60 Hours Straight as an Event Pro with Sandra Kelley

In this episode of Beats Working, Sandra Kelley shares what it really takes to last 25 years in the event industry. From her early days hiding behind lighting rigs to leading massive 15,000-person productions, Sandra pulls back the curtain on the grit, kinship, and recovery rituals that keep event pros in the game. This isn’t about glamour — it’s about the humans behind the headset and why relationships matter more than any run-of-show.

Takeaways:

• It’s always about the people. Equipment comes and goes. Relationships are what carry you through the chaos.

• Kinship fuels endurance. You’ll push harder for your team than you ever would for yourself.

• Take care of your crew. Great leaders prioritize people capacity — not just production timelines.

• Recovery is strategic. Big shows require intentional decompression afterward.

• Sometimes the coffee run is sacred. Five minutes away can reset your nervous system and your leadership.

Timestamps:

[00:03:14] — 60 hours on-site, 14 hours off: The reality of large-scale event marathons

[00:06:21] — From biology major to lighting tech: How Sandra fell into events

[00:09:00] — The leadership lesson: Take care of your people first

[00:09:41] — The “coffee person” secret joy

[00:11:40] — Gwen Stefani wants coffee? The answer is yes.

Resources & Links:

-Sandra Kelley: LinkedIn

-Skull & Keel

-Alysse & Libby: Bios & LinkedIn

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-Website: www.beatsworkingpodcast.com

-LinkedIn: @Beats Working Podcast

-Instagram: @beatsworkingpodcast

-Facebook: @Beats Working

-YouTube: @beatsworkingpodcast

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Beats Working is a platform on a mission to redeem work—the word, the place, and the way. We believe that work is the most honorable act in the universe, and through inspiring stories and practical insights, we want to transform the way people think about work and help them discover greater fulfillment in their lives. We invite you to join us as we build community through sharing and actively demonstrating what we learn.