Tour Manager - The Secret Life Of An A-list

Consider this your access-allareas pass to what really goes down backstage!

Hitting up your fave festival or concert usually means little more than making sure you’ve remembered your ticket and packed your flower crown and selfie stick.

But those pyrotechnics and epic performances don’t just happen on spec. When Katy Perry, Taylor Swift or Pink are in town, a whole army of backstage staff is recruited to keep the show on the road – and the leader of the pack is the tour manager.

Sure, the job includes world travel, five-star accommodation and hanging out with celebs, but you can also expect limited contact with your loved ones, diva demands aplenty and, like, zero sleep. Still fancy it? Then read on!

Glam but gruelling

The life of a tour manager may seem glamorous on the surface, but in reality it’s a demanding and stressful job that completely takes over your life.

A typical tour manager could be on the road for around three quarters of a year, working 16-20 hours a day. They will begin planning a tour months before it hits the road – depending on the star power of the artist – and will be in charge of speaking to agents and promoters, booking accommodation for the tour’s crew and arranging all travel. Just like planning an epic family holiday then. Except when they arrive in the exotic location, the work is only just beginning…