The Life of a Tour Bus Driver
With years in the business of driving buses for tours and having been the driver to some of the biggest stars in the United States, I can tell you that the life of a tour bus driver has its ups and downs. Sure, you’re amidst the glitz and glam of some of the biggest music acts in the nation. You’re driving what is essentially their home, and you’re expected to do so with high professionalism. It’s more than catering to their needs; it’s about keeping everyone safe. You also ensure they’re happy and maintain their home in working and neat order. Despite the chores, one thing is certain: the job can be pretty cool.
I live and work in New York City, a key stop on any major tour for musicians or performers. Madison Square Garden is the epicenter of performance spaces. Many of my tours either start or end here in NYC. So, what’s it like to be a tour bus driver? Let’s dig into some of my experiences.
The Tour Bus With The Star On It
When you are the driver that is assigned to the bus that carries the star — the performer who the whole tour centers around — you have a big job. Your job is going to be to:
- Make sure the star gets what he or she needs by way of food and beverages
- Make sure the conditions within the bus are to the star’s liking
- Make sure the bus is cleaned while the star is performing so that he or she can come back to a clean “home”
- Make sure that the star feels comfortable
Oh yeah – and you have to drive the bus! Driving a star on tour may seem like a bustling job, and sometimes it is, but I actually spend most of my time alone as the bus driver. We’re often following a tight schedule with back-to-back city stops, so many times while the star and his or her entourage sleep, I’m driving the bus through the night. It can be tiring and lonely at times, but it also has its moments of peaceful solitude.
The Bus With The Crew On It
The life of a tour bus driver is diverse. On any tour, there’s going to be the star, and then there’s going to be the crew that put together, break down, and run the actual show. The times when I drove the bus that the crew is in have been some of my more fun, more low-key times on the job. The crew typically sees the driver as one of their own, as essentially we are part of the show (we keep it moving!). The crew bus fosters a strong sense of camaraderie, and you spend less time catering to others’ needs. However, you still have the responsibility of driving the vehicle, which, like driving the star, can be tiring and lonely.
Sleep?
As the tour bus driver, I often drive through the night. That means resting while the performer is actually performing. It’s really important to get enough rest, particularly since the job of driving is so important.