What does it take to make a concert or festival run successfully, and how many people are involved in making it happen even though the audience rarely sees them? In the lecture “Life Behind the Stage – The Invisible Side of the Music Industry,” stage manager Dejan Šobot offers an insight into the world of technical production, event organisation, and the coordination of teams behind every successful concert and festival. He discusses the roles of stage managers, technicians, production crews, and other professionals who are essential to the successful delivery of music events but often remain invisible to the wider public. Particular attention is given to the importance of professional organisation, teamwork, and effective communication, as well as understanding the roles of all those whose work enables performers to take the stage and connect with their audience.

The lecture was presented at the conference “Strategic Directions and Priorities for the Development of the Music Industry in Serbia,” held on 19 July 2026 in Niš, as part of the project “Play It! – Strengthening Cooperation in the Music Industry,” implemented by the World Music Association of Serbia (WMAS) with the support of UNESCO’s International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD).