Nearly a decade ago Lance Cathro was managing a band that needed to tour internationally and couldn't afford a tour manager, so he became one. Since then he’s travelled the world and provided tour management to some of NZ’s top artists.

In this QnA he says live performances will always be in demand, no matter how technology advances.

"Just like I think people will still go to supermarkets or to a great sports match and for the same reason…the tangible experience of being there."

What do you do - paint a picture of your typical day

Spend time planning (piecing together the details of a tour), communicating with the various parties involved (artists, promoters, venues, publicists, managers, production etc) making sure the flow of information is steady.

Why is your work an important part of the music industry?

Live performance is vital to the music industry. Listening to a song in your car or on your stereo is great and can be a powerful thing, but listening to that same song being sung live and sharing that experience with a bunch of other people takes it to another level. I’m a key part of bringing that experience to you.

How and when did you get into it?

About nine years ago when I started managing a band that was touring internationally  and couldn’t afford a Tour Manager.

How has your role evolved since then?

It’s been based more in New Zealand over the past five years and now involves many different artists/ tours rather than just focusing on one act.

What advice would you give to others pursuing it as a career?
 
Decide whether you have the temperament for it. Anyone can learn how to do most of the job…but you have to have the ability to deal with some pretty trying circumstances…and still keep a level head.

What does a band/artist need to have sorted before approaching you?

The level of shows that I work on require an artist who has established themselves firmly in the NZ music scene. They’ve already toured on their own, they have a profile in the market wether through radio or other media and are serious about their careers. They’ll likely have management and/or other support structures in place that have helped them reach this point.

What are the rewards and challenges of your job?

The rewards are traveling, working with artists/ bands, and helping all those involved in the tour to navigate their way through. The challenges are travelling, working with artists/ bands, and helping all those involved in the tour to navigate their way through.

What are the current challenges and opportunities in the industry - NZ and international?

I think one of the key opportunities that has developed over the last few years has been the explosion of online based interaction from YouTube to Facebook to Twitter. All of a sudden, communicating to the masses is accessible to anyone with a computer and an internet connection.

This in turn has produced one of the great challenges and that is, “how do I get my voice heard amongst this seemingly endless pool of recording artists”. I think this is true of NZ and abroad.

Another challenge is, “how can I make this financially viable?”

In New Zealand, government funding to support Kiwi Made creative content is one of the great opportunities for local artists to get ahead.

What’s your favourite project so far in your career?

To pick one is to play favourites and that can be dangerous in a market this size! I really enjoy Tour Managing the Winery Tour. It is by far my largest tour and easily the most challenging, but you can’t beat working with great NZ acts in some of the most spectacular vineyards and wineries in the country.

Who do you work closely with?

I work closest with the Artists and Promoters – they’re the ones paying the bills.

Do you play music, or what are your musical influences?

I have had a passion for music since my early childhood. I’ve played piano and drums (even dabbling in some singing!) over the years. I don’t play so much now, but still love music and the impact it can have from the individual to an entire nation.

What’s the future of music? What’s the future of your role?
 
Music will always be around – of that much I am sure. What form(at) it will take is anyone’s guess… As far as the future of my role – I think there will always be demand for physical touring no matter what advances in technology there are…just like I think people will still go to supermarkets or to a great sports match and for the same reason…the tangible experience of being there.

What’s your big idea for 2011?

It’s still being formed and as such…if I told you…I’d have to kill you – check in with me in 2012 and I’ll fill you in…

Further information:

Lance Cathro / Tour Manager / Fatboy Management

Lance Cathro has been involved in Artist & Tour Management for 9 years – four of those years with an internationally touring band and most recently focused domestically in New Zealand. His International touring took him to America, the UK, the Netherlands, Australia, Kenya, South Africa and Singapore. Now based more at home, Lance represents Chris Cope, Late 80s Mercedes and Elly and provides Tour Management services to New Zealand’s top artists such as Tim Finn, Dave Dobbyn, Opshop, and Gin Wigmore to name a few. Lance is also the Tour Manager for the growing and very successful More FM Winery Tour that tours a crew of over 50 people through 18 venues across New Zealand.