Why We Wrote This Guide

Managers are some of the most important individuals within an artist's team. When an artist begins touring, they will often hire someone to help with putting the tour together. A tour manager is this individual. Tour managers provide help to the artist’s tour in many different ways.

This guide is for anyone who wants to learn more about touring managers as well as what to look for in a tour manager, how much do tour managers cost, where do you find tour managers, and famous tour managers within the music industry.

Who This Guide Is For

  • Recording Artists who want to learn about what they should look for in a touring manager.
  • Anyone who wants to learn more about touring managers.

Contents

What is a tour manager?

Taken from our guide, “The Team”, a tour manager or road manager are only necessary when an artist is on tour. The road manager helps manage all aspects of the tour. They make sure everything runs smoothly before, during, and after the show. They also make sure that everyone is paid properly and on time. Tour managers can often double as a personal manager. Similarly to personal managers, tour managers manage all aspects of an artist's life and tour. They are in charge of making sure that everything about the tour runs smoothly, but also that the artist is happy and well.

What are tour manager's tasks?

Donald S. Passman describes in his book, “All You Need to Know About The Music Business”, all of the tasks of a touring manager. The tour manager travels with the artist and the crew during the touring cycle. Passman explains that a tour manager,

1. Helps book the tour with the booking/live agent.
2. Oversees all rehearsals and hires band members.
3. Hires all of the touring crew.
4. Handles transportation; book plane tickets, book tour buses/equipment trucks, etc.
5. Collecting and handling all money on the tour.
6. Working with the artists marketing team to create advertising for the tour.
7. Scheduling day to day activities of the tour.
8. Dealing with cancellations, illness, etc.

Tour managers have to be quick on their feet to fix any problems and make sure everything goes the way it is supposed to.

How much do tour managers cost?

Tour managers can often charge a weekly rate. How much they charge depends on what type of artist they are working with. It also depends on their relationship with the artist. If a tour manager is also an artist’s personal manager, they will often charge more. Sometimes a tour manager can charge $2000 a week, but tour managers working with bigger artists can charge anywhere from $5000 to $10000 a week.

Where do you find a tour manager?

Often artists will use their personal manager as the tour manager. However, there are other ways to find a tour manager. Artists can ask friends or family for advice. Their label may also recommend a tour manager. Artist’s can also ask other artists for recommendations as well as look for a tour manager on social media or the internet.

Who are some of the most well-known touring managers?

Gus Brandt is a famous touring manager. He began his career in Pensacola, Florida. He was a promoter for punk-rock music. He broke into the industry managing artists such as Down by Law and Pennywise. In 1996, he began working with the Foo Fighters. He has been their touring manager since. He has also worked with Eminem, Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, and many other artists.

Marty Hom is also a famous tour manager. He has worked in the industry for 40 years. He was Barbra Streisand’s tour manager for many years. He also worked with Fleetwood Mac, Shakira, Bette Milder, Lionel Richie, The Eagles, Alicia Keys, Shania Twain, and Janet Jackson.

Sources


Author: Isabella Weaver

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