Case Study

Andrew McMahon's 10 year creative collaboration with live experience director Jon Morris

A decade-long creative partnership between Andrew McMahon and creative director Jon Morris transforming fan engagement with creative direction, live show design & direction, music video creation, social strategy, tv appearances, merchandising, and brand strategy...

10+

Years as Creative Partner

4

Album Cycles Designed

9+

Live Shows Designed & Directed

1.3B+

Artist Total Streams

"Since you've been working with Andrew his shows sell out AND fans are way more engaged. The amazing wow moments you create have changed the way fans experience his shows. And the crowd surfing duck? LEGEND!"

Josh Humiston — Partner, APA & Andrew's Booking Agent

Band performing on stage with colorful flowers, piano, drums, and green lit backdrop with logo. Jon Morris Live Show Design for Andrew McMahon Band performing on stage with colorful lights, a piano, drums, and a tent set as stage props. Jon Morris Live Show Design for Andrew McMahon Musician with a colorful cape performs on stage facing a cheering concert crowd in a theater for Jon Morris Live Show Design for Andrew McMahonFive musicians perform on stage with a sticker-covered piano decorated with flowers.Crowd at a concert holding a large blue cloth under blue stage lights with band performing. Jon Morris Live Show Design for Andrew McMahon Andrew McMahon Crowd surfing kneeling on a large red inflatable sun surrounded by a crowd holding glowing flower lights. Jon Morris Live Show Design for Andrew McMahon Silhouetted musician at keyboard on stage with blue lights and astronaut helmet projection in background. Jon Morris Live Show Design for Andrew McMahon Band performing on stage with red neon lights and large backdrop of hands covering a face. Jon Morris Live Show Design for Andrew McMahon Man playing guitar and singing beside grand piano in a cozy, wood-paneled room with vintage decor. Jon Morris Live Show Design for Andrew McMahon Jon Morris Live Show Design for Andrew McMahon Crowd at concert holding a large yellow inflatable duck with a performer inside it on stage.Andrew McMahon & Tyler Gilstrap in space helmets, one serious and one screaming with glasses visible through helmets.Group of women at a celebration with balloons, gifts, a large inflatable lipstick, and a small dog. Music Video for Andrew McMahon Andrew McMahon with platinum hair singing on stage holding a microphone with audience lights in the background. Jon Morris Live Show Design for Andrew McMahon Andrew McMahon in pink shirt sitting on floor beside large colorful paper flowers in a studio setting. Jon Morris Live Show Design for Andrew McMahon Andrew McMahon & Allen Stone singing together passionately on stage at a piano with microphones in a dark setting. Jon Morris Live Show Design for Andrew McMahon

Signature Moments

Signature Moments

The Crowd-Surfing Duck

An inflatable duck that Andrew rides into the audience. Started as a tour concept, became a fan-favorite ritual, and evolved into a symbol of the show's joyful unpredictability, what will Andrew surf tonight? A Llama? A Sun? Flamingo?

Detonating Confetti Balloons

Debuted at Coachella 2015 and became a signature. Oversized balloons distributed to audience members who pop them in unison, showering the crowd in confetti.

The Inflatables

Wacky waving inflatable characters given distinct personalities. Debuted on tour with Weezer, became recurring cast members, and eventually fell in love with each other and had a baby in a music video.

Gym-Class Parachutes

Full-size parachutes pulled over the entire audience during key emotional peaks. A physically immersive moment that bonds strangers in shared vulnerability and wonder.

Music Videos

Co-created the Fire Escape and So Close music videos, extending the live show's visual language into filmed content. Jon brings a wacky playful esthetic to everything and these music videos really showcase his philosophy of life and design, "fun makes everything and everyone better."

Brand, Merch & Album Art

show designs and direction across each album cycle would influence brand identity, merchandise design, album art and release strategy. Jon's thinking of the whole picture of how to develop and engage an audience from the stage to socials.

TV Appearances

Creative design and direction on high-profile television performances including the Today Show. Jon's extensive experience on and behind the camera allow him to fluidly design for stage and screen applying a consistent through-line across media channels.

Jack's Mannequin Reunion

When Andrew reunited Jack's Mannequin, Jon consulted on the tour production bringing the band's Iconic symbol to life as a larger than life lightup stage sculpture.

World First Music Video Virtual World Fan Experience

Fans from all over the world gather live in a custom designed "Camp Wilderness" virtual world for a music video release and live Q&A fundraiser for Dear Jack. A world first live Q&A in a custom artist world in Jon's tech platform, NOWHERE.io

‍

"Jon and I thought it would be hysterical to make these inflatables come to life and have personalities. It started out as a tour concept and we brought it out on the road with Weezer. When the video idea came we were like, why don't we just make them fall in love with each other and have a baby."

Andrew McMahon — Life of Dad Interview

Timeline

The Arc of the Collaboration

2015

Coachella. Andrew reaches out through mutual friends. Jon designs the production. The detonating confetti balloons debut. The partnership is born.

2015-16

First National Tours & Weezer Arenas. The inflatables arrive. The crowd-surfing duck begins! Today Show appearances for Cecilia And The Satellite

2017

Zombies on Broadway Album Cycle. Full creative direction. Fire Escape music video co-created.

2018

Pen and Piano / Upside Down Flowers. Crush Music co-founder Bob McLynn calls it 'the best tour show I've seen in a long while.' So Close music video co-created.

2019-22

TV, Brand & Ongoing Creative Direction. The partnership continues in spite of the pandemic with a first ever live music video virtual world fan experience in NOWHERE.io

2023

Tilt at the Wind No More / Camp Wilderness. Spring and Fall tours designed and directed.

Now

A Decade In, Still Building. They're in talks about a TV show concept, adapting a book to the stage... Ten years, four album cycles, hundreds of shows. The rarest thing in the music industry: a creative director relationship that lasts.

"Challenging the relationship between performer and spectator, Morris' work is equal parts technical, playful, inventive and rich with depth. I cherish our collaborations!"

- Andrew McMahon

The Model

01

Continuity, Not Gigs

One creative partner across album cycles, not a new production company per tour. Someone who knows the DNA of the artist and how to connect to their fans.

02

Accumulated Meaning

The crowd-surfing duck is amazing cause it's a duck, but also becomes legend as it's applied over time in different inflatable form factors; duck, llama, palm tree, flamingo... it becomes legendary because fans have watched it evolve across ten years. "What's he gonna ride this tour!?"

03

One Thread, Everything

Continuity helps build the world of the artist, concert elements become merch, album art becomes the stage, a social post a music video, a joke on the bus inspires the TV appearance — because one person holds the thread.

Instead of a vendor for each tour, Andrew has had the same creative partner for a decade. That's the model Jon can bring to every artist partnership.

Let's Build Something

Jon Morris is available for creative collaborations from album strategy, creative direction, production design, and tour direction for touring artists and their teams.

Get in Touch