Some music technicians work in music shops, where they provide services for maintaining and repairing musical instruments. Other music technicians are employed in the music industry to provide services to tour groups.

Tour group music technicians are sometimes called “crews” and sometimes called “roadies.” Music technicians that provide services to tour groups assist with packing for transportation, transporting, and setting up musical instruments for performances.

Music technician responsibilities vary. Some tour groups need only one technician to handle everything, while larger groups need crews of specialized music technicians to accomplish all necessary tasks of setting up, providing support before and during performances, packing up after gigs, maintaining musical instruments and equipment, and transporting equipment.

Other services provided by music technicians employed by music groups may include accounting, management, and administrative services, which can include booking transportation, catering, and making other arrangements, as well as driving vans, trailers, and buses.

Music technicians may be employed by music groups or they may be employed by local agencies or equipment rental companies that provide services to tour groups. Whether employed by agencies or particular music groups, music technicians may handle all or some of the packing, loading, and unloading of musical equipment; equipment security; expertise for stage lighting; set up of stages with videos, computers, and other media equipment; design and management of stage displays; and tuning and maintaining instruments and equipment.

Music technicians that travel with bands on tour work exhausting hours, living on the road (hence, the term “roadies”), lifting and moving heavy equipment, sometimes at heights, and possibly working outdoors or in loud, tight, interior environments.

Full time employment for roadies may be as low as $16,000, and even with technical skills, incomes may not exceed much more than $50,000 annually. Living allowances may be a benefit.

Roadies often work as freelance agents for part time employment.

This article provides an overview of music technicians. If you would like to submit an article about music technicians or any other music-related subject, please feel free to do so here at Media Positive Radio.