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Roadie

technical support staff technical support crew
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Performing arts and media
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Career outlook for roadie

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£18,000

Experienced

£37,000

Currently employed in Scotland

1,000

Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.

What's it like?

You would help to stage concerts and other events so that the audience have a great experience. You would set up before each gig, look after the instruments during the show, and pack away afterwards. It would be your job to make sure that everything is in place for the show to go well. 

You might work alone or as part of large crew. Tasks vary, but you might:

  • Lift and carry equipment and sets
  • Drive, load and unload vans, trailers and tour buses
  • Act as security for equipment and band members
  • Set up and look after sound equipment
  • Set up video equipment and screens
  • Rig up wiring and lighting
  • Set up firework and laser displays
  • Tune the instruments during the show

You may also have other duties like booking travel and caterers or issuing backstage passes.

You would be working with a lot of electrical devices and heavy equipment, so you would need to follow health and safety rules carefully. 

Working conditions

Hours

You would often work late into the night. During a tour, you may need to work seven days a week for a few weeks at a time. There may be rest days between gigs and long breaks between tours.

Environment

Concerts can be anywhere from clubs and theatres to sports arenas and outdoor festivals. The work is very physical. You would have to lift and carry heavy equipment, and may need to work high up on ladders and rigging. Venues are often noisy and working spaces may be cramped.

Travel

When touring, you may travel around the whole of the UK and also possibly overseas. You would have to live away from home for long periods.

UK employment status

Full-time

19%

Part-time

71%

Self employed

11%

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  • Adaptability
  • Resilience
  • Reliable
  • Time management
  • Attention to detail
  • Verbal communication
  • Cooperating

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Getting in

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Qualifications

Although you do not need formal qualifications to work as a roadie it can be useful to have experience in areas such as:

  • Electronics
  • Electrical work
  • Sound production
  • Music technology

To get into the industry it is important to make contacts in the industry.

A qualification in music technology, audio visual technology, music and audio technology or sound production or engineering could be useful.

 

Useful subjects

  • Music
  • Music technology

You will also need

  • To be over 18 years old to work in licensed venues.
  • To have normal colour vision, if you are doing electrical work 
  • To be fit and healthy