Guest Post: Amir Al-Qadaffi

Guest Post: Amir Al-Qadaffi // @iamamirhasan

 ____________________

Being a better Tour Manager inspires me. After my initial round of touring in 2009 where I was thrown to the wolves and generally had a rough go of things (which I am shockingly grateful for), touring for me has been pretty easy. I did the biggest tours of my life in that year, arena tours with some of the biggest rock acts today, Korn, Mudvayne, Black Label Society. Not necessarily my cup of tea, but these acts are all undeniably huge. 

 After that first year, things got easy. I think too easy almost. I went out with a couple of bands that really appreciated and embraced me. The tours were generally pretty easy, and working them was a cinch. Recently I had a not so great experience. I wasn't treated badly, I made great money, I was on a tour bus but there is more to having a positive experience than that. I learned that I value feeling like part of a team, clear communication, and assertive leadership are more important than making more than the next guys will pay, or traveling in the cushy tour bus.

I was offered and accepted a new gig recently. I am happy that I will be Tour Managing Me Talk Pretty from NYC, on their next tour, their first national headlining run. This band is great. I met them earlier this year. They opened a tour I was on with another of my clients, Framing Hanley. I don't usually care about the opening bands on the tour, generally they are unorganized, inexperienced, and waste my time. The minute I heard Me Talk Pretty I knew they were different. I am inspired by this band, I am inspired by my last tour. I am inspired to step my game up so much more. I am a little embarrassed at how complacent I had become. I want the old feeling of my first few tours, where everyday I worked my tail off with the fear of if I messed up I'd be fired and sent home on the spot. I am inspired to not let the monotony of tour life grind me down. I am inspired to keep working hard, to work harder than ever actually, and re-dedicate myself to being the best.