| Tour Management Services Once an act has established itself and then looks to the next step in the process of world domination comes touring. This can be a mine field of concerns and issues that artists and managers have little or no experience of dealing with. It is for this reason why it is important to look at undertaking the services of an established company to perform this service. At Genetic Promotions we have built up our experience to provide this service to touring acts and artists. Admittedly we have mainly dealt with DJ’s and Electronic musical acts, which we know is very different from that of full bands. But we have dealt with bands as well and if we don’t know the answer we are linked to some of the UK and world’s leading tour management companies who will. Genetic Promotions has dealt with some of the world’s leading DJ’s across territories that include America, Europe, Asia and South/ Central America. Having also been hired to promote and manage tours for world leading companies that include the Ministry of Sound on numerous occasions. Not only have we done this for others but we have promoted, managed and created are own international events and tours in regions that include Asia, Europe and the America’s. Including tours that have seen 28 shows in one month, yes that is right 28 shows in a month. This meant multi show days a lot of planning and a time budget and schedule. What does a Tour Manager do? Budge tAdvancing On the road Budget Advice for US and Canadian bands touring in Europe Touring Europe - points to consider Money and Currency Electricity and Voltages Communications Taxation Transport types Equipment Consumables What does a Tour Manager do?The idea of using a band/concert tour manager is to make sure the tour is running smoothly, all band and crew are happy, performance revenue is being collected and tour-related bills are being paid. Genetic Promotions offers tour management services for bands, DJ’s and sole artists; the following is a brief guide to the service we or any tour management company should do. You should expect this level of work from us or any other tour management company you work with. A band tour manager is basically the person who takes care of booking all the accommodation, transport, equipment and crew involved with the tour. They travel with the band on the road, dealing with all the day-to day problems as they arise. They also act as accountant; producing budgets, picking up cash for performances and paying suppliers and other expenses as the tour progresses. On very large tours the role of band tour manager may be split between 3 or 4 different people; for instance tour manager, production manager, production assistant and tour accountant (s). Tour managers are usually freelance and are paid by the artiste or artiste's management company from the tour funds. They work on a daily or weekly rate. The tour usually pays for the tour manager's accommodation, travel, communication costs and other expenses. Caution: Concert/band tour managers are not regulated; there is no Association of Concert Tour Managers. Tour managers do not need to sit exams or hold related qualifications. Anybody can call themselves a concert/band tour manager. There are related academic and vocational courses such as theatre stage management and event management courses but Tour Concepts is not aware of specific courses dealing with concert/band tour management. I mention this as a tour manager is supposed to relieve you of the stress of organising and administrating your concert tour. It is therefore important to know that the tour manager you are retaining has some experience in the role or can offer you a good, non-conditional guarantee. Or both. As a general rule, tour managers do not book or arrange the shows. This is the job of the booking agent working in conjunction with promoters. The band tour manager will be contacted by the management, usually during or after the booking of the show (s). (In certain cases the management may consult the tour manager about the suitability of certain venues or whether it is possible to reach certain cities in the time allocated etc.) The tour manager's job really begins once the dates have been booked. Here at Genetic Promotions we will take the date sheet supplied by the booking agent and work on the following areas: Budget Advancing On The Road Budget You have a list of dates and the fees (income) from each show. Great, but how much is it going to cost you to do those shows? At the very least you are going to need transport to and from the gig and maybe somewhere to stay if the show is a great distance away. Before agreeing to under-taking the tour, the artiste's management should have a look at the costs involved. The tour manager will be called on for this as they usually have more experience. The booking agent should have given the manager a list of the fees the band will receive on the tour. The person responsible for the budget should then subtract figures for likely expenses. When compiling a budget or list of possible expenses we use the following main categories:
