Lindsey Dubey
Name: Lindsey Dubey
Company/Organization: Freelance Tour Manager, Production Manager, Stage Manager and Artist Relations Manager
Bands worked with: Big Gigantic, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Yonder Mountain String Band, many, many bands that came through the Fox and Boulder Theater in the last six years
FEMMUSIC: How did you become a tour manager?
LD: I was booking shows back in Michigan for the university I was attending. I realized the booking side of the industry wasn’t for me and I had heard about a production internship at the Fox Theatre in Boulder, Colorado. I moved to Boulder upon graduation and started as an unpaid intern in 2010. I worked my way up to stage manager, box office employee, hospitality coordinator, production assistant, artist relations manager, house manager and then to Assistant Production Manager. I was even on the cleaning crew back in the day! I worked with too many bands to name throughout the years at the theaters. Throughout the entire experience, I knew my next step was to be a Tour Manager and/or Production Manager on the road. I was approached by Big Gigantic in December 2014 to become their Tour Manager/Production Manager. Shortly thereafter, I went out with Yonder Mountain String Band as their Tour Manager while their normal TM was on paternal leave. I also went out with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe for the summer/early fall of 2015 before becoming too busy with Big Gigantic who I am still Tour and Production Managing.
FEMMUSIC: What are the biggest challenges of being a tour manager?
LD: There are many challenges that I face daily as a Tour Manager/Production Manager. You often go to festivals/venues that are less than professional and it’s your job to make sure the show still goes on as if everything was perfect. You are ultimately responsible for everything that happens that day and it can be a lot to handle but it’s also incredibly rewarding when it goes off without a hitch.
FEMMUSIC: What challenges does being a woman tour manager present?
LD: You have to work twice as hard as your male counterparts to prove yourself.
FEMMUSIC: As a woman in the music industry, have you been discriminated against?
LD: Absolutely. In the beginning, I was often asked, “are you dating one of the band members?”, “honey, where’s the stage manager?” and my personal favorite, “You need me to carry that for you, babe?” I could go on and on about the ridiculous things men have said to me over the years but it has only pushed me and given me the drive to prove them wrong and be the bigger person in the end. I’ve dealt with countless men that discriminate against women but I’ve also had the pleasure of working with just as many supportive ones throughout the industry. Some of the worst men I’ve encountered have given me valuable lessons about dealing with the touring industry. You never know what you are going to walk into once you step off the bus and having a backbone is essential. I wouldn’t have that if everyone had been nice to me along the way.
FEMMUSIC: What one thing would you like to change about the music industry itself?
LD: Hard to say really. I think every part of the industry, no matter how dark and twisted it may be, is essential to the whole.