Production Management

Tia Leoni Lewis
Mar 7, 2016
2 min read

What is a production manager?

They are in charge of the technical crew. They move independently from the band. This Is because the technical crew has to be at the location of the gig by the morning of the show to get the equipment ready for the show in the evening.

Responsibilities

As the tour is being planned, the Production Manager must contract for services such as lighting, sound, trucking, rigging, bussing, and catering. The competition is fierce between the companies offering such services. Specific discussions must take place between the Production Manager and the providers clarifying the quality of the equipment, management and crew, as well as the prices bid.

After all these major decisions have been made by the Production Manager, a final production meeting is held before rehearsals have begun. Here all the key personnel meet for the first time.

What is the pay like?

You can get as much from 250 pounds a day to about 700 pounds a day. Which is actually really good. Especially if you have a gig pretty much most days of the week. Or as a daily job.

How many hours do they work?

What other things will this involve you doing?

Assembling a team of technical and management staff to ensure the success of the event
Attending meetings with artists, sound and lighting specialists, and other staff to include the artistic director to plan every aspect of the concerts/gigs
Operating strictly within the allocated budget, and managing finances
Ensuring that health and safety legislation is closely followed
Dealing with any problems that may arise, and liaising closely with the stage manager and tour manager
Scheduling media interviews and dealing with fans where appropriate
Handling VIP/complementary ticket allocation and seating

Key features:

You have to have these key features for you to become successful at your job:

Very well-organised and able to remain calm and clear-headed at all times
Good at managing both people and finances, and willing to accept considerable responsibility
A good communicator, both verbally and in writing.
Stamina is essential in this career, as your workload will be heavy and tight deadlines must be met
An understanding of the technical aspects of the production is also expected.