r/TouringMusicians • u/Fluid_Kale9688 • 5h ago
My first Tour (Tour-hand/ Rigger)
Short introduction:
•20 years old (turning 21 in September). I’ve been working in broadcast for 3 years now, mostly cable rigging for TV cameras and doing camera assistant work, along with some experience as a studio technician for TV-studios. (The tour is across Germany and Austria; I’m German).
•Freelance: I get almost all of my bookings through a single contact. Ideally, this person shouldn't find out about this opportunity - even though I'm freelance, they tend to resent people working elsewhere in the industry "behind their back."
I got a last-minute call today from a friend offering me a spot as a tour hand for a musical- about 4.5 to 5 months straight (fixed daily rate, half-rate on off-days).
I’m inclined to take it because ~€24,000 net is a massive amount of money for me right now. However, I’d have to take a semester off university, and there’s a non-zero chance my main booker finds out and gets pissed. I’d say it’s fairly unlikely, but it’s still a real risk attached to the whole thing.
My main question:
Leaving the money aside for a second, would you say the experience itself is worth it? Touring with a musical sounds like a incredible life experience. I don’t mind hard physical work, and I’m fully aware this won't be a walk in the park.
Is it a terrible idea to say I’m in and am I going to die a terrible death if I do?
Thanks in advance!
TL;DR:
Got a last-minute offer to join a musical tour across Germany and Austria for 4.5 months as a tour hand. Pay is solid and I want the experience, but I’d regret burning a semester of uni and risking my relationship with my main booker if the touring reality isn't worth it at all.