Being a Tour Manager is a 24/7 job with lots of responsibilities.
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.
In general, road managers handle tour details for their specific band, while tour managers are used to oversee the logistics, finances and communications for tours as a holistic entity.
Some employers may require a bachelor's degree, while others need only a high school diploma or certificate. Most employers prefer a degree in business management, music, communication, marketing, entrepreneurship or a related area.
A tour operator agreement is a contract between a tour agency and a tour operator sets the terms and conditions of their business relationship. The contract includes details about what services will be provided, when, and what the compensation rate will be.
A tour manager, or music manager, travels with performing artists, musicians and musicians on touring journeys that can span several cities and last for months. Their job is to ensure that tours run smoothly by providing administrative, organisation and on-the-ground support to musicians and their crew.
It's easy to forget that managing a tour means going on tour oneself. Just like the musicians and crew members they manage, tour managers spend hours riding in cars, buses, and/or planes, work long days that continue well into the night, and sleep in hotels and motels in unfamiliar cities.
For a young-gun tour manager just starting out on a van tour, the average salary is anywhere between $1000 – $1500 per week. With a few years of touring experience, the average tour manager's salary can range between $2000 – $3000 per week, depending on the organization and responsibilities.
A tour manager (or concert tour manager) is the person who helps to organize the administration for a schedule of appearances of a musical group (band) or artist at a sequence of venues (a concert tour).