How To Find A Tour Manager
Finding the right tour manager can feel overwhelming for many bands and artists. A tour manager ensures smooth logistics and represents artist management on the road, crucial for a successful concert tour.
This guide will help you understand their role better and provide actionable steps to hire the best fit for your needs. Keep reading…
Key Takeaways
- Understand the Role: A tour manager handles logistics, budgets, schedules and problem-solving. They ensure smooth operations during tours.
- Determine Touring Needs: Assess your tour dates and venues. Decide on budget and whether you need full-time or freelance help.
- Search for Candidates: Create job posts listing key duties. Use online portals like Bobnet or get referrals from industry contacts.
- Conduct Interviews: Review resumes and interview candidates. Verify references before final selection to ensure fit with the team.
- Use Professional Organisations: Check groups like IATM for qualified managers who meet high standards of competence in tour management.
Understanding the Role of a Tour Manager
Key Responsibilities
A tour manager handles the logistics and finances of a concert tour. They book travel, hotels, and equipment for shows. They solve problems that arise during the tour. Budgeting is key—they manage transactions and payroll.
Keeping the artist comfortable is also part of their job. They oversee everything to ensure smooth operations during gigs and festivals. Documenting activities helps manage team coordination—it’s crucial for keeping everyone on track.
Required Skills
Strong organisation skills are key. A tour manager needs to keep track of many details. They must coordinate schedules, manage bookings, and handle logistics. It’s crucial for sticking to tight timetables.
Leadership is another essential skill. The tour manager guides the crew and makes quick decisions when needed. Clear communication helps them talk with artists, venues, and service providers effectively.
Time management cannot be ignored either. They must ensure everything runs on schedule without delays. Physical fitness also plays a role in keeping up with demanding tasks and constant travel…
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Steps to Hiring a Tour Manager
Determine Your Touring Needs
Assess your tour dates, routing, and venue sizes. Determine where you’ll be playing—local or international venues? This helps in finding the right candidate who knows those areas well.
Set a budget for the position. Decide if you need someone full-time or freelance. Think about whether genre-specific experience matters to you. Make sure they have tour accounting skills if needed…
It’s crucial!
Search for Candidates
Search for candidates by creating a detailed job post. List key responsibilities and required skills. Highlight the need for experience in tour management, sound engineers, and other technical roles.
Post this on online platforms like Bobnet for anonymous listings.
Seek referrals from industry contacts or professional organisations specialising in tour direction. Use online job portals to reach a wider audience – many experienced tour managers look there.
Social media can also be effective; spreading the word might help you find the right person faster.
Conduct Interviews
Review resumes and start the interview process. Begin with preliminary phone or video chats without the artist. Ask questions to evaluate their compatibility and experience.
Verify references before involving the artist in any interviews. Use this step to check for abilities as a tour manager, organisational skills and love of travel. Ensure they fit well with your crew members—after all, life on the road requires harmony!
Make Your Selection
Discuss each candidate with the artist. Talk about their strengths and weaknesses. This will help make an informed choice. Once a decision is made, extend an offer to the chosen tour manager.
Negotiate terms if needed… ensure everyone agrees on tasks and pay. Confirm the agreement in writing to avoid confusion later. Inform other candidates quickly so they aren’t left wondering.
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Sources for Finding Tour Managers
Referrals from Industry Contacts
Get referrals from industry contacts. Talk to other musicians, promoters, or record labels you know. They often have good experiences with tour managers and can recommend someone reliable.
Word-of-mouth referrals lead to better candidates. Many top-notch tour managers get jobs this way. So, don’t hesitate to ask around in the music industry—it’s a small world!
Online Job Portals
Online job platforms like Indeed and Monster offer listings for tour guide jobs. These sites help you find qualified candidates quickly. Bobnet allows for anonymous job listings within the touring community, which can be helpful if you need discretion.
On Airbnb Experiences, guides can showcase tours to attract new clients. Posting jobs on these online sites ensures a wider reach—finding the best fit becomes easier. Job boards also help expand your search beyond your local area, bringing in more talent from across the country or even overseas.
This is great if you’re looking to hire crew in the UK or abroad!
Professional Organisations
The International Association of Tour Managers (IATM) is a great place to start. They have been around for over sixty years and have members worldwide. IATM promotes high standards of competence among tour managers.
Members get access to newsletters, meetings, and a Membership Card. This card can be very useful during your tours. The IATM also provides a directory to help you find qualified tour managers who meet their high standards.
Through this organisation, you can ensure your touring crew has the best support possible.
All in All
Hiring a tour manager can change your band’s journey. They take care of all the details, so you can focus on your music. Use tools like TourReady to find skilled managers quickly. Seek referrals and check online job portals for leads.
Start now, and ensure your next tour is a big success!
Cheers, Josh
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Hello, I’m Josh, and I’ve been honing my graphic design skills for almost 15 years now, catering to the needs of bands and businesses alike. What really fascinates me is the business aspect of the music industry. In addition to my design work, I also happen to play the Hammond organ, and I strive to share my knowledge through helpful articles that I write exclusively for you all!
