What are Tour Credentials? Everything you need to know.
When you’re on tour, your credentials are more than just a laminated badge—they’re your key to moving freely within the venue and doing your job effectively. They ensure you can access restricted areas, keep fans from sneaking backstage, and prevent unnecessary interruptions from security while you work.
Here's everything you need to know about managing them properly.
Why Do You Need One?
Your credentials are your pass to access production areas, stages, dressing rooms, and other restricted spaces within the venue. They’re designed to maintain security, ensuring only authorized personnel are in these spaces. They also help security staff easily identify who’s part of the tour, saving you from being stopped repeatedly during the day. Without them, your workday becomes significantly harder—and slower.
Always Keep Them On You
Credentials should be visible at all times while you’re working. Security needs to see them clearly so you can move freely without constant checks.
However, the opposite is true outside of work hours. On days off, or even when heading to the venue from your hotel, it’s important to conceal them. Some tours are especially strict about this, as flashing your credentials in public can draw attention and create potential security risks.
Losing Your Credentials
Losing your credentials is a serious issue. Not only is it a security risk, but it also creates unnecessary work for the security team, who already have their hands full. It’s considered disrespectful to add to their workload, and many tours enforce strict consequences for losing your pass. In some cases, you might have to wear an oversized A4 paper copy of your ID as a reminder to be more careful—an embarrassing but effective deterrent for others.
We have all been there.
No Photos of Your Credentials
One rule you should never break is posting photos of your credentials online or sharing images where they’re visible. Doing so can lead to someone duplicating them, which compromises the entire tour’s security. If that happens, the crew’s credentials might need to be reissued, causing major delays and inconvenience for everyone.
A Few Tips to Keep in Mind
Check Before You Leave: Always double-check that you have your credentials before heading to the venue.
Store Them Safely on Days Off: Have a designated spot to keep them when you’re not working, so you don’t accidentally leave them behind.
Use a Lanyard or Clip: Keeping your credentials securely attached to you during the day can help prevent losing them.
Once you’ve got a process in place for managing your credentials, it’s surprisingly easy to avoid any issues. Some people always keep their ID attached to the trousers they wear for work, while others make a habit of clipping it to their bag if it’s something they always bring into the venue.
By finding a system that works for you, you can make sure your credentials are always where they need to be—on hand when it matters most, and out of sight when it doesn’t.
