The life of a tour manager may seem exhilarating, but it's one that comes with significant stress. The relentless demands of artists, the long hours in production, and the time spent away from home are just some of the factors that weigh heavily on those in this field.
As a tour manager you are so busy that time goes very fast; you have a lot to think about and a lot to make sure is running smoothly. For some other roles it can be lonely. Tour managing is extremely exhausting mentally and physically. Often your average sleep time on tour is around 4-5 hours per night.
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.
As tour managers are responsible for holidaymakers throughout their tour, working hours are generally from early morning through until late in the evening, including weekends. You may be on call 24 hours a day, in case of an emergency.
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.
An Artist Management Agreement is used by a personal manager to contract with a recording and performing musical artist to set the terms for managing the artist's career. The manager receives a percentage of all the income generated by the artist for the management services provided.
As a general rule, managers take a percentage of all income generated by the artist in exchange for their management services. Commission rates typically range from 15-25% of the artist's gross income from: Recording royalties: Sales, streaming and licensing of recorded music.
How long is a normal artist manager contract? The standard length of the management contract is three years but it can vary from 2 to 5 years on a case by case basis. Most contracts also include a "Sunset" clause.
Managers typically receive 15% to 20% of the artist's gross earnings (before any expenses are deducted), but this figure can vary from contract to contract. For example, a manager might start at 20% and decrease his or her cut to 15% after a period of time or once the artist achieves a certain level in their career.
A Music Recording Contract is a legal agreement between a music recording company and an artist or group that creates music. Recording companies use the contract to outline the terms for creating recorded music with the artist. Your Music Recording Contract should cover details like: Compensation and royalties.