What does a Tour Manager do?
Tour managers create day sheets that detail each day's schedule and distribute them to the band and crew. If there are media engagements planned—such as a record store appearance, a radio station visit, or an interview—the tour manager is responsible for making sure everyone is where they need to be. Perhaps most importantly, the tour manager manages the tour's finances, keeping a close eye on the money that comes in and out to ensure everything stays within the budget.
At a Glance
With experience, connections, and a reputation for good work, tour managers can advance to better-paying jobs with more prominent bands and artists, or join the ranks of a record label or concert promotion company.
Tour management is typically freelance work, although the most experienced tour managers may be able to snag in-house positions at record labels. It's vital that aspiring tour managers have proven experience living on the road and managing a creative undertaking.
- Schedule management
- Personnel management
- Budgeting
- Experience touring
- Proactive communication skills
- Problem-solving
- Multitasking and organization
- Leadership
- Networking
Tour managers must be excellent multitaskers with terrific time management and organizational skills. Being proactive and making the most of downtime (e.g., while traveling between tour stops) is extremely important to staying on top of work. The best tour managers are well-prepared for the issues and crises that sometimes arise on tour, and deal with them resourcefully and efficiently. They should also be capable of handling interpersonal conflicts—which occur frequently on tour—with grace.
It's easy to forget that managing a tour means going on tour oneself. Just like the musicians and crew members they manage, tour managers spend hours riding in cars, buses, and/or planes, work long days that continue well into the night, and sleep in hotels and motels in unfamiliar cities.
