JUSTINE ‘JT’ THOMSON WHO ARE YOU? Justine – but most people know me as JT. WHAT DO YOU DO? I am a Tour Manager and run my own business providing Tour & Event Production services. I tend to spend a lot of time in dark rooms or muddy fields getting bands on and off stage, making sure their shows run smoothly and that nobody dies or gets lost. WHY DO YOU DO IT? There’s nothing better than watching a show you have worked on and think “We’ve nailed it!”. It’s a scary process at times but can be incredibly rewarding especially when you have a great team around you. I love the family feeling you get on tour and it’s great fun travelling the world
with people who you may not have ever met had it not been for music. I also get lots of free hummus and pitta bread, what’s not to love?! WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW? I started working with a young artist called SODY last year and we are doing a small schools tour in February so I’m currently working on that. Ahead of that, I am heading on the road assisting with The Japanese House tour in Europe and am also in the planning stages for a couple of tours & events in the spring. On a personal level I am helping arrange a press exhibition match for an LGBT football group in Brighton which I help run when I’m not away on tour – I hate not being busy! 26
“IT’S A SCARY PROCESS AT TIMES BUT CAN BE INCREDIBLY REWARDING ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM AROUND YOU” WHAT’S THE HOT TOPIC? I think all this stuff surrounding R Kelly is causing huge waves, it’s further exposure of a society where people think it’s okay to take advantage of their position of power. I’m glad that things are slowly starting to change and people aren’t afraid to make noise about it and create a united front within the industry to show it won’t be tolerated.