Advancing Once a budget/ list of predicted expenses has been agreed, the band tour manager will then start to 'advance' the shows. Advancing is the way tour managers' 'sweat in peace'. It is the process of contacting each promoter and venue to ensure the entire artiste's technical and hospitality demands will be met and to resolve any problems the promoter or venue can foresee. The tour manager will also ask about contact names and addresses, arrival times, equipment load in times, sound check and performance times, any supporting/opening acts and finally what time all live music has to be finished by. Common problems are incorrect venue addresses, limited physical access to venues (i.e. lots of stairs to hump gear up!), clashing sporting or other musical events, sound level limits and insufficient or inappropriate technical equipment. Good tour managers will have an encyclopaedic knowledge of these problems and be able to anticipate them and/or advise the touring party well ahead of time. By anticipating these problems the tour manager will save the tour both time AND money. On The Road Once the advancing has been done and the tour manager has all the appropriate venue information, contact details and times he or she will usually produce the tour itinerary (AKA 'tour book' or 'book of lies'!) The itinerary details all the information for the tour, in a day-by -day format and is issued to all touring personnel as well as to related offices, friends and family. The tour manager will then travel with the act on the tour. The job on the road varies enormously depending on the type and success level of the act. The following items are definitely part of a band tour manager's day-to-day workload:
Advice for US and Canadian bands touring in EuropeAre you a US or Canadian band? Do you manage or book such an act? Have you or are you about to play shows in the UK or mainland Europe? If you are considering touring in Europe, Genetic Promotions can help YOU! Musical acts at all success levels are now able to tour extensively outside of their own country, thanks to the rise of the Internet, the expanding global music market and cheaper air travel. Specifically, bands and artistes from North America and Canada have always found great success touring in Europe and the UK. The Killers, White Stripes, The Strokes and Scissor Sisters are all examples of bands that honed their craft away from their own country and now have considerable success in both territories. Although the process is the same, touring in Europe has certain unique distinctions from concert touring in the USA. There are obvious language, currency and voltage differences. There are also legal and financial factors to take into account as well as obvious logistical concerns. You may have encountered some of these differences already. As well as being frustrating, these differences can cost you money. At Genetic Promotions we have had more than 13 years experience of event promotions, management, artist promotions and management as well as tour management. Both in North America, South America, Asia & Europe. We have worked with numerous acts from the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia and we know what makes a successful tour for acts the world over. Contact us to discuss any part of a tour you have planned or want to look at planning an event. We are well connected to other music based organisations and if we can’t do some we know can. back to top Touring Europe - points to consider The following guide is intended to give the North American touring musician a very general introduction to the obvious differences in touring the US and touring mainland Europe. Throughout Europe (and obviously in the UK) you will find that most people you meet who are involved with your concert will speak English as well as their native language. This all includes all the local sound and light crew, the promoter, your record company personnel and, to a certain extent, your fans. Nearly all contracts, legal forms and communications will be in English. Region and generation largely influence the understanding and use of English outside the 'rock 'n' roll bubble. France and Italy, for example, have a low use of English in the general population. Italian promoters will usually provide a translator to assist at shows. Scandinavians, Germans and the Dutch have a high standard of English and are keen to use it. 'Younger' people understand more English thanks to the internet, YouTube, MTV and imported US TV shows. As with any travel, Tour Concepts recommends you buy a good phrase book for the country you are visiting! back to top Money and Currency The use of the Euro throughout mainland Europe has certainly made concert touring easier, especially as the Euro and the US dollar are of similar value. Not all countries use the Euro though and these cases you will probably be paid in US dollars. You should be aware that all countries are now implementing strict rules about leaving or arriving with vast amounts of currency. You should bear this in mind if your tour is very successful, especially if you generate lots of cash from merchandise sales. We can help to advise on any specific concerns you may have, specifically how to deal with large amounts of foreign currency cash (from merchandise sales for instance). back to top Electricity and Voltages The standard voltage of US domestic equipment is 110v at 50Hz. European voltages range from 180v to 240v at varying Hz. There are also physical differences in the design of the plugs and sockets. We can arrange the rental of good quality, touring step-down transformers for your US voltage equipment. This is vital! Most US cell phones and laptop computers have dual-voltage sensing, meaning they can accepct voltages from 110-240 automatically. You will simply need to transform the physical plug to fit the sockets. For more information on European voltages see this very useful Worldwide Voltage Guide back to top Communications Internet & email It is safe to say that travelling with a laptop is as easy as in the States. Most modern laptops have voltage- sensing power supplies so will not be damaged by the 220V found in Europe. However you will almost certainly need an adapter to make the US style pug fit into European sockets. You may find more information about the adaptor types you will need in the Worldwide Telephone Guide. Wireless broadband internet is common in all parts of the European mainland. Most venues, hotels, cafes, airports and fast food restaurants will have wireless coverage. Mobile (cellular phones) Europe has embraced the mobile (cellular) phone, making communication while on the road extremely easy. We have one standard, GSM, which works seamlessly throughout mainland Europe, the UK, South America, Australia, New Zealand and certain parts of North America and Canada. Check with your phone network about roaming coverage overseas, especially if you own an iPhone. The roaming charges can be hideously expensive for a US-based cellular phone owner touring in Europe. As a US resident you can buy an international GSM cell phone for only $49 from Mobal. You purchase the phone and pay only for calls - there is no monthly fee. Another solution is to buy 'pay as you go' SIM cards for each country you are in. The advantage is cheap calls AND you can budget for your phone expenditure. The disadvantage is changing your number every time you are in a new country. back to top Taxation All countries have some sort of 'foreign artist tax' to claim a percentage of your revenue while performing in that particular country. Some charge higher levels than others. For instance Germany, which is a big market for US acts, currently levies a whopping 24.9% on fees of 1001.00 Euros ($1000.00) or more! As the promoter will deduct these taxes at source (i.e. when you get paid) it is vitally important that you budget properly for these expenses. Good practice is to specify all fees are 'net and free of all local taxes' and that you get paid in your currency. Genetic Promotions can help you calculate how much tax you may have to pay from your fees. I can also arrange legal services to help you avoid paying too much tax and to reclaim any tax you should not have paid. A good reference is 'Tax and Social Security - a basic guide for artists and cultural operators in Europe' by Judith Staines which is a very informative guide to the varying taxation rates for foreign entertainers performing in Europe. back to top Transport types Distances between major cities in mainland Europe are comparable with that of the US; daily travel of 6 to 8 hours is the norm. At Genetic Promotions we recommend the following transport types. Splitter vans Europe is home to the 'splitter van' - an economical but safe way to transport people and equipment in the same vehicle. A splitter van is basically a large cargo van with a large passenger compartment (usually seating six to eight people) separated by a fixed bulkhead from a rear equipment compartment. Splitter vans are comfortable with aircraft style seats, full audio visual entertainment systems (DVD, games consoles etc) for the passengers, tinted windows and air con. They are fast (usually based on Mercedes 'Sprinter' type vans), safe and very reliable. They are able to transport a full set of standard band back line equipment i.e. drums, bass and guitar cabs and heads, stands etc. Costs vary between £120 - £180 a day, excluding fuel (diesel). This makes them a perfect way for small budget acts to travel, along with their equipment. Splitter vans are usually self-drive. Genetic Promotions can source good, experienced drivers who may also double up as back line technicians or merchandise sellers. Sleeper bus For parties of 8 or more we recommend a sleeper bus. Very similar to US style sleeper coaches with the exception of often being double deck. Lounge areas are often down stairs in the middle and rear with bunk areas being up stairs. Sleeper buses come complete with the usual audio-visual systems. Sleeper bus prices start at £480.00 a day but include the driver as well as fuel and oil costs. There are extremely strict regulations in Europe concerning driver working hours, driving times and rest periods. These will greatly affect your touring schedule, making some planned routings impossible. Please contact us for more information. back to top Equipment One major logistical and financial problem that you as a North American touring act face is transporting your musical equipment. You cannot easily or cheaply fly with your equipment on the plane unless your instruments are small, light and well cased. Standard hold baggage limits of most US airlines is 20KG per person; a standard sized suitcase containing clothes for a 2-week trip can weigh 20KG! DJ's and laptop-based acts are obviously OK in this respect but what about everyone else? For 'standard' rock/pop bands, classical musicians and others you will have to investigate either shipping your equipment over with a freighting company or renting/ buying similar items in your destination territory. We have had a great deal of experience with both these scenarios and can advise you on which one will save you the most time and money. We work closely with a number of music industry friendly freighting companies. We also have excellent relationships with the top back-line rental companies in the UK and on the mainland. If you have brand sponsorship or endorsements we can work with your brand artist relationship manager to ensure you have the right equipment available to you. In any case we always advise that you have a 'pre-production/rehearsal' period the day before the first show day. This is a good chance for you to assemble the rental and/or shipped gear and make sure everything is working satisfactorily. back to top Consumables Genetic Promotions thoroughly recommends that you purchase ALL tour consumables (strings, sticks, heads batteries, gaffer/duct tape etc) in the US/Canada and bring them with you. Prices for all these items are on average 20-25% more expensive in UK and mainland Europe. Cigarette smokers - buy cartons of cigarettes at the 'Duty & Tax Free' shops at your US departure airport, especially if you are going to be touring in the UK. A pack of 20 cigarettes in the UK is presently £5.50 back to top Text Credit: "Andy Reynolds at Tour Concepts www.tourconcepts.com" |
|
