The music industry offers many career opportunities that go far beyond performing on stage: Careers spanning from songwriters and composers, production and sound engineering, music distribution and promotion, business and management, music publishing, music journalism, marketing and social media, to touring and beyond. These industry professionals are the backbone of the music world, ensuring the music we love thrives through their contributions to its creation, production and distribution.
A tour manager is responsible for ensuring that live performances run smoothly from start to finish, coordinating logistics such as travel, accommodations, schedules and venue arrangements. They are essential in minimizing stress for the artist and crew.
Hailing from England, Cez Darke brings over 20 years of experience to the table, having served as a tour manager for some of the biggest names in music including Shawn Mendes and Jessie J. He is the founder of Just Solutions Tour/Production Management, established in the early 2000s, and Darke Music Management, which launched in 2008. The industry professional’s journey began with a deep-seated love for live music.
“The pleasure of seeing a bunch of people vibing to music together is a joy,” Darke shares.
Reflecting on the early days of his career, Darke recalls a time when navigating unfamiliar cities meant relying on printed maps and guessing games to make it to venues on time. Technology has revolutionized the job and, Darke admits, “The smartphone was a total game changer.”
Every moment is accounted for working as a tour manager on the road. For Darke, the day starts with finding time to move his body, often at a local gym nearby or the hotel gym, followed by a quick breakfast before heading to the venue to dive into administrative duties, sound checks, press and meetings with the crew to see how everyone is doing. After the show is over and he’s taken a few show notes, it’s all hands on deck for packing up the gear and loading the trucks. It’s a fast paced career, but Darke has become a master at his craft.
When you do something you love, you will never work a day in your life, and that could not be more true for Darke. He has had the opportunity to travel around the world while pursuing his passions, but one moment in particular stands out: being present for Shawn Mendes’ first arena show in Canada. “That was a moment,” he says.
The Shawn Mendes tour was a great experience, and he and Mendes became very good friends. Besides that, Darke has enjoyed working with the likes of The Saturdays, Charlie Winston, Tom Baxter and V V Brown. “They’ve all had their own vibes and experiences attached,” he says.
For anyone looking to get your foot in the door, Darke’s advice is simple — immerse yourself in live music. Dive headfirst into your local music scene, connect with the bands and volunteer your services. Supporting local music is crucial for networking and gaining valuable experience, and passion and persistence will open doors you never thought possible.
“Go to shows — local shows, small shows,” Darke says. “Introduce yourself to bands. Help them with their gear. Help for free. Do what you can to support music at its grass roots and it will pull you up.”
