‘A Day in The Life’ of Andy Reynolds
Andy Reynolds has worked as an international concert tour manager and audio engineer for over 25 years. He has toured continuously during this time, working on an average of 200 shows per year. Andy has worked for such bands as Maribou State, The Pierces, Maverick Sabre, All-American Rejects, House of Pain, Machine Head, Nightmares On Wax, Pavement, Roots Manuva, Super Furry Animals, Skunk Anansie, Squarepusher, and The White Stripes. He has worked with bands on tours by such acts as U2, Whitney Houston, Manic Street Preachers, and Foo Fighters. His touring experience encompasses stadiums, arenas, theatres, pubs, bars, clubs, outdoor festivals, rooftops, subway stations, cruise ships, mountainsides, and very, very muddy fields. Andy is also the author of the following Music Industry books:
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The Tour Book: How To Get Your Music On The Road
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Playing Your First Music Festival: A Mini-Guide To Performing At Open-Air, Green-Field, Music Festivals
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Roadie, Inc Second Edition: How to Gain and Keep a Career in the Live Music Busines
What time did you get up?
I got up at 9 am, so I could take full advantage of the supplied hotel breakfast which was included in our room rate. On the road tip for you: if it’s included, get up and go and get it! Always make sure you find out when the hotel breakfast finishes!!
What’s the first thing you did?
After breakfast, I had to ring around all the band rooms and make sure they were all up and ready to leave.
Did you spend any time on social media? If so, doing what?
I didn’t today, but it essential for bands to be in it with their social media. Posting sound check times, live videos etc. It’s a full-time job and if you don’t do it properly you just get lost in the stream….Many bands employ someone to do their social media for them while they are on tour. You can also get the person to sell the tour merchandise.
What music did you listen to today?
I only listened to the music I was mixing at the gig. We are travelling in a splitter van, so everyone is either listening to their own music on headphones or watching movies. I have listened to the Godfather and Apocalypse now about 20 times but never seen them. I can’t see the screen while I am driving.
What challenges did you face?
Usual touring challenges - making sure everyone gets up and moving and is ok. Traffic in the UK and Europe is getting worse and worse, and it’s always a little stressful to make sure you get where you are going on time. No other challenges really - the venue was good, the promoter was good and everything that we needed was provided. We don’t actually ask for much, which helps. The show was sold out which always makes everyone very happy. But main challenges that you face are being late, equipment being broken, the show has not sold many tickets,
Did anything inspire you today?
Lots of things inspired me today. People's enjoyment of music always inspires me. That’s why I do what I do - and ring round everyone in the morning and make their life miserable - because in the evening, we’re going to have a good time. It’s inspiring to see how other people react to the music. We also had a travelling support act with us, and it was inspiring to talk to him about his music and how he does things. The whole thing is inspiring.
What was the most boring thing you had to do today?
There’s not much time to get bored on a tour like this. But when you are touring on a sleeper bus, things can get, well I wouldn’t say boring, but I would say things can get a bit flat.
What was the most exciting thing you did today
Well, all of it. Getting there, getting set up - the sound check went well and then we went and had dinner, I caught up with some friends and had an amazing curry. Then we did the gig and it was sold out - so loads of people going bananas, packed down, driver found our hotel, checked in, went to the bar and had a drink. That’s why you are on tour - you’re spreading the love and spreading the music.
What time did you go to bed?
About 1.30 am. We’d been on a high adrenaline state all day, it takes a while to calm down.
What’s the most important thing you learned today?
To enjoy it. I remind myself of this every day. Yes, it is a job being a tour manager and a sound engineer, but it’s a fantastic way to earn a living. It has its downs and it has its ups, but the ups far outweigh the downs.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/apr/22/highereducation.uk4?INTCMP=SRCH
The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Pearson
Trained in dance, drama and music Fiona Ross has been working in the creative arts Industry for many years with her first professional job at the age of two. Currently working in the jazz industry, she has released four critically acclaimed albums in the past three years and performed in London’s top jazz venues. Fiona is also a freelance journalist for three major jazz publications and passionate advocate for mental health promotion and is a patron for the mental health organisation Insomniac Club.
She is involved in teaching, leadership and arrangement in education and was Head of British Academy of New Music, London, for nearly nine years (Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora, Jess Glynne etc)