Work Environment
Band Roadies typically work in the following Career Sectors:
Videos on the Web
- Band Roadie- from: Youtube Search
The Work
Between concerts Band Roadies are responsible for the movement of a musical act’s equipment from venue to venue, on the day of concerts they are also responsible for setting up the equipment, helping with the technical set up such as sound checking and lighting tests, troubleshoot issues during the concert itself and afterwards dismantle and pack the gear away for transport onwards.
Set up can include tuning guitars, setting up speakers in the optimal location and ensuring the stage layout is as specified. They also must ensure the stage setting is safe, and work with venue staff to resolve issues.
Further Information
- Band Roadie - from: N.C.S. [UK]
Qualities - Band Roadie
Band Roadies need to be physical fit, knowledgeable about music, especially the technical aspects of instruments and sound systems, and efficient. On tour, days will run to a tight schedule and a huge amount is dependent on the roadies ability to get equipment moved and set up on time.
Touring will mean long periods of time spent on the road, so Band Roadies need to be comfortable with this as well as possessing good interpersonal skills.
Interests - Band Roadie
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Realist
Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.
Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Entry - Band Roadie
Pathways into working as a Band Roadie or Music Tech are varied.
Previous knowledge of music performance and sound will be an advantage. Moving and lifting equipment and rigging are likely to form a significant part of the job.
Key Skill certs
Safepass/ Manual handling: Stagepass
Event management
These courses may be available at low or no cost via FET training centres, you can search for these key skill certs via Search our FET coursefinder
Training & Development
FET Centre Traineeship: Event Management, Logistics & distribution, Sound engineering in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search our FET Coursefinder
FET Centre PLC courses: Sound engineering, Music performance, event management, Transport & logsitics at NFQ level 5-6 Search our FET centre PLC coursefinder
Apprenticeship:Transport & logistics Apprenticeships NFQ level 6-9 Search Apprenticeships
Professional Development
Assoc of Irish Stage technicians
The nature of the Music & Performing Arts sector is such that finding jobs will likely rely on networking within the music industry.
Last Updated: March, 2023
Pay & Salary - Band Roadie
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €25k - €51k
Income will vary greatly depending the scale of the tours and concerts worked on.
Data Source(s):
Input Youth/ Careersinmusic.com/ Indeed
Last Updated: February, 2024
* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.
View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available
Labour Market Updates - Band Roadie
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).
Employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 7,300 persons employed. As illustrated in the CSO Census data below, employment is spread across a number of roles; since 2016, the strongest growth, in absolute terms, was for graphic designers and authors, writers and translators.
New employment permits issued for this occupation in 2022 were primarily for film/TV and animation/visual effects (VFX) roles but also for linguistics experts in the ICT sector. There was also a high volume of recent job hires in line with the recent employment increase. The data does not point to overall issues with recruitment for these roles.
Useful Contacts - Band Roadie
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Musicians' Union of Ireland
