The job is highly demanding, with little room for error, and the pace can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Stress and Pressure Perhaps the most significant downside of being a tour manager is the sheer amount of pressure involved.
Kind of in general if it's a solo artist with hired musicians the artist has a bus of their own that maybe their tour manager and assistant are on, band and crew have a separate bus/buses, but a lot of times the artist will fly ahead anyway. If it's a long drive, like a few days, they may fly home in between.
Tour managers must be excellent multitaskers with terrific time management and organizational skills. Being proactive and making the most of downtime (e.g., while traveling between tour stops) is extremely important to staying on top of work.
A large portion of the day will be spent in the production office dealing with whatever needs attention. This could include advancing shows, organizing guest requests, creating credentials, other ticketing issues, reviewing pre-settlements, tour accounting, reviewing menus, coordinating promo, the list goes on.
Disadvantages: Long Hours and Workloads: Tour managers often work long and irregular hours. They are responsible for overseeing every aspect of the tour, from planning and logistics to problem-solving and troubleshooting. This can result in extended workdays and periods of high stress.
A large portion of the day will be spent in the production office dealing with whatever needs attention. This could include advancing shows, organizing guest requests, creating credentials, other ticketing issues, reviewing pre-settlements, tour accounting, reviewing menus, coordinating promo, the list goes on.
Tour managers are involved in budgeting, scheduling, transportation, accommodations, dealing with vendors, and sometimes even managing the artist's personal needs. They are the main point of contact for venues, promoters, and production crews, coordinating everything from soundchecks to after-show wrap-ups.
It's worth noting that tour managers often double as personal managers. This means that they not only oversee the logistics of the tour but also manage all aspects of an artist's life. They are responsible for not only ensuring a smooth-running tour but also ensuring the artist's happiness and well-being.
Indeed, a touring agreement limits the services performed by the agent to the touring of homes, and any broker service above that would require compensation. But that analysis relies on the presupposition that all buyers appreciate the multiple different stages in the home buying process.
Road managers can be confused with tour managers. Generally speaking, though, tour managers work with upper-mid to large scale tours and are often granted a much greater degree of authority in tour operations.