Meet Dustin Knock | Technical Director/Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dustin Knock and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dustin, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk used to be a daunting thought to me. It took a long time to break myself from the thought that I had to know everything in order to qualify for things. You never have to know one hundred percent of the answers to take the leap. You do however have to be able to recognize when you have gained enough applicable skills to take those big risks.

I only got the position I’m in today by having faith that I knew enough of the foundation to build larger projects. I also knew what skills my colleagues had and utilized them by collaborating with them to get to a finished work. Before a project, none of us knew how to do it all. By the end of it, the small successes built into something truly great.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Both my art and career go hand in hand. I started as a music business major that took a large interest in music technology. I was developing a very niche set of skills that started off as imitating other people’s ideas in my basement. When I won my job with Colorado Symphony, I started on March 16th, 2020. All those skills were immediately put to use through editing video and audio since we were unable to put on live shows for awhile.

Eventually we were approached to do a live show with Wu Tang Clan at Red Rocks. I took on the daunting task of assembling the media as well as getting the orchestra, 3 DJs, one full movie, and all the members of Wu Tang to sync up.

As fate would have it, we were doing a show with Danny Elfman later that year and the Director of that show happened to be at the Wu Tang show. When he learned about my work behind the scenes of the Wu Tang show, he invited me to join his team for some projects. I was on the road periodically with him after that doing live to film shows all over the world.

Last month an opportunity presented itself and I joined that company as a Technical Director. 3 weeks ago, we premiered Dolly Parton’s orchestra show with the Nashville Symphony. I’ll be going on to continue directing that show as well as several others all over the world.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve lived in Colorado now for 33 years. Until recently, we had never been to Ouray, Colorado. We went out for a wedding over the summer, and it stands to be one of the best places we’ve visited in the state. We stayed at the Western Hotel, that had a spa grotto in the basement. There’s this really amazing trail that goes around the full town called the Parameter Trail. It takes a while to do, but you’ll pass several waterfalls. If you need a food stop, you just hike towards the town and jump back on the path at any point to continue. There are some great food places, bakeries, ice cream shops, art galleries, and more along the main road through Ouray, and everywhere you go there’s great views of the surrounding mountains. We finished out our last day there with the hike, food stops along the main road, and a massage in the Grotto Spa at the hotel.

For some local ideas closer to Denver, we frequent escape rooms in the area such as the Puzzle Effect in Northglenn, and also mini golf at Adventure Golf in Westminster. We also love catching shows at Red Rocks or at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My own wife! We both grew up in Colorado and got married after college. We’ve been though many trials and always know the other will be there when we fall.

My former boss, Izabel, she went the extra mile every time to benefit my career even against her own self interests.

Last, my Mother and Grandparents. My mom was a single mother raising me alongside my grandparents. They took on many burdens to get me where I am.

Instagram: @dustinknock

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-knock-323317162/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dustin.knock

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14677670/