Trey Smith, Co-Founder & Chief Integration Officer of The Backline Company and former Managing Partner of its predecessor True South Artist Services, has built his career around a simple idea: gear matters, but people matter more. Known for “making the show the easy part,” he brings a mix of problem-solving, playfulness, and perspective to every tour, festival, and event he touches. Born and raised in New Orleans, Trey found his passion for the music industry in Austin before returning home just after Hurricane Katrina — a moment that shaped his sense of purpose and community. He works with one eye on the past, honoring the forefathers and mothers who built the production industry, and the other on the future, learning from the younger voices shaping it anew. Whether smoothing out production chaos or mentoring the next generation, Trey keeps people at the center, believing the best shows are the ones that make space for real growth.