In April 2017, King Lotus stepped onto the stage at Lima’s Estadio Nacional to open for Justin Bieber. For the Peruvian electropop duo I managed, and for me, it became a night we would never forget.

King Lotus performing on a large stage before an audience. Photograph by Francisco Medina.
PHOTO: FRANCISCO MEDINA

An unexpected opportunity

I began working with King Lotus in early 2017 after a friend recommended them to me. They were talented producers and musicians, but they had not yet performed live when we started working together.

I reached out to a promoter I knew about the upcoming stadium show. Several artists had already been proposed for the opening slot. I gathered King Lotus’s promotional material and sent it in, then waited nearly six weeks without an answer. When the confirmation finally came, we were thrilled.

Preparing for the stage

The weeks that followed were filled with rehearsals and press interviews. On the day of the show, we arrived at the stadium gates at 1:30 p.m. and took in the scale of what was ahead.

The tour manager explained the safety precautions around the fireworks equipment and told us the duo could use the stage, sound, lights and large LED screens. The offer was exciting, though it also revealed an unexpected expense: I had not prepared the money for visuals on the screens. Soundcheck was scheduled for 3:00–3:45 p.m.; the performance would run from 8:15 to 8:45 p.m.

A moment I still remember

When King Lotus performed, the energy in the stadium made all the preparation worthwhile. Hearing the crowd chant the duo’s name was exhilarating. As we came down from the stage afterwards, we briefly crossed paths with Justin Bieber on his way back to the stage.

The experience reminded me how relationships can open a door, how much preparation matters once it opens, and why technical details and costs are worth discussing as early as possible. Above all, it remains one of the most memorable days of my professional journey.

The original LinkedIn post

My original post, including its video, is embedded below in English. If it does not load in your browser, use the link to open it on LinkedIn.

Read the original on LinkedIn

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