Question:

Describe one day on the road...

Answer:

A tour manager out on the road has a plethora of daily responsibilities, which change day to day.

Here is a break down of what I handle on any given day:

I’m always the first one awake. I have to make sure my bus driver knows what hotel he’s going to for the day, make sure he gets to the hotel which means I either call him a taxi or send him with the runner for that day. I also have to make sure he knows what time bus call is that night so he knows what time he has to be back to the bus after the show.

After the driver is taken care of, I’ll usually take a little time to answer emails and handle a number of tour manager related items, such as entering receipts into my road report, advancing future shows with promoters, or advancing hotels for our next day off. That involves making sure the hotel actually has my reservation, me finding out how early we can check in, and making sure they definitely have room to park our bus. That’s really important. I’ll also double check to make sure they have internet, see if they have a pool, restaurant, lounge, hotel shuttle, etc…

After I’ve taken care of a few small follow-ups and advancing issues, I’ll head into the venue to meet with the promoter and stagehands.

I’ll double check with the promoter to find out exactly when the loaders and sound people are showing up. This is information I always advance at least two to three weeks prior to that show, but I always like to double check once I arrive at the venue.

I’ll then go check out the dressing rooms and figure out which room to place my band and the opening bands in. I’ll also find out where my production office is located.

Then I’ll head back to the bus to gather my computer, printer, production case, etc…and bring everything into the production office. While I’m still at the bus, I’ll make sure my crew guys are starting to wake up to get ready for load in. Then I’ll make sure my stage manager knows who the local stage manager or crew chief is so they can work together to make the show run as smooth as possible.

From there, I go sit in my production office for the rest of the day. While in my office, I print out day sheets to place all around the backstage and stage areas. This is so everyone knows where to be and when. I also print out signs to place on the dressing room doors so everyone knows who belongs where.

During the day I usually work more on advancing shows and hotels. I also spend time each day making sure my road reports are up to date and correct. A tour manager is responsible for every dollar that comes into the band and out, so I check my numbers and money daily.

After the band is done with sound check, they usually have a good amount of press to do at the venue. Occasionally the band needs to leave the venue to go do radio interviews, or in-store signings, etc… If this is ever the case it’s usually the responsibility of the radio station or record store to provide transportation, which helps me a lot.

It’s my responsibility to organize all interviews each day. I meet the press and bring them to the band. Then I make sure the press leaves the venue so they’re not just hanging around.

That brings us to show time. I make sure my crew guys are doing everything they need to make the show possible. Then I make sure the band is getting ready to perform. If they need anything special before they go on I’ll take care of it. Whether that would be a stick of gum, a cup of tea, a shot of whiskey, their disgusting stage clothes from the bus, whatever.

Then I’ll walk the band to the stage and let them do their thing.

I always watch the show from the side of the stage. Some tour managers like to use this time to go settle payment with the promoter. I like to watch the show mostly just to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. Also to make sure the crowd and the security guards are behaving themselves. From time to time you’ll witness an audience member being mishandled by security, or vise versa. Normally it’s security being a bunch of meatheads and throwing kids around for no reason. I’ll either step in if needed or I’ll make sure the band doesn’t pay for that specific security guy at the end of the night.

Once the band is finished, I grab my binder full of contracts & deal memos for each show and go meet the promoter to settle. Settle means to collect the bands guarantee and any bonus monies due to us if the show did well.

This task can either be really fast and easy or slow and painful. It just depends on the promoter, the venue, and the deal we have. I’ve been in the promoters office for almost 3 hours just going back & forth about receipts that weren’t there, or what items were not provided but I’m trying to get charged for, etc… I’ve also gone into an office and walked away 5 minutes later. That’s what I like.

Once I’m done settling I head back to my production office, fill out and complete my settlement sheet that I have to send to the booking agent and manager each night, pack up my stuff, and head to the bus. I’ll also check on the progress of my crew to make sure they’re packing up and getting the trailer loaded in time.

Then I’ll go through my receipts for that day and enter in numbers to my road report then I complete and print out my day sheet for he next day.

Once I’m completely done with my day (even though a tour manager is never officially done) I’ll usually have a drink and just hang out. If we have a late bus call perhaps a few people want to go out for a little bit or we’ll just stay on the bus and hang out. Or we might have an early bus call because we have a long drive. Those are always great nights to get to bed early and catch up on some usually much needed rest.

That’s a day and the life of a tour manager. Of course every tour and tour manager is a little different, but this is what I normally go through on every tour.