Isabelle Talledo, a Kennesaw, GA Native, Participated in This Summer's Happy Together Tour

2017 Aug 28

A group of Belmont students hit the road this summer for the ultimate musical experience. Joining their professor, musical legend and co-founding member of The Turtles Mark Volman, Isabelle Talledo, from Kennesaw, GA, and nine other students experienced life on the road during the East Coast, 15-show run of the Happy Together Tour. Created as a summer course, these students spent time in their "classroom" for nearly three weeks-a tour bus, hotel rooms, stages and countless green rooms. Starting in Biloxi, Mississippi, the group followed the tour through Florida and back up to Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania before ending in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.

Under the guidance of Volman, assistant professor of entertainment industry studies and staff adviser Lucas Boto, students worked with touring artists and crew professionals in tour management, stage management, audio engineering, tour accounting and merchandise sales. Additionally, students received hands-on experience each day as they participated in load-in, setup, tear-down and load-out. These hands-on educational avenues outside of the classroom provided networking opportunities with some of the industry's finest while allowing students to gain an understanding of the revenue flow from music consumer to touring performer.

"The Happy Together Tour class gives students a chance to experience life on the road and see principles taught in the classroom put into action," Boto said. "Without touring experience, it can be difficult to secure a job on the road, but this allows those interested in this line of work to try it. Touring long term is a lifestyle commitment, and that's hard to convey without experiencing it. Getting to hear stories and learn from legendary '60s artists like Mark Volman is icing on the cake."

Junior audio engineering major and tour participant Kaitlin Barnett has been interested in a career in the music industry since she was kid and the opportunity to hop on the Happy Together Tour was a dream she's had for years. "Before even coming to Belmont, I had my sights set on this tour, because I thought it would be the perfect way to know if the road life was really for me," she said. "I was ready to give up my summer in a heartbeat for this amazing opportunity."

The 2017 Happy Together Tour is named for The Turtles's 1967 chart-topping single. It unites several pop/rock artists of the '60s on stage, starring The Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie, The Association, Chuck Negron (formerly of Three Dog Night), The Box Tops, The Cowsills and The Archies starring Ron Dante.