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Jesse Sandler

The Gaffer Having a father who is one of the most respected tour managers in the business, a career in live music was always on the cards for Jesse Sandler. As production manager for Bon Jovi, he is currently piloting Because We Can – the highest grossing tour of 2013 – which makes him a very worthy recipient of The Gaffer award. Gordon Masson learns of his rapid rise through the ranks…

ike so many of the best production gurus, the live music business found Jesse Sandler, rather than him planning a career in the industry. However, with father, Harry Sandler, established as one of the best tour managers in North America, it’s maybe not too surprising that Jesse took to the same path. But his meteoric rise to the top of the game owes more to his work ethic than any family connections and everyone IQ spoke to, for this celebration of his achievements, highlighted his drive and untiring approach to learning about the tasks each crew member has to perform. The industry’s gain has been sport’s loss, as Sandler himself admits to having been a jock at school before music started to play a bigger part in his life. But even some summertime jaunts on tour with dad Harry didn’t initially win Jesse over to the live music business and he recalls being a bit aimless in his younger days as he tried to figure out what he wanted to do for a living. But dad provided the introductions necessary to set him on his way. “From a parent’s point of view I just wanted him to go down some route,” says Harry, who confesses he is glad Jesse has found his niche in live music. “It’s a good business,” he continues. “It has its pluses and minuses and I’ve loved it for 45 years, so it’s good that he chose this path.” Jesse Sandler was born in Queens, New York, where his father was originally a photographer for magazines. “Dad started going to shows and taking pictures of bands and artists and was a regular backstage. From there, he started hanging out with bands and eventually became a tour manager – from as early as I can remember he has been in the touring business.” Pondering his own first brush with touring, Sandler states, “The first act I was aware of dad working with was Bruce Springsteen.” Sandler senior recalls, “In 1981, Jesse came to Europe on the River tour – he was only six or seven years old. I remember him asking me on the plane if the TV would be in English.” That wasn’t the most embarrassing incident, however. “When we were flying into Barcelona it was a particularly rough landing and Jesse threw up over Jon Landau. That was a moment. But to be fair, Jon took it well,” Harry laughs. And he reports that young Jesse also learned early on about some of the benefits of being on the road. “Bruce was doing multiple arena dates in Los Angeles and Jesse flew to

California for that – that’s where he learned about room service at the pool...”

Early Days

andler attended Brooklyn Technical High School, where his primary interest was sport. “I was a typical New York kid who loved to play basketball and baseball.” However, once he entered college, his interests shifted from sports to music. So when, in 1998, Harry was preparing a New York promo trip with John Mellencamp, Jesse was given his introduction to the business. “They were playing at The Bowery Ballroom and dad called to say they were looking for a runner. I didn’t know what a runner was, but I wasn’t doing anything else, so I did that for two or three days. “I didn’t think much of it,” he says. “I just thought working in the live music business was something dad did.” In April the following year, a full Mellencamp tour provided another opportunity. “They were looking for a production assistant and dad asked if was I interested. John Mellencamp was very popular at the time, so although it wasn’t major in terms of production, it was a big arena tour all the same. I was just thrown into it and, at the end of the tour, it was the first time I thought that it was definitely something I could do for a career. But at the time I knew nothing – I’d literally show up and ask what they wanted me to do.” Thankfully, some experienced road warriors could see the rookie’s potential. “I was working with Rocky Holman, who was Mellencamp’s monitor engineer and production manager at the time,” Sandler continues. “In the beginning, there wasn’t a lot for me to do because I didn’t know what to do. Basically, I was a glorified runner who travelled with the band.” But Sandler’s eagerness to learn served him well, as Holman, who was also monitor engineer for Bon Jovi, asked him if he was free for the band’s European tour in 2000. “Rocky and I had a great relationship, but Bon Jovi already had a production assistant so Rocky suggested I get a job with Clair Brothers. Even though I had no idea about touring audio, he obviously had a lot of pull, so he vouched for me and it opened the door.”

IQ Magazine January 2014