What is a Roadie?

A roadie (also called road crew or touring crew) is a member of an artist's touring crew who travels with the show to set up, run and pack down equipment at every venue. Today most roadies are skilled technicians, and many prefer their job title, such as guitar tech or monitor engineer. Life on tour means long days, early starts and late load-outs.

What a roadie does on show day

A touring crew member's day usually runs like this:

  1. Load in: unload the trucks and build their department's equipment with the local crew.
  2. Set up: prepare instruments, sound, lighting or video for sound check.
  3. Show: run their part of the show, such as handing guitars to the band or mixing monitors.
  4. Load out: pack everything into cases and load the trucks.
  5. Travel: sleep on the tour bus or travel to the hotel before the next show.

Moving a whole crew from city to city takes careful planning, which is why tours and festivals often manage crew travel and accommodation in Crescat.

Roadie vs local crew

Roadies travel with the tour and know its equipment inside out. Local crew are hired at each venue to provide extra hands, working under the touring crew's direction. Good relationships between the two make load-ins much faster.

Common roadie roles

  • Backline techs: guitar, bass, drum and keyboard techs
  • Sound: front of house and monitor engineers
  • Lighting and video technicians
  • Riggers
  • Production and stage managers
  • Merch sellers and drivers

Frequently asked questions

How do you become a roadie?

Most start as local crew, venue technicians or by helping small bands for free. Building skills in one area, such as guitar tech or sound, and getting known by tour and production managers leads to paid touring work.

Are roadies paid?

Yes. Professional touring crew are paid a day or weekly rate, plus per diems for daily expenses. Rates vary widely with experience, role and the size of the tour. Crew on bigger tours may also be paid during rehearsals.

Is "roadie" still used today?

It's still widely understood, but many crew prefer their specific job title. In the industry, "touring crew" or "road crew" are common, more neutral terms.

Related terms