The Real Story Behind Justin Bieber’s Tours
Have you ever just blasted a Justin Bieber song? Or maybe you caught one of his live shows. It’s so easy to get lost in the music. We often forget all the hard work involved. Honestly, it’s pretty amazing. Think about all the planning for each tour. The people running things are key. Their backgrounds really matter. They make sure everything runs smoothly. Without them, the shows wouldn’t happen. Not like they do now, anyway.
Imagine the sheer scale of it all. You need crazy amounts of coordination. It takes real creativity. But it also needs serious management skills. All just to handle an artist like him. The stakes are sky-high. The pressure is intense. It truly is. So, what kind of training do these tour managers get? How do their skills turn tours into massive hits? Let’s dive into this fascinating world together. It’s quite a journey.
Learning the Ropes: Tour Manager Education
To be honest, becoming a great tour manager isn’t just one path. Formal school helps, for sure. But real-world experience is absolutely massive. It really is. Most tour managers have college degrees. Often, they study music business. Some degrees focus on event management. Business administration is another common one. Even communications can be super useful here.
There was this survey back in 2021. The National Association of Music Merchants did it. It showed something interesting. Around 62% of music professionals have a bachelor’s degree. It’s likely many tour managers went to well-known schools. Places like Berklee College of Music come to mind. The University of Southern California is another one. Both offer special programs. They focus on the music business side. They also teach arts management. This knowledge is totally key for any tour manager. It covers the industry basics. It also includes marketing ideas. And, of course, planning huge events. Pretty important stuff, you know?
But here’s the thing about learning this job. Classroom lessons build a foundation. Yet, getting your hands dirty often teaches you more. It really does. Lots of successful managers start small. They work their way up. They might begin as a roadie. Or maybe a stagehand. Sometimes, they start as an assistant. This helps them learn how everything works. They figure out all the logistics. They also learn how to manage artists. All this happens right there on the ground. A report from 2018 found something similar. The Music Industry Research Association published it. A huge 78% of successful managers had five-plus years of experience. This was in different live music jobs. That’s a ton of practical know-how.
The Magic Behind Successful Tours: Essential Skills
We’ve talked about their schooling now. What about their actual skills? What do these tour managers actually do every day? A truly good tour manager needs so many abilities. Everything from simple planning to handling big money stuff. It’s a really complex job. Let’s look at some key skills. They are vital.
First off, there’s planning and logistics. Running a big tour means handling tons of moving parts. You have to arrange travel for everyone. You book places for people to stay. The venues need booking way ahead too. A study by Eventbrite found this truth. About 70% of event planners struggle most with logistics. It’s their biggest headache. A good tour manager makes super detailed plans. They account for practically every minute. Not bad at all, really.
Second, communication skills are absolutely paramount. They talk with everyone involved. The venue staff, the crew, and the artists themselves. Talking clearly is so, so important. Bad communication costs money and time. A Harvard Business Review report showed this clearly. Poor communication can cut productivity by 25%. That’s a serious hit to deal with.
Third, problem-solving is totally a must. Things go wrong on the road. Equipment breaks down. Schedules can change last minute. Managers must think incredibly fast. They need to find smart solutions quickly. The Event Leadership Institute did a survey recently. They found 68% of managers call problem-solving their top skill. It makes total sense when you think about it, right?
Fourth, knowing about money is key. Managing budgets is a massive part of the job. Tour managers watch finances closely. This includes money from ticket sales. Merchandise money matters a lot too. And, of course, all the tour’s huge expenses. A 2020 Deloitte report shared this view. Around 56% of music professionals think money skills are vital. I believe this makes total sense in a business like this.
Fifth, people skills are just huge. Building good relationships is essential. With the artists, with the crew, and with venue staff. A positive vibe behind the scenes truly helps a tour succeed. LinkedIn research confirms this point. Eighty-five percent of job success comes from people skills. It just shows how much getting along matters. That’s quite a sight to see how important that is.
A Deep Dive: The Purpose World Tour
Imagine the incredible amount of effort for a Justin Bieber tour. Let’s just think about his Purpose World Tour. It was truly massive, wasn’t it? The tour went on for over 18 months straight. It visited six different continents. One hundred sixteen shows happened all over. Billboard magazine reported the earnings. The tour made around $250 million dollars. That makes it one of history’s highest-grossing tours ever. It’s amazing, honestly.
So, how did the tour managers pull off such a success? One big factor was using technology well. They used advanced project management tools constantly. This helped everyone coordinate schedules easily. They shared documents instantly. They also tracked expenses in real-time as they happened. This tech made talking simpler for everyone. It also allowed quick changes to be made. This was so useful on the road.
The team also looked closely at data. They wanted to know all about the audience. They checked ticket sales figures. Social media engagement numbers were analyzed too. This helped them shape marketing plans better. This data-driven approach was incredibly important. It helped maximize ticket sales everywhere. It also ensured each show felt right for that specific audience. Frankly, that’s pretty clever strategy.
Tour Management Through the Years
To truly get a feel for this, let’s look back a bit. Tour management has changed so, so much over time. Years ago, it was much less formal. People often had zero formal training for it. They learned everything just by doing it. This trial-and-error approach sometimes meant things weren’t efficient. It sometimes meant less professionalism too.
But things really shifted over time. Technology grew like crazy. The music industry got way more complex. The role became more structured overall. Now, there are actual university programs for this. These prepare future managers way better. They learn how to handle challenges that will come up. The International Live Music Conference reported something big. Live music programs increased by 40%. This happened just in the last decade. This change shows a growing awareness. Professional training is truly vital in the music business today. I am happy to see this kind of progress happening.
Comparing Tour Managers: Different Artists
It’s interesting to see how managers handle different artists. They work differently depending on who they’re with. Justin Bieber’s tours are absolutely huge productions. Other artists might prefer smaller shows instead. These are often more intimate for fans.
Take Taylor Swift, for example, she’s different. Her tours are famous for huge stages. They offer really immersive fan experiences. Her tour managers focus tons of energy. They create a whole story for her fans. A Forbes article noted something specific. Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour made over $345 million. Its success comes from incredible careful planning. It also comes from strong storytelling throughout the show. Her team puts this focus into every single performance.
Indie artists often have a totally different setup. They usually use smaller venues constantly. They rely more on local marketing efforts. Their tour managers focus heavily on budgets. They think a lot about getting the community involved. A 2019 Nielsen Music study found something cool. Indie tours are much more popular lately. Attendance rose by 35% in just five years. This shift shows how versatile managers must be. They must adapt to lots of different situations constantly.
Of course, not everyone agrees on the best path. Some old-school managers argue experience is everything. They might say formal degrees are less useful. That said, the increasing complexity of tours suggests otherwise. Legal details, international logistics, and complex tech require specific knowledge. A degree can provide that needed foundation. It really depends on the artist’s needs and scale.
What’s Next for Tour Management?
Looking ahead, things will keep changing fast. The COVID-19 pandemic totally changed live events for a while. Virtual concerts became pretty normal. Many artists tried out hybrid shows recently. These combined live elements with online streaming. Pollstar reported something important. The live music industry should grow by 25% soon. Fans really want to see live events again. This will drive massive demand. I am eager to see how this unfolds for everyone.
Technology will also remain super key. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will keep growing. They will improve the concert experience greatly. This means managers need to understand these technologies. They must create more immersive experiences now. They need to captivate audiences completely. We need to take action by encouraging training in these new areas.
Answering Your Questions: Tour Manager Myths
Do tour managers really need a degree?
A degree helps with getting chances. Many successful managers start just with hands-on experience. A mix of education and practical skills seems essential today.
How important is networking for this job?
Networking is incredibly important always. Building relationships creates new chances. It leads to collaborations constantly. A LinkedIn study showed this clearly. Seventy percent of jobs come from networking connections. That’s a whole lot!
Can someone become a tour manager with no prior experience?
It is possible, yes, but it’s harder. Prior music industry experience helps greatly. It increases your chances of success immensely. Many start as assistants or interns first. This gives them valuable insights into the business.
The Path Forward
So, what have we learned from all this? Justin Bieber’s tour managers need solid schooling. This helps them ensure his tours are successful. They have a diverse set of skills they use. Things like handling logistics and communication are vital. Also, financial management is key. These skills truly support every single tour stop. The industry is always changing quickly. A blend of formal education and real-world experience will only grow in importance going forward.
The future of tour management looks bright. I am excited to see how these professionals adapt. New challenges will definitely appear. But new opportunities will too. Imagine the thrill of being part of a tour. One that brings joy to millions of people nightly. You’re orchestrating every small detail. All from behind the scenes working hard. It’s tough work, but very rewarding emotionally. It combines pure passion and serious know-how. Plus, it needs a whole lot of creativity every day. One thing is clear as we look ahead now. The art of tour management will keep changing. It will bring fresh, amazing experiences to fans around the world constantly.
