ABOUT US
October, 2023 – NASHVILLE, TN
Live Arts & Attractions Inc. Acquires Producers Inc.
Nashville-based talent booking agency, Live Arts & Attractions officially acquired Producers Inc.
Both companies retain independent operations and staff, but will be jointly owned.
Live Arts & Attractions, a Nashville-based talent booking agency founded by Matt Davenport in 2016, has officially acquired Producers Inc. – an agency founded by Craig Hankenson in 1980. A trailblazer in the industry, Hankenson and his unparalleled career were celebrated by colleagues from across the country following the conclusion of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) booking conference in New York City in January.
Determined to see his legacy continue on, Craig approached Matt Davenport, President/CEO of Live Arts & Attractions, Live On Stage, and Matt Davenport Productions, in early 2023 to begin discussions about the acquisition. The process was finalized on 10/1/23 and Davenport officially became the owner of Producers Inc., which is now a Division of Live Arts & Attractions.
Tampa/Nashville Offices
(813) 988-8333 / (615) 581-5233
Link to Live Arts & Attractions, Inc. www.livearts.biz
Producers, Inc. has been serving the entertainment community with excellence since 1980. Our commitment to quality service and steadfast integrity makes Producers, Inc a trusted partner for our clients. We seek to serve the growing demands of the performing arts community with a diverse roster of talented, professional artists. While we maintain a roster of quality artists we also provide a variety of fee price points to accommodate any venue size or budget.
Our vision is to continue to be a leader in the booking agency field by being an exceptional supplier of quality entertainment which enhances our clients’ relationships with their audiences. Our reputation is very important to us and we maintain a premiere presence in the Arts community, now as a Division of Live Arts & Attractions.
Our reputation of distinctive integrity in our field provides you confidence that your experience with Producers, Inc. will be a peerless chapter in your search for talent.
MEET THE TEAM
Craig Hankenson
Founder
[email protected]
Craig Hankenson served on the staff of The San Francisco Opera, Chair of the Voice Department of Auburn University, as Associate Director of The Brevard Music Center, Director of Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Executive Director of Wolf Trap Foundation For The Performing Arts, and as Chair of the Department Of Arts Event Management at the University Of South Florida.
Craig was appointed by Gov. Rockefeller as the New York representative to National Title IV Arts in Education Council, and he served as a member of the National Endowment for the Arts in NY.
In 1980, Craig founded PICASTAR, aka Producers, Incorporated and WatchLive in 2020, a streaming service for venues and artists alike.
Producers, Inc. is now a division of Live Arts & Attractions based in Nashville, TN with offices in Tampa, FL.
Producers, Inc. will continue to have an impact on a new generation of performers, agents, artists, presenters, and service organizations.
Kathy D. Hankenson
Senior Agent
[email protected]
Kathy was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Arlington, VA. Drama was her interest in high school and her degree major from George Mason University. Employed at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, she was one of the first hired by Producers, Inc.
Her experience in the box office and education office at Wolf Trap prepared her for her current role. Kathy is responsible for the company’s social media presence, corporate policy, artist relations, contracts and sales.
As luck would have it, given her career choice, attending concerts is on the top of Kathy’s favorite activities, when not outdoors taking as many pictures of evening sunsets as weather permits (and living in sunny FL, this is possible more often than not).
Kathy ‘KC’ Smith
Agent Contracts
[email protected]
KC Smith, Agent and Contracts.
Oversees Issuing of all contracts between Performing Artists and Presenters, includes tracking of Contracts and Deposits. As agent, KC is responsible for contract negotiations and artist tour management. Her goals: To provide fast and quality service to our clients as well as our top-notch roster of performing artists.
Specialties: Contract negotiation, tour management, artist management, sales, communication, and conference organizing.
Hobbies include travel (cruises) and being a Mom to an adorable pup named Pepper.
Milt Orkin
Senior Agent
[email protected]
Milt Orkin attended a conservatory music program at Carnegie-Mellon University where he obtained a performance degree in trombone with a secondary specialty of Euphonium and Baritone. He also obtained a double-major in administration and management.
Milt worked as a professional musician for many years with River City Brass, The Balcony Big Band, George Gee Swing Orchestra as well as numerous freelance engagements as both a brass player and a vocalist. He was involved in the management and coordination of touring for River City Brass. In 2004, Milt took a position as a full-time agent with Producers, Inc. in Tampa, FL.
Specialties: Contract negotiation, marketing, tour management, artist management, sales, editing, talent identification, conference organizing, grant writing, sponsorship, listening.
Chris LeGrand
Casinos, Fairs & Festivals
[email protected]
Chris LeGrand is a music professional with over 40 years of background in the entertainment industry with a primary focus on sales of live event talent booking, artist management and show production. He is recognized as an industry leader in the tribute artist market with his wide range of skills including tour management and talent development.
Chris has held various roles such as Talent Agent, Artist Manager and Partner at companies such as SMG Entertainment and LaJolla Booking Agency. As a professional producer and performer, he founded “SATISFACTION/The International Rolling Stones Tribute Show” which has a 25-year touring history. Successful spinoff productions he has founded and co- produced include “Satisfaction-The Rolling Stones Symphony” and “Beatles vs. Stones-A Musical Showdown”.
A Texas native, Chris resides in Frisco, TX outside of Dallas with his wife Rebecca of 24 years. His hobbies include his extensive vinyl record collection, a diverse reading library, long distance running and following his favorite Texas sports teams.
Don Smith
Tech Guru
~ IN MEMORIAM ~
Our beloved colleague, Donald Smith, Jr.
06/23/78 – 06/15/23
Don Smith was born in FL and grew up in Lakeland. He started building computers professionally in ’94. He came to work at Producers, Inc. in 2005. He stayed immersed in cybersecurity, data recovery, medical storage, system design, broadcast streaming, teaching, learning, stage and multimedia technologies.
Don was responsible for all things tech at Producers, Inc. Never a computer breakdown, or software glitch that he couldn’t fix. Don spent every opportunity outside work in identifying and educating others on Marfan Syndrome and its related medical disorders.