, the festival capitalizes on the season's celebration of fantasy, creativity and cosplay that resonates with gaming culture.

“Gaming is now the largest segment of the $2 trillion entertainment industry, expanding beyond players to include brand marketers, esports organizations, and even educators,” said Todd Harris, CEO of Resurgens Gaming. “Games Week Georgia celebrates this evolution by bringing together everyone in the gaming ecosystem for a week that builds to DreamHack Atlanta.”

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The current set of announced Games Week Georgia events include:

• Esports Summit on Wednesday, October 29
• Creative Industry CONNECT, evening of Wednesday Oct 29
• GirlGamer Atlanta the morning of Thursday, October 30 
• Creator Summit the afternoon of Thursday, October 30
• DreamHack Atlanta on Friday, October 31 - Sunday, November 2, 2025

The week progresses from industry-focused professional development to public celebration, with each event feeding into DreamHack Atlanta’s broader community.  

Early Bird All-Access Tickets are available for $199 until August 31 and include a 3-Day Pass to DreamHack, creating a seamless experience from professional development events and networking to community celebration.

"It’s fantastic to join Games Week Georgia again in 2025", said Shahin Zarrabi, VP Festivals at ESL FACEIT Group. "DreamHack Atlanta is all about gaming communities coming together to celebrate games and internet pop culture. Being part of this statewide initiative allows us to connect with even more communities, creators, and fans. Georgia has become a true hub for gaming, and we’re proud to contribute to that momentum."

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According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, digital entertainment is responsible for more than 12,000 direct and indirect jobs across the state. 

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“Georgia continues to engage groundbreaking industries like gaming and esports that attract new career and development prospects for our state,” said Georgia Center of Innovation Senior Industry Engagement Manager Asante Bradford. “Games Week Georgia spotlights our thriving creative ecosystem and shows Georgia’s students that these jobs are within their reach.”

Grant Wainscott, Vice Chair of the Atlanta Esports Alliance added, “Georgia, and specifically metro Atlanta, has solidified its reputation as a global hub of creativity, talent, and influence. Games Week Georgia allows us to demonstrate how gaming drives both innovation and workforce development to feed our overall tech ecosystem.”

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This year, the Southern Interactive Entertainment & Games Expo (SIEGE), the largest videogame industry trade show in the south, also joins Games Week Georgia, with SIEGE education content for game developers being integrated within the Esports Summit event and included in the All-Access Pass. 

As one important element of workforce development and diversifying the gaming industry, Games Week Georgia will host five women from the BroadcastHER Academy Fellowship for Women in Esports and Gaming via an all-expense paid trip to Atlanta, experiential learning and mentoring from Skillshot Media, Ghost Gaming, and other partners of the 1,000 Dreams Fund initiative.

Consumer gaming events like DreamHack Atlanta not only fuel the industry, but draw tens of thousands of guests, vendors, developers, celebrities, and more to the city.

Says Lynda Lee Smith, Chair of the Entertainment Tourism Alliance of Georgia, "With tourism being the purest form of economic development, Games Week is a perfect example and presents unlimited potential for Georgia's hospitality industry.  Entertainment tourism combined with Georgia's natural and diverse landscape elevates the state as a premier destination globally."

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Further information and tickets for all events above are now available at https://www.gamesweekgeorgia.com/

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Multiple Teams. One Goals.

This fundraising competitions among the Georgia Entertainment Industry will benefit Make-A-Wish Georgia, and will help grant life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses.

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Why Does It Matter?

There are curently more than 800 kids waiting for a wish in Georgia. Every dollar makes a difference for a wish kid and their family.

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Rules of Engagement

• The team that raises the most money by May 10th - Walk for Wishes Day - is the winning team!
• Sponsorships and donations count for your team as long as they use the team website.

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What's at Stake?

• Bragging rights to the winner!
• Winning team gets to run with the Home Depot tools on Walk Day.
• If the Georgia Entertainment Industry raises $20K, we can adopt a wish!

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Team Ghost Gaming is participating with representatives from Resurgens Gaming and Skillshot Media.

Sign up your team today!

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