Concert tour managers have decades of experience. Get a second opinion from them before you confirm the tour or festival performance.
- Tour Management Is Not Just a Job On-The-Road
- An Example: the Festival in Europe
- The Logistics According to the Concert Tour Manager
- A Second Opinion Is Always Good
- I’m a concert tour manager – I can help!
Tour Management Is Not Just a Job On-The-Road
Concert tour management is not driving or just going on-the-road with your artist. Concert tour managers have years, sometimes decades, of experience. You can call on this experience, and the resulting expertise, long before the tour starts, or the festival takes place. Ask a tour manager to cast an experienced eye over offers from promoters before you confirm. Their comments could save you a lot of money.
An Example: the Festival in Europe
As an example, say your booking agent sends you an offer for your artist to perform at a festival somewhere in mainland Europe. It looks good on paper. The fee, in euros, is low four figures with accommodation and backline as part of the deal. Getting to the festival should be easy, as the location is near an airport served by low-budget airlines. Your immediate reaction will probably be, “Okay, great, the artist can just fly out there, do the festival, and fly home. All I’ve got to do is pay wages, and per diems. There will be profit.”
The Logistics According to the Concert Tour Manager
On the other hand, an experienced concert tour manager would look at the offer, and immediately think through the logistics and the cost implications.
Okay, first, I’ve got to get everybody to a UK airport. I’m anticipating using at least two Ubers, or other taxis for four or more people, plus personal luggage, plus equipment (even if it’s ‘just’ some guitars and pedal boards that need to accompany the musicians). I’m more likely looking at some kind of minibus or splitter van. And if I hire a splitter, I will have to hire a driver as well, because I can’t drop the passengers and park the splitter at the airport until we all fly back. (Well, I can, and it will cost money for airport parking). So I’m probably looking at £200 to £300 just to provide a solution for getting to a UK airport. And that’s just getting there. Never mind getting back again after the festival.
You might know all of this. But would you know before confirming? Would you recall the painful memories of transporting a music artist to an airport only after the deal has been done? Would you be too busy to dig into the logistics and costs before confirming?
A Second Opinion Is Always Good
Getting a tour manager to have a look at the deal is good practice. Even if you are good at logistics, a second opinion is always good. Asking a tour manager to knock up a quick budget could highlight some serious expenses that could turn a lucrative festival offer into debt for the artist.
I’m a concert tour manager – I can help!
I would love to assist you with tour budgeting or logistics. Please drop me a line here.