Production Management in Live Music Managing the Technical Side of Touring in Today’s Music Industry

Production Management in Live Music: Managing the Technical Side of Touring in Today’s Music Industry is a handbook for the aspiring production manager looking to forge a career in the live music industry. This book outlines the role that a production manager performs and their key responsibilities, and takes the reader step by step through the entire process of preparing a show for a tour. From dealing with artists and management to hiring crew, from booking vendors and scheduling the day-to-day of a busy tour, this text covers everything that is needed to take the show into rehearsals and finally on the road. Every aspect of the job is covered, including the very important challenges that face today’s industry in the realms of sustainability, inclusion, diversity and mental health. Whether the show be on a festival, in a small theatre or club, or in a modern arena, this book clearly lays out the tasks and challenges and offers practical solutions to ensure the smooth running of a live performance. Production Management in Live Music is written for students in stage and production management courses and emerging professionals working in live music touring.

1. Introduction 2. My History 3. Production Management 4. Leadership and Communication 5. Key Relationships 6. Touring Staff 7. The Crew 8. The Stage 9. The Advance 10. Sample Rider 11. Good Advice 12. The On Sale 13. The Show 14. Festival Production Management 15. Time 16. Labour 17. Vendors 18. Transport and Freight 19. CAD 20. January 2001 21. Security 22. The Economics of Touring 23. Health and Safety 24. Sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion

Matt Doherty has been working as a production manager for over three decades. From managing festivals to working on the international touring circuit, it is safe to say that production management has been his life.