Tour Life

What It's Really Like to Be a Tour or a Merchandise Manager

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a tour or a merchandise manager? Well, welcome to my world. Sure, it might seem like a dream job, travelling the world, working with your favourite bands, meeting new people and being surrounded by music all day, but there's more to it than that. In fact, it can be a pretty tough job.

So , what does a typical day look like for a tour manager?

The tour manager oversees all aspects of the tour, from organising each day to dealing with venues, promoters and crews. But the most important thing is that a tour manager has to ensure that the band has everything they need to run a smooth and successful show.

At the end of each day, the tour manager is responsible for wrapping up loose ends and preparing for the next day. This includes dealing with financials and checking in with the band and crew to check that the morale is high and everything is running smoothly. It's a lot of responsibility, but it's also a lot of fun.

What about the Merchandise Manager ?

On the other hand, a merchandise manager is responsible for managing merchandise operations. More or less a one man shop on tour.  That includes keeping an updated inventory, setting up sales booths at each venue, dealing with any issues that might arise with the merchandise (like if it gets damaged or lost), dealing with consessions and even hiring additional vendors if the number of people expected is high.  

As you can see, being a tour or a merchandise manager is no walk in the park.
They are both demanding roles that require long hours and lots of hard work.
But for those who love music and live for adventure, they can also be some of the most rewarding jobs out there.

So if you're thinking about getting into tour management, or deal with merch on tour, go for it! It's a splendid experience that you won't regret.

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