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Seeing Them LiveAuthor: Charles Zona
Seeing Them Live is a podcast featuring memorable concert stories from live music fans. Everyone has a concert story and hopefully one day we'll hear yours. Language: en Genres: Music, Music Interviews, Personal Journals, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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S04.E04 – Eric Sees the Beastie Boys at 8,000 Feet
Episode 52
Saturday, 28 February, 2026
This episode of "Seeing Them Live" features Eric Vollweiler, a seasoned producer, marketing consultant, and strategist in the film, festival, and entertainment industry with nearly two decades of experience. Charles explores Eric's journey from his early concert experiences to his current work helping festivals and creators connect with audiences, sponsors, and industry partners, including major festivals like Sundance, Cannes, and Toronto. Eric's passion for live entertainment was shaped early—his mother took him to his first concert at age 14, seeing Aerosmith with Black Crows at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. He also attended a massive Grateful Dead and Crosby, Stills & Nash show that drew 70,000 people. After high school, Eric moved to New York City in 1996, working at legendary nightclubs like the China Club and the Tunnel under mentor Michael James. During this time, he even worked alongside a young Mark Sinclair—now known as Vin Diesel—at an elite catering company. His nightclub experience ended when he broke his wrist breakdancing at the Tunnel, prompting him to move back upstate for college. Eric's festival career began in 2001 when he volunteered at Sundance, eventually co-producing seven events there. A memorable highlight was sneaking into a Beastie Boys performance at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. He recently launched the Vollweiler Agency, which provides comprehensive services to festivals including sponsorship acquisition, advertising, and social media strategy. Currently, he's working on the 11th annual Hip Hop Film Festival in New York City, which focuses on hip-hop culture through the lens of filmmaking. At the heart of his work is a commitment to filmmakers and providing opportunities for the next generation, guided by his philosophy: "Never ask the CEO for a job, but ask him to learn" and "the humbler you are, the better you'll be in life." BANDS: Aerosmith, Beastie Boys, Betty Buckley, Black Crows, Crosby Stills and Nash, Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Melba Moore, U2, Ziggy Marley VENUES: Buffalo Highmark Stadium, China Club, Egyptian Theater, Knickerbocker Arena, Life, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Race Course, Sundance Film Festival, The Tunnel PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/SeeingThemLivePlease help us defer the cost of producing this podcast by making a donation on Patreon.WEBSITE - BECOME A GUEST:https://seeingthemlive.com/Visit the Seeing Them Live website and click on the link to fill out a form so we can consider you as a guest on the show.INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/seeingthemlive/FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550090670708
