The Value of Specialization

The Value of Specialization

I was 22 when I got my first tour, and there was no specializing for me back then. There was only me, a tour manager, and a four-piece rock band (Jimmy Eat World) driving around the United States in a van. Opening the tour was another high-energy outfit from El...
Surviving This Tour Life: a financial guide.

Surviving This Tour Life: a financial guide.

So far ‘this tour life’ has explored the many ways to manage both the physical and mental health issues in the touring industry. Now we would like to address a topic that can have a significant effect on both — let’s call it your “financial...
The right tools for the job: Workbox essentials.

The right tools for the job: Workbox essentials.

Choosing what to pack in a small workbox before you leave for a gig can be a little stressful at times. This is especially true if you are just starting out,  working for a new client, or you have lined up some one-offs. You may not always know exactly...
production manager.

production manager.

We recently asked JJ Erlichman to describe what a touring production manager is and how they do their job. Here are, what he believes, the key elements that lay the foundation for a successful, touring, Production Manager (PM). JJ’s PM...
anatomy of a road case

anatomy of a road case

We asked Circle Three Designs owner Christopher Shalhoub about road cases and how to make informed decisions when ordering them. Here is his first article detailing the basic hardware used to make cases and the range of the quality and function of that hardware....
Creating a light rider.

Creating a light rider.

We asked our friend and colleague Eamonn Mckiernan (Lighting Designer/Director for bands such as Cage the Elephant, AWOLNation, Silversun Pickups, Little Dragon, and most recently Foster the People) for some advice on  creating a lighting rider for a tour and how to...