What is an Artist Itinerary?

An artist itinerary (also called an artist schedule or tour itinerary) is the day-by-day plan for an artist and their touring party, listing travel, hotels, show times and appearances for every date on a tour or event. The tour manager usually writes and updates it.

How an artist itinerary works

The itinerary is built up as each show is confirmed:

  1. Dates confirmed: the agent confirms shows and passes contacts to the tour manager.
  2. Travel and hotels booked: flights, the tour bus, ground transport and rooms are added for each day.
  3. Shows advanced: the advance with each venue fixes load-in, sound check, doors and set times.
  4. Extras added: interviews, meet and greets and rehearsals fill the gaps.
  5. Distributed and updated: the touring party receives it before the tour and gets updates as plans change.

Festivals build the same information from the other side, collecting arrival times and hotel needs from every act. Many track artist travel and accommodation in Crescat so it stays in one place.

Artist itinerary vs day sheet

An itinerary covers the whole tour or trip, day by day. A day sheet covers a single show day in detail, from load-in to curfew. A tour manager usually produces both, and each day sheet follows the matching itinerary page.

Example artist itinerary day

  • Date and city: Friday 14 March, Manchester
  • Travel: bus call 09:00, depart hotel 09:30, arrive venue 13:00
  • Venue: name, address, production and promoter contacts
  • Schedule: load-in 14:00, sound check 16:30, doors 19:00, set 21:00–22:30, curfew 23:00
  • Hotel: name, address, check-in time and room list
  • Other: radio interview 11:00, guest list deadline 17:00

Frequently asked questions

Who creates an artist itinerary?

The tour manager usually writes it, with input from the agent, promoter reps and travel agents. For one-off shows or smaller acts, the artist manager or the artist themselves often puts it together.

What should an artist itinerary include?

Each day should list the city, travel times, venue address and contacts, show schedule, hotel details and any press or promotional commitments. Many tour managers also add local emergency contacts and notes such as the nearest hospital.

How is an artist itinerary shared?

Itineraries used to be printed booklets. Most are now shared as PDFs or through touring and event apps, so updates reach the whole party at once.

Related terms