Becoming a road manager requires knowledge of all aspects of touring and excellent communication skills. While there are no educational requirements, courses in business management, accounting, communications, and music can be helpful. A road manager is responsible for logistics, solving problems, and ensuring musicians’ needs are met. Experience can be gained by working at a local club or venue, as a musician, or as part of a road crew.
There are so many separate parts that go into a successful music tour, ranging from travel to venues, personnel and more, that many musicians cannot handle this side of the business while also focusing on the artistic side. They often need a transit manager to handle this. If you become a road manager you will be responsible for handling the business side of touring so the music side doesn’t suffer. To become a road manager you will need to be familiar with all the elements of a ride and be an excellent communicator and problem solver.
There are no educational requirements needed to become a road manager, but that doesn’t mean school can’t be helpful. Business management, accounting, communications and music courses can give you an edge in an industry where art and commerce collide. If you are good at handling people and logistics, you can successfully become a road manager.
Every tour is different for a road manager because the locations are always changing. On any tour, however, a road manager’s essential duties are getting musicians from concert to concert and solving problems in between. A road manager must work closely with each venue to ensure the musicians’ needs are met in terms of lighting, equipment and accommodation. Road managers should also clarify any interpersonal issues that arise between musicians and crew to ensure a smooth show at each stop. Road managers are also financially responsible for the tour, with tasks such as ensuring each venue pays properly, filling out the appropriate paperwork, and paying the crew and musicians any money received.
If you want to become a road manager, there are several ways to prepare for this challenging career. Road management professionals often start with a local club or venue to understand scheduling, how equipment works, finances, and how to handle sometimes temperamental musicians. Being a musician is also a great experience, because many smaller groups have to deal with all aspects of touring, and a small tour is almost like an internship. Another way to find the experience needed to fully understand how tours are performed is to work as part of a road crew as an equipment manager, lighting director, sound technician, or other position. Working for a local production company that books shows, works with venues and promotes shows can also help prepare you to become a road manager.
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