100. Miguel Gandelman: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Musical Director Interview - How It Was Built

Episode 100: Miguel Gandelman.

This man is the Musical Director behind Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, one of the biggest and most complex live television performances in the world. Miguel Gandelman aka "Miga" is a Berklee graduate and longtime force in live TV and touring. He has worked with some of the biggest artists on the planet including Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Usher, Shakira, Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, Jonat Brothers, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Babyface, John Mayer, Aretha Franklin, served as Music Director for The Masked Singer, and was a member of The Tonight Show Band with Rickey Minor.

In this episode, he breaks down how the Super Bowl Halftime Show was built from the ground up in just one month. From getting the call to stepping onto the biggest stage in entertainment, we talk about how you prepare a 15 minute performance seen by over 100 million people. What goes into building a show at that level? What does music direction actually mean on a production of this scale?

We discuss arranging for stadiums, working with an artist who had never used a musical director before, leading world class musicians, handling live TV pressure, and translating an artist’s vision into a global moment.

We also dive into his journey from growing up in a musical family in Brazil to becoming one of the most trusted Musical Directors in the industry, and the mindset required to operate at the highest level of live performance.

If you have ever wondered how massive live shows and television actually come together, this conversation is a masterclass.

Hope you enjoy my conversation with the great saxophonist, programmer, musical director, and human, Miga.

Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights.

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