DG

Project Manager at Sightline Productions • AV / Production + Logistics • Show Operations

I lead teams and run live events without the chaos.

I’m Damien Grimm. I came up through community theatre, touring, museum production, and hotel AV. I now work as a Project Manager with Sightline Productions (HQ in Plymouth, MN), helping teams deliver technical event production with smart planning, clean communication, and confident show-day execution.

  • 15+ years in live production
  • Based just south of Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Project Manager with Sightline Productions

What I bring

Operating priority

Get ownership clear before load-in

Core blend

Theatre timing + touring adaptability + corporate AV systems

Core competencies

Theatre timing + touring adaptability + corporate AV systems

Current focus

Client-facing project leadership for technical production, stage environments, and interactive general sessions

Execution mindset

If the show feels effortless from the audience side, that is success. But the experience behind the curtain matters just as much. Client teams should feel informed, not overwhelmed. Crews should feel prepared, not scrambled. I do the hard prep so that everyone involved — from the stakeholder reviewing the run-of-show to the technician on the floor — can stay focused on delivery instead of damage control. High-stakes environments should feel steady, and working with me should feel like the easiest part of a complicated program.

My story

I learned early that great production is equal parts planning, people, and timing.

Community theatre built my production instincts — tight timing, clean handoffs, and respect for every detail most people never notice until it goes wrong.

Regional audio touring and museum work at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library expanded that foundation. The lesson from those years was simple: protect the audience experience while adapting to real technical constraints in rooms that never behave exactly like rehearsal.

In 2014 I moved to Key West and joined PSAV, where I worked across hotels and conference venues from Event Technology Specialist up through Director of Event Technology. That progression taught me how production looks from the vendor side — the realities of labor calls, gear logistics, and making technical promises you actually have to deliver. After PSAV I joined eventPower, first as a Technology Coordinator and then as a Production Manager. That role changed my perspective entirely. I was no longer just executing — I was sitting alongside clients, shaping their programs, and acting as the client myself when engaging our production partners. I learned what it feels like to be on the other side of the quote, the advance call, and the load-in schedule. That shift from technician to client advocate is what I carry into every project today at Sightline Productions.

When I am not on site, you will probably find me outside — exploring local trails, spending time with family and friends in Indiana, or planning the next adventure. "Adventure is out there" has been the motto for a while now, and it still fits how I approach both the work and everything around it.

Experience timeline

The path from theatre roles to production leadership.

2011-2015

Theatre and live performance roles in Central Illinois

I worked across sound design, house management, and AV support roles, which built a strong base in cueing, crew communication, and audience-first execution.

2013-2014

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum + touring environments

I maintained theatrical systems, operated automated exhibits, and supported archival film conversion projects while still taking on touring and live-event work.

2015-2019

PSAV progression across Indianapolis and Key West

I moved from Event Technology Specialist to Lead Technician, Technical Supervisor, and Director of Event Technology, managing setup, operation, client communication, and technician workflows.

2019-recent

eventPower (former role: Technology Coordinator -> Production Manager)

I stepped in as Technology Coordinator and grew into Production Manager, leading shipping logistics, on-site AV, and production planning across breakout programs and interactive general sessions.

Current

Sightline Productions (Project Manager)

I now support Sightline Productions from Indiana while collaborating with the HQ team in Plymouth, Minnesota. My focus is technical event production, project leadership, and flawless on-site delivery.

What I handle

These are the lanes clients usually bring me in to own, especially when the room has to feel polished and the execution has to feel effortless. It is the same collaboration-first mindset we use at Sightline.

Pre-Production Planning

I build practical prep timelines, technical checklists, and decision checkpoints before load-in.

AV + Technical Coordination

I coordinate AV, playback, room systems, and technical vendors so the show runs the way it was pitched - not just the way it was hoped.

Logistics + Shipping

I plan kit movement, arrival windows, and deployment sequencing so rooms open on time.

Stakeholder Alignment

I keep clients, venue teams, and vendors working from the same version of the plan.

Show-Day Operations

I run cue flow, solve problems in real time, and keep communication steady when pressure rises.

Risk Control

I call out likely failure points early and build practical backups before they are needed.

How I run projects

No fluff. Just the proven workflow I use to keep projects stable from early planning through show close.

01

Align

I lock scope, goals, and ownership with the people who will actually run the show.

02

Architect

I map the run-of-show against technical, labor, and logistics dependencies so conflicts surface early.

03

Rehearse

I run practical rehearsals and handoff checks instead of relying on assumptions.

04

Execute

On show day, I keep the room moving and solve issues without creating new ones.

Project snapshots

A few examples of how I handle real-world production pressure.

Interactive General Session

I cleaned up an overloaded general-session cue stack before doors.

Challenge: Multiple presenters, dense media playback, and transition windows that kept collapsing.

Approach: I regrouped cues by operator lane, tightened rehearsal calls, and clarified ownership for every handoff.

Result: Transitions became cleaner, timing stabilized, and presenters stayed focused on delivery.

Multi-track conference program

I improved room readiness across parallel breakouts.

Challenge: Tight turnover windows and changing room requirements throughout the day.

Approach: I prioritized critical-path rooms first and standardized reset checks for tech teams.

Result: Opens became more predictable and escalations dropped during live transitions.

Client + Vendor Coordination

I simplified decision flow when scope started moving.

Challenge: Expanding scope, conflicting requests, and unclear final approvers.

Approach: I set clear decision checkpoints, documented ownership, and shortened approval loops.

Result: Decisions moved faster and the execution plan stayed intact through show day.

Additional capabilities

Additional support areas clients ask for when projects expand, especially in technical event production and creative stage environments.

Voice support

I provide voice-over support for show opens, announcements, and recorded program elements when events need one clear voice carrying the room.

Drafting context

I build and review technical drawings in Vectorworks Spotlight to improve pre-production alignment and keep creative ideas grounded in production reality.

Travel flexibility

I am based in Indiana, just south of Indianapolis, and I regularly travel for single-city and multi-location event programs.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers before we decide if we are the right fit for each other.

What kind of events do you usually support?

I support conferences and live programs that combine breakout tracks, general sessions, and real technical or logistics complexity.

Can you step into an existing workflow midstream?

Yes. I can drop into an active plan, stabilize key dependencies, and improve coordination without forcing a full restart.

How early should we engage?

Earlier is better, but not required. If we start early, I can usually remove a lot of avoidable show-day risk.

Do you travel for projects?

Yes. I am based just south of Indianapolis, Indiana, and I regularly travel for project work.

Past projects gallery

A horizontal visual strip of past projects (placeholder images for now).

If you want a show day that feels under control, let’s talk.

I help teams structure planning, align stakeholders, and execute with fewer surprises when timing and clarity matter most. If your timeline is tight or your scope is shifting, I can step in quickly and bring the room back to steady.