When people find out you have been on National and International tours they always seem to want to know and ask with a smile... What is it Like? It seems this is a common question that gets asked from aspiring technicians and students looking at their choices of what and where to take their new careers in theater.
Well, being on tour can be great! However, it can also be miserable. Depending on how it is for you. It mainly depends on the type of person you are. You have to be the type of person that is easy to get along with and not easily irritated by others , as you will be sleeping, eating, traveling, and working with the same people all the time. Now, before I get started I know someone who tours will read this and say this is nothing what its like. Well every tour is different. It depends on the company you have been hired with, if you are traveling around in a van, or in a bus and truck doing one nighters, or maybe you get lucky if you are on a full pink working 4 weeks stops.
Traveling, it's kind of a given you will be traveling all the time. Some people see the idea of this job traveling all over and getting paid to do it, nothing could be better. This doesn't mean you will be visiting the Alamo when your in San Antonio. It means you will be inside a theater all day. I have been to so many cities all across the united states, and when I can revisit them for a second time and not know it until I walk into the theater, then it all comes back. You will get to see the outside of the venue for about 45 minutes while you scurry out to find that random place to eat, that is in walkable distance. No getting in your car after work and decompressing. You will be walking to your tour bus or hotel with smelly socks, waking up at 7am to do it all over again.
Local crews, these guys can make or break a city for you. You know your in trouble when your locals have been pulled out of the homeless shelter, or even more fun prison. There is nothing that makes me laugh more than sending the guy on your electrics crew to go help audio, because your pretty sure he pooed himself. Especially when you hear the call on radio 5 min later, "Carpentry I have an extra person I'm sending him over to help you" There is also something really uncomfortable about telling prisoners what to do when there guard standing ready with riffle. But you get used to it. The best local crews usually are professionals working in major cities, any military outfit, then college students if your playing a campus. You get to learn a lot about people, managing new crews everyday.
You can make a lot money while on tour, while having very little out of pocket expenses. But realize the money isn't so great hourly. Weekly you can make anywhere from the low end of $35o a week to the high end of $3000 a week. Just remember, realize that you work 80 hours a week and you never get to go home.
I know this sounds like a lot of negative things about touring. In reality I loved it. It does get tiring after a while but, I have built some of my best friendships from tour, I even have friends that have met their wives on tour. It's a great experience, and there is nothing like it. Just make sure you are one of the poeple that can hadle it. It's hard work, and remember no one wants to work with someone who is complaining.
Gary Weintraub - Member IATSE ACTVice Presidentwww.StageSpot.com"Your friend in the entertainment business!"
