Live Chainstitch Embroidery with The Lumineers at Citizens Bank Park

I have a soft spot for live music, so when the opportunity came along to embroider for The Lumineers' Automatic World Tour stop in Philadelphia, I was excited. The fact that the show was at Citizens Bank Park, home of my beloved Phillies, made it even better!

I spent the evening perched in the Diamond Club, which had been transformed into a beautiful VIP lounge for concertgoers. My job was to personalize Lumineers-branded fanny packs with live chainstitch embroidery before guests headed out to enjoy the show.

It was a pretty wonderful way to spend an evening at the ballpark!

A VIP Concert Experience with a Vintage Twist

The Lumineers' tour team had transformed the Diamond Club into a vintage airport lounge, complete with travel-themed decorations, board games, photo opportunities, and beloved song titles displayed throughout the space.

The attention to detail was incredible, and the atmosphere was perfectly laid-back. Guests could grab a drink, relax, spend some time with friends, and stop by my embroidery station for a personalized souvenir before the concert began.

For the activation, guests received complimentary Lumineers-branded fanny packs, and I embroidered their chosen customization directly onto the straps.

I thought this was such a clever piece of merchandise to personalize. A fanny pack is already pretty useful at a concert, and adding a little custom embroidery makes it something guests can continue wearing long after the tour has moved on to the next city.

A Little Preparation Behind the Scenes

Concert VIP experiences operate on a pretty specific timeline. Guests have a limited window to enjoy the lounge before heading to their seats, so I wanted to make sure the embroidery process was easy to navigate.

Ahead of the event, I prepared a custom embroidery menu, order forms, and a selection of thread colors for guests to choose from. This helped streamline the ordering process and gave everyone a clear idea of their options.

I also had an assistant working alongside me to help manage the line, answer questions, and explain the embroidery process while I focused on stitching.

Having that extra support made a big difference! Guests could make their selections, place their orders, and get back to enjoying the VIP experience without having to spend too much time figuring out how everything worked.

These are the kinds of details I really enjoy working through when planning a live embroidery activation. There's a balance between giving guests enough creative freedom to make something personal and keeping the process manageable within the event's schedule.

And in this case, everything came together beautifully. The guests were lovely, the atmosphere was relaxed, and I was able to spend the evening doing what I love.

Personalized Concert Merchandise, Made on the Spot

One of the reasons I enjoy live chainstitch embroidery so much is that the process itself becomes part of the entertainment.

Unlike traditional machine embroidery, chainstitch embroidery is guided by hand. I move the fabric beneath the needle to create each letter or design, and guests can watch their personalization take shape in real time.

For an event like The Lumineers' VIP experience, it's a fun way to give concertgoers something they wouldn't ordinarily find at the merchandise stand.

Rather than everyone receiving an identical piece of branded merchandise, guests get to make theirs a little different.

It's also a great example of how live embroidery can be incorporated into an existing event without becoming the entire focus of the evening. The tour team had already created a beautiful VIP environment, and the embroidery was another thoughtful detail for guests to enjoy.

A Very Special Philadelphia Music Moment

I have to tell you about my favorite part of the night.

The Lumineers had Philadelphia's own Dr. Dog opening for them!

Dr. Dog is one of my absolute favorite bands, and they happen to hail from my neighborhood of Fairmount, Philadelphia. So I was thrilled to discover that I'd be working at the same show.

While I was setting up my embroidery station, I got to listen to their sound check and hear their set list before the official performance. And the timing worked out in my favor. My embroidery shift ended before The Lumineers took the stage, which meant I was able to catch the final song of Dr. Dog's set, complete with Stage Milk. I couldn't have planned it better myself.

I love when my embroidery work overlaps with other things I'm passionate about, and getting to hear one of my favorite hometown bands while working an event at Citizens Bank Park was definitely a highlight.

Working with The Lumineers' Tour Team

I also want to give a little love to the people behind the scenes.

The Lumineers' tour team was genuinely wonderful to work with. They clearly have a great respect for artists and the creative work that goes into their events, and that appreciation was evident throughout the experience.

My main contact for the event made me feel incredibly welcomed and cared for, which is something I never take for granted when arriving at a new venue with my embroidery machine and equipment in tow.

And in a funny little Philadelphia coincidence, she turned out to be a fellow Fairmount neighbor!

We bonded over our shared neighborhood and all things Philly, which made the experience feel even more personal.

I'm so grateful to the team for inviting me to be part of the Automatic World Tour's Philadelphia stop. It was a pleasure to work with people who put so much thought into creating a memorable experience for their guests.

Live Chainstitch Embroidery for Concerts, Tours & VIP Events

This event was a great example of how live embroidery can add something special to concert hospitality and entertainment experiences.

Whether it's personalized tour merchandise, a VIP gift, or a custom design inspired by the artist, there are so many opportunities to make the embroidery feel connected to the event.

I work with event planners, brands, and production teams to develop customization options, select appropriate merchandise, and plan the logistics of on-site embroidery. Depending on the size of the event, I can also coordinate additional chainstitch artists and assistants to accommodate larger groups.

I'm based in Philadelphia but available to travel for concerts, festivals, corporate events, and brand activations.

A huge thank you to The Lumineers and their tour team for such a memorable evening. Between the beautiful VIP setup, the wonderful people, and a little unexpected Dr. Dog performance, this one will be hard to top!

You can check out my Instagram recap for a peek at the experience.

Planning a concert VIP experience, music festival, or entertainment activation? I'd love to help you create personalized merchandise that your guests will be excited to take home.

Get in touch to book live chainstitch embroidery for your next event!