You Learn Fast or You Don’t Last: Lessons from Early Touring Days
No one really prepares you for life on tour. There’s no induction, no handbook, and definitely no YouTube tutorial that tells you how to act, what to expect, or what not to say when you step into your first load-in. You get thrown in, you try not to mess up, and you figure it out—fast.
If you’re lucky, you make it through a few gigs. If you’re sharp, you start picking up the lessons early. If not? You disappear before anyone even learns your name.
Here are some of the things you don’t get told, but need to know.
You’re On Your Own (and That’s the Norm)
One of the first shocks is how little guidance you’ll get. Everyone’s got their own job, their own department, their own routines. No one’s holding your hand. You’re just expected to figure things out quietly and without getting in the way.
It’s not just that you don’t have the answers—it’s that you don’t even know what the questions are. You don’t understand the structure, who reports to who, or what’s normal versus out of line. And if you don’t find a way to get up to speed quickly, you won’t be around long enough to find out.
Most crew don’t mind helping someone who’s clearly switched on and trying. But more often than not, they’re too busy doing their own job to train someone who doesn’t know where to start.
There’s No “Click” Moment—Just Experience That Adds Up
Some people wait for it to “click.” But it doesn’t really work like that. What actually happens is you hit enough gigs, builds, and problems that you start reacting without panicking. You stop guessing, because you’ve been in that situation before. You’ve got a reference point now.
You realise you’ve learned something when you start talking with other crew about a moment and they nod or say, “Yeah, same.” It’s not a lightbulb—it’s a slow build of confidence, backed by your own experience.
Don’t Be a Problem People See Coming
A lot of new crew make the same mistake: they show up overconfident. They talk too much, joke too soon, or act like they’re already part of the inner circle. It’s not a good look.
The job at the start is simple: don’t make yourself a liability. Stay quiet, pay attention, and get your bit done. Set carpenters and other crew aren’t watching to see if you’re funny or loud—they’re watching to see if they’ll have to deal with you becoming a problem later.
If someone sticks their name on you by recommending you, they want to trust you’re not going to wind people up, talk down to others, or say something daft to the wrong person. Just keep your head down and let your work do the talking.
Small Mistakes Have Big Consequences
In a lot of jobs, making a mistake means getting pulled aside and given a second chance. On tour, sometimes you just quietly don’t get the next call.
If you ask too many questions without thinking things through—or worse, ask questions you could have easily answered yourself—you’ll come across as careless or unprepared. Before asking someone, think: Would I be annoyed if someone asked me this during load-in?
The more you know your load-in routine or your department’s rhythm, the more confidence you’ll gain. Make sure you’ve figured out every part of your role, even if it means going over it in your head the night before.
Touring Is Emotionally Tough—Even for the Experienced
No one tells you how hard touring can be mentally. The longer the run, the more it can wear you down. Even experienced roadies struggle—missing home, getting sick, losing patience with each other.
New people sometimes try to force banter, make jokes, or wind others up too early without realising how thin the emotional margin can be. You don’t always know what someone else is dealing with, so unless you’re sure, it’s better to keep things respectful and neutral.
There are routines that can help. Setting your space up the same way every time, or just carving out 20 minutes alone can make a big difference.
What Makes People Stick Around
People who last are the ones who take the job seriously, without taking themselves too seriously. They’re professional without being uptight. They solve problems, make things easier for others, and get along with the crew without being too much of a character.
It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being reliable, adaptable, and decent to work with. Touring’s a team effort, but you’ve got to hold your own.
If you’re likeable, switched on, and stay aware of how you come across, people will want you back. If you’re not? They won’t say anything—they just won’t call.
It’s a Learning Curve with a Deadline
There’s no sugar-coating it: you’ve got to learn fast. There’s not always space for people to grow slowly. But if you go in knowing that—if you expect to work hard, listen more than you talk, and learn from everything—you’ve already got a better shot than most.
The people who stick it out long-term? They figured it out one mistake, one build, one small win at a time. You’ll get there too—but not by accident.
