This is a question that has been a bit of a hot topic in recent months as new rules come in to force. Do bands need them? Do drivers? What…

If you’re touring in Europe as a UK-based musician or crew member, there’s every chance you will be asked to provide an A1 form.

This guide is written from my experience as a tour manager working with UK and international artists in Europe, and is not intended as legal advice. It just details how I’ve seen things work in practice, and may be subject to change.

This started as a joke list of stuff that happens on tour that I don’t understand people not understanding, but it got a bit serious and I think there’s something to it. Have I always lived by these? Absolutely not. Do I think I should? Yes, definitely.

I’d love to add more if you’ve got any suggestions.

If we’ve toured together and you think i’m thinking of you with any of these, I probably am.

NOTE: This article does not cover the changes in EU rules around Tachographs. For more on that, head HERE. Carrying a band and their backline in a splitter van has…

Cash is on the decline (almost) everywhere, and being able to accept card payments is basically essential to any touring merch seller. However, once you leave the UK, you can run in to issues with some of the more common readers. This is a run down of the major card payment terminals available to artists and merch sellers in the UK, and the pros and cons of each.

One of the biggest skill jumps in your career as a Tour Manager will be from van tours to bus tours, and it’s a step that requires a whole host of new knowledge that might not be immediately obvious.

Since Brexit, carrying merch out of the UK in to Europe and vice versa is at least moderately more complicated than it once was. This guide is written from my experience as a tour manager for small and mid sized tours in Europe by UK and international artists and is not intended as legal advice – It just details how I’ve seen things work in practice, and may be subject to change.