Belgreen native finds fulfillment in career behind the scenes of major concert tours

RUSSELLVILLE — Long before he was helping build video walls for stadium tours, and filming performances for thousands of fans, Colt Hester was a kid in Franklin County who found comfort in music.

“Music was always a safe place and something that made me feel better,” Hester said.

Today, Hester works behind the scenes on major concert productions, traveling across the United States and internationally as a touring video technician and camera operator.

During the past eight years, his work has taken him to roughly 30 countries. He’s worked on productions involving the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Godsmack, Ludacris, Rod Stewart, Duran Duran, Deftones, Benson Boone and Bad Omens.

Earlier this year, he also worked at Coachella, one of the world’s largest music festivals.

CONTRIBUTED/COLT HESTER
Colt, woman, man – Red Hot Chili Peppers concert. – Colt Hester attends a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert with his oldest sister, Maggie Adams, and his father, Richie Hester.

Hester, 34, grew up in Belgreen. He remembers fishing with his grandfather, playing in the woods, and spending time outdoors around the family property.

“Some of my favorite memories are the peacefulness of it,” he said.

But music opened a window to a much larger world.

His sisters introduced him to concerts at a young age, taking him to shows in Huntsville and Nashville, Tennessee. Those experiences sparked an interest that continued to grow as he explored different styles of music and learned to play instruments himself.

“I always really loved music and finding different kinds of music,” he said.

Bass guitar became his primary instrument, though he later learned drums, guitar, keyboard and synthesizer. One concert in particular left a lasting impression.

Belgreen native Colt Hester works behind the scenes on major concert productions, traveling across the United States and internationally as a touring video technician and camera operator. CONTRIBUTED/COLT HESTER

Hester said seeing Nine Inch Nails perform in Nashville changed the way he looked at live music.

“I think that was the first time I was ever wowed by the production and design,” he said.

While earlier concerts had impressed him because of the music itself, he said the Nine Inch Nails performance opened his eyes to the many elements working together behind the scenes, including lighting, video, sound and stage design.

“The production changes during the show, and it was so much more complex,” he said. “I always dreamed of being a part of music in some way.”

When he arrived at the University of North Alabama, he knew he wanted a future connected to music, even if he wasn’t sure exactly what that would look like.

PHOTOS BY MARÍA CAMP
Colt Hester visits his father, Richie Hester, at his Belgreen home.

He enrolled in UNA’s entertainment technology program, studying audio and studio engineering while learning about the technical and business sides of the music industry.

After graduation, he took an event staffing job that allowed him to work music festivals. The work introduced him to the vast operations that exist behind every concert and festival.

“I saw there was so much more going on behind the scenes,” he said. “I realized there was something more I could be doing.”

Determined to move deeper into the industry, Hester began traveling regularly to Nashville for work opportunities.

“I would drive to Nashville and sometimes sleep in my car or on a stranger’s couch just to work gigs,” he said.

Those years helped him build experience and connections while learning how the industry operated.

A fellow UNA graduate, Ben Bearden, eventually introduced him to Jonathan Edwards of Axis Sound and Lighting. Through that connection, Hester received additional training and landed his first touring job in 2018.

“It was hard to see myself doing something like this coming from a small town,” he said.

Since then, he has worked in a variety of production roles. He began as a lighting technician, helping build and maintain lighting systems for shows.

More recently, he has transitioned into video production work, building LED video walls, and operating cameras during live performances. That opportunity came after members of a video crew noticed his work ethic while he was working on a Red Hot Chili Peppers tour.

“They basically just brought me in,” Hester said.

Today, he helps build the massive LED screens seen at major concerts and often operates cameras during performances. The giant screens visible at many arena and stadium concerts are often the primary way much of the audience experiences a show, he explained.

“A lot of people aren’t close enough to really take in all that,” Hester said. “Some people don’t want to be mashed up in the crowd. They can see a nicely cut show on the video wall and enjoy it that way.”

Unlike his earlier lighting work, camera operation allows him to feel more directly involved in the performance itself.

“I really love shooting camera, and it’s nice to feel like I’m part of the show,” he said.

The technical side of the job appeals to Hester as much as the travel. Large productions involve hundreds of moving parts, with crews working against strict deadlines to assemble, operate and dismantle equipment.

“I measure where I’m at by how well I can look at the chaos and see what’s going on,” Hester said. “It’s really great to see all these big things consolidated down into tiny pieces and processes,” he said.

His work now regularly places him in front of crowds ranging from several thousand people to more than 30,000 at large stadium events.

The pace, he said, can be relentless. A typical day on tour may begin early in the morning with equipment to load and continues through the concert. After the show, crews often dismantle the production, load trucks and immediately head for the next city.

“There are always intense time frames and deadlines to be met,” Hester said. “The hours and sleep deprivation are hard.”

The work can also be physically demanding and sometimes dangerous, requiring strict attention to safety.

Even so, Hester said he enjoys the challenge.

Touring, he said, has introduced him to friendships formed in unusual circumstances. Crew members often spend months together traveling from city to city, working long hours and relying on one another to keep productions running smoothly.

“You may stay friends after the tour, or you may never see them again,” Hester said.

Touring has also allowed him to experience places he never imagined visiting while growing up in Franklin County. Japan remains his favorite destination.

“Japan is a beautiful place. Everyone’s very nice,” he said.

During one visit, he took a cooking class where he learned to grind fresh wasabi and prepare Wagyu beef.

He also enjoys spending free time exploring historic European cities.

“I really enjoyed the architecture in France, Italy and Spain,” he said.

Despite the travel, Hester still credits his upbringing in Franklin County for helping to shape his work ethic.

“Growing up and helping my dad and my papa farm and bale hay definitely gave me some work ethic,” he said. “I think mostly it’s just giving me some perspective of just being thankful and grateful for things.”

Touring has changed him as well. Before entering the touring world, he said he often felt directionless and uncertain about his future.

“It has given me a sense of purpose,” Hester said. “It taught me responsibility and hard work, and it helped me focus.”

While much of his career now centers on helping other artists bring their music to audiences, Hester has not abandoned his own musical ambitions. He has performed in several bands throughout the years and continues writing instrumental music.

Looking ahead, he hopes to spend more time creating original material and collaborating with other musicians when he is home between tours.