While hanging backstage during a stop on Lupe Fiasco’s recent world tour, 2003 Show Production graduate Richard Herrera is explaining to us how he landed his role as the Grammy-winning artist’s production manager and front of house engineer. It’s a partnership that began four years ago, and the story is a reminder of how important timing can be in the entertainment industry.

After running audio at legendary L.A. rock venues like the Glass House and Key Club, Richard had taken a position as entertainment technician with a popular cruise line, handling the live audio on board one of their signature ships. Each week they would come back to port to switch out passengers, giving the staff a few hours to run errands in town. One day during this break, just minutes before he was supposed to set sail again, Richard got a call from a friend about an opening on Lupe Fiasco’s tour.

“I was out buying groceries and about to catch the last bus back to the ship when I got offered the gig as front of house engineer,” he says. “My first show was going to be in Cincinnati in a couple days, followed by a set at Lollapalooza, then two sold out nights at Madison Square Garden. It was unbelievable, but I only had 15 minutes to tell my boss I was leaving and grab all my stuff before the ship left. So I threw everything I had in a bag, ran down the ramp, and it took off.”

Like a scene from a movie, Richard was left standing on the dock with his bags at his feet while the cruise ship sailed into the distance, but it didn’t take long for the reality of the situation to sink in. He quickly called a cab, booked a flight on the way to the airport, and flew off to Los Angeles to prep for the tour. A week later he was mixing the audio for Lupe Fiasco at some of the biggest shows of the artists’ career.

“I wasn’t really nervous because I’d worked with so many bands while I was in L.A., and was pretty much ready for anything,” he says. “After I did Madison Square Garden they were just blown away, they told me it sounded better than any shows they’d ever done. After that I started to build a great relationship with Lupe, and I’ve done every show he’s played since 2008.”

That trust would eventually see Richard be offered role of Lupe’s production manager, putting him in charge of coordinating nearly every aspect of his tours, from the catering to the ground transportation. In addition, he’s also had input on the look of the show, and still takes the time to run front of house for each date. The success of their collaboration is evident in the tight marriage of music and visuals, and watching the set you’re struck by how directly the songs connect with an audience as a result.

“Lupe’s brilliant, and we spent a lot of time thinking about the setup of this show,” Richard says. “Even now, I still get affected because the presentation is so dynamic. It goes from hitting some really emotional moments and then just turns into this big party. When the sound is really dialed in and the whole crowd is feeling it I’ll get goose bumps. That’s still the thing I love most, when you hear the roar of 20,000 people going nuts as this music changes the vibe of the room.”

It’s funny to think how different the last four years would have been for Richard if hadn’t followed his instincts and made it off that cruise ship in time. Seeing how naturally he carries himself while coordinating the setup of the stage, then running the audio console during the show, this world just fits him. And not just from a professional standpoint, as the friendships he’s formed with both the crew and Lupe have added something to the experience beyond the excitement of touring.

“We’re all just family here, and that’s so important when you’re out on the road for so long,” he says. “Here’s one example – we’re headed to Europe next week for some shows, my girlfriend lives in England, and I’m actually going to propose to her after we finish. The funny thing is, Lupe’s holding my engagement ring in his pocket right now. He knows I lose things all the time, so he was like ‘give it to me, I’ll let you have it back when we go to the airport.’ That’s an awesome feeling.”