The challenge of touring without a dedicated team
Touring is an essential part of any musician’s career, but the logistical challenges can be overwhelming because there’s a lot that needs to be managed and taken into account. In an ideal world there would be a tour manager or someone at least filling the role of a tour manager on the road with the artist. However, not every artist or tour manager has the budget or capacity to bring a full production team on the road. Providing remote tour support has been coming up as an alternative more and more to help the artists through their tours and it has been also dividing opinions among professionals, especially as many are afraid it will have a negative impact on already limited tour budgets. Whether this is something worth exploring, comes down to what the artist and their crew really need and how those needs can be managed.
Touring comes with many moving parts, and ensuring everything stays on track requires careful coordination. Remote tour support can help streamline these processes, providing a structured approach to organising a tour without additional travel costs. It’s a flexible option that allows artists and their teams to stay focused on the performances while knowing the behind-the-scenes details are being handled efficiently. Remote tour support offers a way to bridge logistical gaps and keeps operations running smoothly, even when a full team isn’t on the road. Even for larger tours, having someone giving support in managing some administrative matters can be of great help and make a significant difference in the overall touring experience.
Remote tour support provides the crucial assistance that artists and their crews need in order to navigate the complexities of touring—without requiring an additional person to be physically present. Through this approach, artists and tour managers can access support in advancing shows, coordinating logistics, and keeping everything organised, no matter where they are in the world. In Thrust Productions, we’ve provided remote support for a tour taking place on the other side of the world, while we’ve been in an airport waiting for our flight to a different tour!
At its core, remote tour support is about ensuring that a tour runs as smoothly as possible. Remote support can be anything the crew on the road the most needs it to be. But it often covers a range of tasks, such as:
Show Advancing: Coordinating with venues and promoters to finalize schedules, technical requirements, and accommodations.
Rider Creation & Management: Making sure hospitality and technical needs are clear and met at every stop.
Travel Logistics: Assisting with flights, hotels, transportation, and border crossings to keep the tour moving smoothly.
Updating MasterTour or other itinerary app: Keeping the tour itinerary organised and up to date so that everyone involved knows what’s next.
Even though the support is provided remotely, it can be almost as effective as having someone physically present, ensuring that artists and their crews feel prepared and supported throughout their journey. And most importantly, it can provide the ones out on the road a much needed extra hour of sleep!
As more artists and crews embrace flexible touring solutions, remote tour support is proving to be an invaluable tool in keeping tours efficient and as stress-free as possible. Having someone provide remote tour support does not replace having a good tour manager out on the road with the artist. However, having someone in the artists’ corner helping out with everything can really be of great help!
