By a Road-Tested Production Vet
Spring is here, and if you’ve been in this game long enough, you know exactly what that means: buses are rolling, gear is flying and the schedule is about to get real tight, real fast.
After over 20 years of living out of bunk rows, pushing cases into every imaginable loading dock and calling cues with sweaty palms and a two-way radio, I’ve learned a thing or seven about what separates a smooth run from a tour that gets talked about for all the wrong reasons.
So whether you’re kicking off a club run or prepping for an arena tour, here are the 7 biggest things every production manager should lock in as we head into the busy season:
1. Your Advance Is Your Lifeline
Do your homework. A clean advance means fewer surprises. Know your venue dimensions, power availability, loading times, parking situations and local crew capabilities. Don’t assume anything—even with repeat venues. Circumstances change. Make the call, double-check the specs and keep that show file tight.
2. Build Extra Time Into Everything
Truck call at 8? Plan for 7:30. Doors at 7? Be ready for 6:30. Nothing ever goes 100% to plan, and a buffer can be the difference between panic and professionalism. Time is your only real currency out there—spend it wisely.
3. Gear Protection Isn’t Optional—It’s Survival
Let’s be real: your show’s only as good as the gear that makes it to the stage in one piece. I’ve seen road cases fall off forklifts, get drenched in torrential rain and survive cargo flights through five time zones. Quality cases, like the ones from Anvil Cases, are non-negotiable. They’re built to take the abuse the road dishes out—because it will. Always spec the good stuff, and make sure your crew isn’t treating cases like they’re indestructible (even if they kind of are).
4. Respect the Crew. Always.
I don’t care how tight your schedule is—take care of your crew. Feed them, listen to them, back them up. If your team trusts you, they’ll go the extra mile when things get tough (and they will get tough). A good crew can salvage a disaster. A burned-out one can sink a show.
5. Label Like Your Life Depends On It
Everything should have a label. Every case. Every cable. Every adapter. Don’t rely on memory, color coding or “that one guy who knows where everything is.” That guy gets sick, or joins another tour. Clear labeling is one of the cheapest ways to speed up load-ins and reduce mistakes.
6. Communicate Up, Down and Across
Don’t play gatekeeper. Your tour manager, FOH, monitor world, lighting director and stagehands all need to be in the loop. When communication breaks down, delays pile up and tensions rise. Daily briefings, group chats or even just a whiteboard in the production office can do wonders.
7. Take Notes—You’ll Thank Yourself Later
Every day brings lessons. What went wrong? What went right? What venue was a dream? What hotel had that weird smell in the lobby? Write it down. Keep a tour diary or a shared doc. It’s not just nostalgia—it’s strategy. That info becomes your secret weapon when planning the next run.
Final Thought:
Touring is controlled chaos. As production managers, we’re the ones holding the line when things go sideways. It’s not about perfection—it’s about preparation. Stay sharp, trust your team and never skimp on the gear that keeps your show alive.
And for the love of the road gods—invest in solid cases. Anvil Cases have had my back since my first arena tour in ’01. They’re not just boxes, they’re bodyguards for the lifeblood of your show.
Here’s to safe travels, smooth load-ins and a tour that runs like clockwork.
See you on the road.
– A fellow road warrior
Want help dialing in the right case solutions for your next tour? Reach out. There’s no such thing as over-preparing when the stakes are this high.
