Trey Merrill got his start in the entertainment world by working for "No Cover (Gulf Coast Music Magazine)" as a reporter and photographer and eventually becoming an associate Editor and National Sales Director (1986). Shortly after this stint, he started touring with the gauntlet of Louisiana musical acts including "Nora Wixted", "Timothea", "Troy Turner & Third Gear", "The Topcats", "Rockin' Dopsie, Jr" and others.He earned a Degree in Music Business & Video Production from the Art Institute of Seattle (1993), after studying Drama & Communications at both LSU and UNO.Upon graduation from the Art Institute, Merrill held stage manager and special forces positions for numerous music festivals including Seattle's Bumbershoot Music Festival and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.While working for The Firehouse & Direct Box Rehearsal Hall (New Orleans soundstage owned by producer Kent Birkle and Harold Brown of 'WAR'), Merrill engineered such acts as Jimmy Buffett, The Goo Goo Dolls, The Meters, Harry Connick Jr, Cindy Lauper, etc.A panalist for a number of music business conferances, He spoke on "Getting The Attention Of The Music Media" and was a Stage Manager of "Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville" during the Cutting Edge Music Business Conference (New Orleans 1994-95).Merrill was voted into IATSE Local 39 (Stagehands) in January 1995 and became a member of IATSE Local 478 (Movie Mechanics) in the winter of 2005. He has held such diverse production positions including production & stage management, high steel rigger, guitar & drum tech, set carpenter and stagehand for such notable artists as The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, Pink Floyd, Lollapalooza, Ricky Martin as many others.Besides producing the debut CD and then managing well-known college rock act "Benjy Davis Project", Trey is also the production manager for Andrew Gold's "Byrds Of A Feather" project. He also works with several other local acts including "The Terms" and "Addavoy".His video production work for The Tricou House (711 Bourbon Street) is what eventually led to the establishment of his own production company, Gator Bait Productions and the interest of persuing the film side of the business.An offshoot of Gator Bait Productions, "Trey Merrill Presents" promotes and produces concerts throughout Louisiana. He has moved into Music Supervision due to the expansion of the movie industry into Louisiana and collects rock and roll memorabilia. His wife is film producer Milena Rimassa-Merrill and they have 3 grown daughters. They currently live in Mandeville, LA.
