Rob Tovar

Bitter Jester Music Festival Judge

Rob Tovar is a Co-Founder of Noteworthy Media Network and Co-Founder of 'The Hangar' film stage. He currently also serves as Director of Operations at 2112, a creative and tech incubator within Fort Knox Studios, Chicago, and has been instrumental in its continued growth. In the last decade Rob has been involved with multi-media sales, operations, and productions. He is also a former U.S. Marine.

He most currently just wrapped an Indie Film called “American Underdog,” on which he provided tech support for MMA fight scenes and got to hang out with Danny Trejo and Veronica Falcon.

“Being able to provide platforms where we can showcase emerging artists within our communities has always been a priority of mine. I love what the Bitter Jester Music Fest does and continues to do! I’m humbled and honored to be a part of it.”

- Rob Tovar

Some of Rob's recent projects have included: Location's Stage Manager for the acclaimed CBS TV series The Redline, NBC's Chicago Fire, and films including ‘Come as you are,’ ‘Chasing the Blues,’ ‘Signature Move,’ ‘The Thing about Harry’ (for Disney's FreeForm channel), and the new hit Showtime network show ‘Work in Progress,’ in which The Hangar Film Stage was chosen for its debut season.

Rob has been a Stage Manager for production show runs and various music videos for various artists and bands, most recently including Chance the Rapper, Smashing Pumpkins, Spite, Non-Point, Welles Band, Dawes Band (for a Honda commercial), Night Ranger, Head in the Heart, Dawes, Chevelle, and Louis the Child.

He also has a diverse background and relationship within the Sporting community (NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB). His most recent accomplishment was as a marketing partner and producer with ‘Elite Amateur Fight League,’ a Mixed Martial Arts competition which is the minor's to MMA sports; an MMA sports league which airs on Marquee Sports Network and nationally on Stadium Sports Network with over 350 million viewers in 2022!

As Co-Founder of Noteworthy Media Network, Rob helped create a new digital streaming platform for music and spoken word that launched in late 2021 (download the Apple Store App here!). He is currently active on the Chicago Little Kids Rock Board of Directors, and on the Advisory Board for Center for Creative Entrepreneurship.

Rob loves to spend his spare time with family and friends. He enjoys exercise, travel, and volunteering at local food pantries. You might catch Rob on some of Chicago’s TV shows including Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Mancow TV, and in the new hit film ‘Chasing the Blues.’

Covid related: Rob is the founder of Sterile-Environments Chicago, a long-lasting EPA approved two-step antimicrobial coating that can last on surfaces (depending on abrasion factors) up to one year. Sterile Environments has been preventing cross-contamination of microbes since 2012.

Rob is beyond excited to continue participating as a judge and Industry Advisor for the Bitter Jester Music Fest, which he first heard about while at another festival in New Orleans in 2021!