As tour production co-ordinator for Aerosmith and Lionel Richie, Los Angeles-based Fiona Marie Booth is used to rubbing shoulders with artists.
The trailblazing Laois woman has just returned to LA after a Christmas break spent with family and is back organising the schedules of the stars.
The former Scoil Chriost Ri student is from Killeen – an area between Mountmellick and Emo.
Fiona Marie is the daughter of Richard (RIP) and Norma Booth and has one brother, Shane, and one sister, Ciara.
She has also worked with Alanis Morissette; Garbage; Neil Young; Willie Nelson; Joe Walsh; Blink-182; The Who; Jane’s Addiction; Megan Thee Stallion and more in the short time she has been in the US.
“Last year, I was involved in talent producing for the Recording Academy’s annual MusiCares Person of the Year gala which takes place the night before the Grammys.
“The event honoured Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy and featured a fantastic line-up of artists including Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crowe, John Legend, Mumford & Sons and Dionne Warwick.
“This year, they will be honouring Bon Jovi which should be good fun as well,” said Fiona Marie.
“My final tour stop with Alanis in 2022 was at the Hollywood Bowl which also featured a line-up including Halsey; OneRepublic; Weezer and Tate McCrae.
“It was always a dream of mine to work a show at the Hollywood Bowl as it’s such an historical and iconic venue.”
One of her career highlights was her final show working with Alanis Morissette last summer. “We were at Fuji rock festival in the mountains of Japan.
“Alanis had finished her set and we packed all of the gear away to go back to Tokyo. Then I got the call that Alanis had agreed to cover a Sinead O’Connor song as part of the Foo Fighters set that night, so I was asked to stay.
“Myself and Alanis sat down in her dressing room and spent time going over the lyrics.
“Next thing, I ended up in a tiny rehearsal room standing next to her as the Foo Fighters circled us blasting ‘Mandinka’ by Sinead O Connor at full volume. That was definitely one of my favourite moments.”
It was an experience she could only dream of as she sat the Leaving Cert at Scoil Chriost Ri, Portlaoise.
However, she was on her way after a successful audition for a bachelor’s degree in performing arts at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick.
“This was the first performing arts programme of its kind in Ireland, and it lined up perfectly with finishing secondary school.
“I think things would have turned out much differently if something like that didn’t open up and I was forced to do something outside of the arts. After my four years there, I went on to do a master’s degree in arts and event production.”
Growing up between Mountmellick and Emo, she was immersed in music. “My dad, Richard, who passed away in December 2019, was a notoriously talented musician and had a huge influence on getting me into music and performance at an early age.
“He would play and sing all day and night from as early as I can remember so my days were always filled with music and songs.
“I am a piano player myself and as a child, he would drive me to and from lessons blasting Neil Young and we would sing together.
“Last year on my birthday, I had a full circle moment when I had the privilege of working with Neil Young as part of a concert at the Greek Theatre in LA.
“It definitely felt like dad was by my side while I watched from the side of stage that night,” said Fiona Marie.
“I had pretty much carved out my own path in the arts and producing events in Ireland. I took any opportunity I could get to stay in that line of work.
“I founded festivals, I produced a lot of cultural and corporate events, worked with some high-profile clients and global brands and built a lot of experience over the years.
“While it was all great work, I always knew I wanted to do bigger things. I knew I wanted to tour and work solely in the music industry, and I was feeling like pursuing a career like this in Ireland was not going to amount to much in the long run.
“I had been back and forth to LA for a number of years visiting friends and I realised pretty quickly just how much opportunity there was there.
“I always had big ideas of moving there and going after what seemed like an out of reach dream to work with some legends in music and after a certain amount of time dreaming about it, I decided to look at my pathway there,” she said.
“Unfortunately, at the same time, my father’s Parkinson’s Disease started progressing quite dramatically, so I did have to put my plans on pause for a while.
“After his passing, I decided to go for it but unfortunately the pandemic hit not long after. In the summer of 2022, after two-and-a-half years in the pandemic, hard work, lots of waiting and being too stubborn to give up on the idea, I left for LA on an O-1 extraordinary ability visa.”
Moving across the world alone, she reflected, is not an easy path.
“I have had my share of struggles and wanting to pack up and come home, especially for the chunks of time when it felt like nothing was happening despite my efforts.
“It definitely takes time to get set up and get comfortable in a place like LA if you’re brand new and on your own.
“But the massive risk has produced a lot of reward. I did as much research as I could and also had some familiarity and sense of the place from visiting.
“Step by step, I have been able to tour and work with so many great artists and so many amazing special people as well as build a great life in LA,” said the Laois woman.
“I started working for Aerosmith last year when an amazing and reputable Irish production manager, named Phay Mac Mahon, offered me the opportunity.
“We met for coffee and during our chat from across the table, he said: ‘Would you be interested in production co-ordinating for Aerosmith?’ I looked back at him and said: ‘One thousand per cent’, and a few months later we were at Rock Lititz for rehearsals ahead of their final farewell tour, with support act Black Crowes,” the Laois woman said.
“As soon as Aerosmith went on a break, I got the call to work for Lionel Richie. I think as soon as you get any foot in the door and prove yourself, one thing just leads to another and it’s also a small world, people get to know you.
“Honestly, a lot of the work comes from people recommending you and I can’t say enough about the mentors and people who have given me opportunities and guidance, especially as I have moved here without any of those connections to begin with,” she said.
“It’s definitely not all glamour, I can promise you that. Most of the time it’s tour buses, venues, hotels, flights, and managing and co-ordinating a multitude of things and people.
“It’s a fast paced and sometimes hectic environment and you’re going on very little sleep so it can be quite stressful at times, depending on the size of the tour.
“But it’s also extremely rewarding and fun getting to put on a rock show every night and hearing thousands of screaming fans, getting to travel and see the world.
“Being a part of musical history in some ways, and my favourite part – getting to meet, live and work with the most special and interesting people and legends in the industry and hearing all of their stories too,” said Fiona Marie.
“When I’m home in LA, I’m usually advancing a tour or the next shows but I also love to go to the beach; spend time with friends; go to concerts and gigs locally and just explore all of the fun things LA has to offer. There’s so much going on and so much to do – if you’re willing to deal with traffic.”
Family and friends have not been over yet. “That’s mostly because I have been touring, but also it’s an 11-hour flight direct from Ireland to LA. I’m hoping I’ll be able to get them out here soon.
“I try to get home as often as I can. I’m lucky in the sense that when a tour or run of shows finishes, I’m not particularly tied to one place so whenever I can get a gap in my schedule I do try to get home and see family.
“It’s also a great place to rest and recover in comparison to the lifestyle in the States so I really look forward to it. I was home over Christmas and with the busy year ahead, it might be next Christmas before I am home again.”
Fiona Marie hopes to continue touring and working with great artists, and to continue to build her life in LA.
“I also have some more personal and creative goals and projects I am working on outside of my career in the music industry.
“I like to see where life takes me and just do what I want to do and not what I think I should be doing, but who knows, I might even end up moving home to Ireland at some point while continuing to travel and tour.”
She hasn’t met any other Laois people in her time in LA but enjoys the vibrancy of the huge Irish community there.
“The Irish are so helpful and supportive of each other here in LA because everyone understands how hard it is to find your feet.
“There’s always Irish events and nights out happening which creates a nice comfortable feeling of home.”
And for those who aspire to follow in her footsteps, what advice would she give?
“There’s so much I would say to any young person but the main thing is to know that no dream is too big. Life is precious.
“Go after it, even if it’s an unconventional path or different to what everyone else is doing. And resilience is key.”
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