As a promoter and a tour manager, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve asked for a bands tech spec and they’ve either said they don’t have one, replied with a couple of hastily thought up notes about what instruments are on stage or just not responded.

Sure, a decent sound engineer will make the show work without one, but being able to communicate what you need in advance will let them prepare for what to expect, speed up the set-up and soundcheck process, and make for a better experience for you and the audience.

Carrying a band and their backline in a splitter van has increasingly become a bit of a minefield as inspections by authorities become more frequent, vehicles become more luxurious and bands want to carry more production.

Cash is on the decline (almost) everywhere, and being able to accept card payments is basically essential to any touring merch seller. However, once you leave the UK, you can run in to issues with some of the more common readers.

This is a run down of the major card payment terminals available to artists and merch sellers in the UK, and the pros and cons of each.

One of the biggest skill jumps in your career as a Tour Manager will be from van tours to bus tours, and it’s a step that requires a whole host of new knowledge that might not be immediately obvious. I was lucky to TM my first bus tour working with a company who were patient and took the time to walk me through everything they thought I needed to know - but I’ve worked with companies since who haven’t been anywhere near as accommodating.

Since Brexit, carrying merch out of the UK in to Europe and vice versa is at least moderately more complicated than it once was.

This guide is written from my experience as a tour manager for small and mid sized tours in Europe by UK and international artists and is not intended as legal advice - It just details how I’ve seen things work in practice, and may be subject to change.

An ATA Carnet (I’ll probably just call it a carnet from here on) is a legal document which allows you to take “professional equipment”, or in this case musical instruments, audio equipment, lights, stage props, tools etc. out of the country temporarily without paying any tax or duties on them.

When you take musical instruments across an international border you’re technically exporting them. Theoretically you…