Job Shadowing. Many times when you hear this you don't think its something fun or its something you have to do for school credit. For me its been loads of fun and well as a learning experience. I job shadow tour managers for music artists. I thought I would share a list of 10 things I've learned while being on tour for two days job shadowing with Canaan Smith and Maddie & Tae's Tour managers on the Dierks Bentley Sounds of Summer Tour. It was such an amazing experience that I wouldn't trade for absolutely anything! The artists, their team, and crew were so welcoming. I didn't feel out of place. I felt right at home. I felt like I was where I belonged. In that moment no one could take away how I felt. There were so many things I could talk about but thats could be another story or article. So for now heres ten things I learn that weekend.
1. Tour Managers have loads of responsibility on tour.
Wether its getting the artists on stage on time, tuning their guitars, getting them from city to city, or just getting their after show food orders.
2. Tour managers actually have paperwork they have to fill out every week.
They mainly are about how much money is used for travel, the runners, and food.
3. Tour managers have an amazing relationship with their artist.
They know them so well.
4. Tour managers have to have a sense of humor.
Especially with the group that I shadowed. They were hilarious! Hey Tae, if your reading this Siamese Twins.
5. Tour managers take care of all the meet and greet requests.
6. Tour mangaers take care of making and printing off set lists.
7. Tour managers are responsible for giving the artist any info they need for the day and for knowing where the artists are in the venue at all times.
8. Tour managers aren't all work all the time.
They're allowed to have fun sometimes too.
9. They told me it doesn't really matter what degree you have graduating college in order to be a tour manager.
10. The tour managers taught me just be yourself and to keep doing what I'm doing because I'm on the right track for getting into the business.
These are just 10 of the many many things I learned that weekend. I can honestly say i about cried when I was leaving the venue in Indianapolis. Why? I knew it meant I had to say goodbye to the artists, crew, and team members that welcomed me with open arms that weekend. I can also honestly say I felt like they became family to me that weekend. Saying goodbye to Maddie & Tae was the hardest. Even though they couldn't see it because it was a bit dark outside I had tears in my eyes saying goodbye. I had to keep telling myself its not goodbye its see you soon. I had come to the conclusion that because it was so hard to leave I knew this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I never knew I could fall in love with something so easily and so fast. All I know is that I cannot wait to do this for the rest of my life. they say do what you love and love what you do because if you love your job you won't have to work a day in your life.
