Tour Management

[iamchristuffin]

Hi all,

 

So, I've never been 100% sure about what area of this industry I want to go into when I leave Uni, and at work I was talking to someone about this, and they suggested Tour Management. I've got to be honest and say I don't have much of a clue what Tour Managers do, short of managing a tour!

I know it's basically impossible to get Work Experience on a tour, so I'm not trying to do that! What I'm after, really, is replies from people who have experience of tour management, no matter whether it's a small regional tour, or U2's 360 tour. I'm looking for responsibilities you had in your job, skills you think are necessary, pro's and con's of the job, and so on.

 

A PM is fine, in fact I would almost prefer it, as some people might be more honest if it's private.

 

Thank you very much in advance.

 

Happy New Year!

 

Chris

[scjb]

pm sent.

[kitty15]

Hello Friends.........

 

Responsibilty of tour manager

 

1The tour manager will be given the itinerary for the proposed tour by the booking agent. Working from this itinerary the tour manager will engage in following six activities: accounting, budgeting, advancing,

Advancing

Advancing is the process of contacting each promoter and venue to ensure the entire artist's technical and hospitality demands will be met and to resolve any problems the promoter or venue can foresee. During the advancing process the tour manager will check contact names and addresses, arrival times, equipment load-in times, sound check and performance times, any supporting/opening acts and live music curfews. This information will be collated in a 'tour book' which will be issued to all the travelling band and crew.

 

 

Accounting

Responsible for all touring financial matters which include submitting payroll for all tour staff, budgeting, road cash, per diems, bus drive float(hotel,fuel), and so on. Also weekly reports are submitted to the business manager.

 

Moderation: Thanks for this, but we don't usually just copy chunks from a wiki - if info is already available on the net, just post a link?

[Ynot]

To be honest, any job with the word 'Manager' in the title (in the real world, anyway) is something to aspire to once you've gone through the lower echelons of the area you're looking at.

 

Some skills will be transferable from one discipline to another, but others would really need to be learned on the job on the way up.

 

Are there tour/stage/production managers etc who've NOT gone that way? I'm sure there are, BUT those who are successful and have the respect of their teams are unlikely to be among their number!

 

So my advice is pick a general area you'd like to work in (it's foolish to specialise and restrict yourself too early) and start from the bottom and work the way up the ladder.

[paulears]

As ynot says, the only way you can be an effective manager is to already know what all the people you will be managing actually do (and can do). The least effective managers are those who don't understand the skill areas they are looking after. How can you decide if an explanation is accurate if you don't know.

 

How much will it cost?

How long will it take?

How many people will it need?

 

If you don't know - you'll get skinned alive!

 

In fact - most managers need to be multi-skilled. A lighting background is fine, as long as you know at least the basics of the other areas. Most Production Managers have been through many departments - maybe not specialising, but at least they know how things work!

 

Tour managing is very different from static production management - quite a different skill set, and again it changes if its theatre touring, or music touring.

[stagemanagement]

1. Don't choose the unknown over the known to save money.

 

2. Develop your "is that a joke?"" face.

 

3. Never leave without the cheque/cash.

[TomWeston]

I like to see a "Manager" as a "Facilitator" , you make things happen, and to make things happen you kneed to know why and how they happen.

 

Obviosly this is the reason you are at uni to learn this, But nothing beats experience hey ? ;)

[Ynot]

I like to see a "Manager" as a "Facilitator" , you make things happen, and to make things happen you kneed to know why and how they happen.

 

Obviosly this is the reason you are at uni to learn this, But nothing beats experience hey ? ;)

Sorry, but university will NOT produce people capable of being effective and efficient managers in any discipline. There is NO substitute for working in the business as anything from a cable jockey upwards to give a grounding in the necessary work experience.

[TomWeston]

But nothing beats experience hey ?

 

Please read properly before quoting !!

[kerry davies]

Ynot and Paul are right but your initial question is far too broad to be answered with accuracy. The scale of touring is so wide ranging that TM duties can go from driving the band in a Transit crewbus to just one element being a separate company booking container shipping for U2. For instance a lot of stand-ups on tour have a "crew" of one driving a people-carrier, operating or supervising the tech, checking and banking receipts and sorting the accommodation. Little things like locating the launderette and the turns favourite Ginsters can be as vital as any other element.

Basically it starts with the money and runs through to ensuring the band doesn't run out of underpants or locating a pre-1977 Stratocaster within two hours at night in a strange town. Can't be taught.

 

Every single answer you get could be 100% accurate and every one completely different but a good TM is a jack-of-all-trades and a master-of-several. People skills, all-round knowledge of what is and is not technically possible, ability to make on-the-spot decisions based on knowledge, knowing when to compromise, evaluating "expert" advice and taking responsibility for all this is just a part of it.

 

As far as pros and cons go that depends on whether or not you need a life, home, relationship (fill in the blanks) of your own. Oh, and you can never, ever, under any circumstances have a day off sick .... though hospitalisation might be an acceptable excuse .... sometimes.

[Smiffy]

Once you leave Uni, try and get yourself a position as an assistant to a Tour Manager, or a Production Assistant at a Festival, or an Assistant job with someone who does what you want to do.

 

Keep at that for about 10 to 15 years, and if you're lucky, you'll be able to climb the ranks to the hallowed status of PM.

 

That said, all the PM's and TM's that I know of, have at some point in their long and storied careers been lampies, LD's, Monitor Engineers, FOH Engineers, SM's, DSM's, Wardrobe staff, catering staff, Merchandisers, and so on. If not one or two then all of those trades. They usually make the best bosses too, although they are generally harder to BS your way around to get your own way.

 

Everything mentioned thus far by all of the contributors makes sound sense to me.

 

Cheers

 

Smiffy

[scjb]

Ok, seeing as this thread has been raised from the dead..!

 

Back in January I pointed the OP in the direction of the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, where there was a tour management diploma course offered. I'm not sure how Chris got on, but I would have no hesitation recommending the course to others, from knowing the tutor (who has excellent credentials in the industry) and also having seen some of the students who have come along to tours I've been working and who have presented themselves very well.

[Ynot]

Y' know, I'd missed the fact that it was an old topic!!

:** laughs out loud **: