Bubba Exclusive | August 8th|JR The Handler Show with Gary Pettus

Inside Tour Management: Gary Pettis Talks Road Life and Live Production

Tour manager Gary Pettis shares a candid, road-tested look at what it takes to keep shows running — from early days in Charlotte to touring with rock giants and rising country acts like Dylan Carmichael. This episode explores logistics, mentorship, evolution of technology, and the mindset that keeps the show moving under pressure.

how to be a tour manager: long-tail tips for live-event logistics

Gary traces a path from trumpet player and local audio engineer to front-of-house and full-scale tour manager. He emphasizes cross-training—learning FOH mixing, merch, production accounting—and how wearing multiple hats early in a career builds resilience and credibility. Long-tail advice includes building an advance checklist, budgeting per diem, and using contingency rooms or sick rooms when necessary.

tour management tools and technology for modern road crews

The episode highlights practical tools like Master Tour, Starlink internet on buses, and group chat networks for TMs. Gary contrasts pre-GPS, payphone-era touring with today’s digital navigation and instant messaging, explaining how new tools reduce friction but don’t replace core planning and decision-making skills.

mentors, career pivots, and lessons from the road

Mentorship emerges as a recurring theme: Gary credits local companies and senior crews for teaching him live production ropes. He explains how to soak up knowledge, ask the right questions, and become a “teacher” yourself when you reach that stage. He also discusses pivoting between rock and country markets, and how timing and relationships create opportunities.

practical show-day problem solving and handler vision

Listeners get real-world anecdotes about malfunctioning vans, on-site repairs, dealing with late flights, and managing artist expectations. Gary describes the mindset — "handler vision" — of weighing risks, choosing a plan, and pivoting when new information arrives, while always keeping the goal intact.

• aspiring tour managers and stage crew looking for career pathways and tactical tips
• independent musicians who want to understand touring logistics and production roles
• music lovers curious about behind-the-scenes touring stories and problem-solving

This episode is rich with long-tail insights on tour advance processes, backstage communication strategies, and real touring anecdotes. Whether you want to learn how to go from FOH engineer to tour manager or how to use modern tour tech efficiently, Gary’s experience provides concrete, actionable guidance and entertaining road stories.