Her Life On The Road

written for a Feature Writing class PROFILE ARTICLE assignment

Tour managers are most often seen as privileged individuals who have the ultimate backstage pass. People long for the ability to travel the world and spend long nights and days with rock stars.

It’s a position that seems to cry sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, but when it’s examined on a deeper level, there’s much more to the profession than late night partying and hooking up.

The [not so] glamorous life
Becky Hunt is a tour manager and is living the dream. She’s a tour manager and artist representative for several established and up and coming bands. A quick glance reveals a platinum blond woman with rock star style who exudes the glamour of being out on the road.

But with what may be a disappointment to many, Hunt explained that “there's nothing glamorous about being a tour manager, especially when you are wondering when and where your next shower will be.”

She continued, “I must say it is the hardest thing I have ever done. 20-21 hour days every day for 6 or more weeks is extremely difficult.”

Hunt, in addition to being the current tour manager for rock bands Nonpoint and The Exies, coordinates her tour schedule with her full time job. She’s been a flight attendant for over 21 years and uses accumulated vacation time and tedious planning so she is able to work both jobs.

Life on the road
Hunt first got the idea of becoming a tour manager after she worked as an artist representative with several different companies in the music industry.

“Several bands told me I would make a great tour manager. The Exies hired me and here I am,” she explained.

As a tour manager, Hunt is responsible for the band’s daily activities and business transactions while out on the road.

Her typical day includes duties such as ensuring the band is paid by venues and promoters, organizing the band’s daily itineraries, setting up radio interviews, conducting contests and giveaways, coordinating meet and greets and selling merchandise.

Scott Stevens, vocalist and guitarist for The Exies believes that Hunt is “like an American Express card... you don’t leave home without her.”

Hunt’s years of experience as a flight attendant and tending to first class customers has influenced how she does business for the bands she managing on tour.

“I go the extra mile for each of my band members as I would my first class customers. I like to call it a tour manager with a personal assistant twist. I am there to make their lives as easy and comfortable as possible,” said Hunt.

To avert crisis on the road, Hunt needs the right fuel. She explained that she is “usually the only crisis with in the band. This happens on a daily basis if I don't get my StarCrack coffee shortly after waking up. I call it my personality in a cup”

Even with Hunt’s coffee power, traveling thousands of miles in unknown territory with a van full of band members and a trailer of equipment, sometimes a crisis cannot be avoided and stressful situations arise.

Hunt recalls one of her most memorable and stressful situations on the road happened while traveling through the most western part of Texas with The Exies.

“There is absolutely nothing out there in the form of civilization, no cell signals and most importantly no gas stations,” she explained.

The van was running short on fuel as they approached a single lane bridge. As if on cue, the van started sputtering and sending out warning signals not long after they drove onto the bridge.

“We were screwed but somehow we coasted off that bridge and there was a closed gas station on the left. Thank God we had a credit card to use at the pump! We never let the gas tank get below the half way mark ever again. It wasn't funny then but we laugh our asses off about it now,” said Hunt.

The sacrifice
Personal sacrifice is the name of the game when it comes to Hunt’s jobs, both of which require extensive travel and time away from home.

“I have no ‘personal’ life. I own a house in Charlotte, N.C. that is currently for sale. If I'm lucky, I'm home 2, maybe 3 nights a month. [I’m] 42 years old [and have] never been married [and I have] no kids,” explained Hunt.

Although she doesn’t have her own family in the traditional sense of the word, this lifestyle works for Hunt, even with its long hours and daily sacrifices.

“My life is my bands. They are ‘my kids’ and as long as they are happy, I'm happy. My suitcase is my constant companion and my best friend. I feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world. I have not one but two jobs that I love. How many people can say that?” she said.

She believes that “you only have one shot at this life. It's okay to march to your own drum and chase your dreams. If you don't, you'll never know what could have been.”