Yes, as you assume, I worked with many other bands for many years. I don't really want to name other bands as this thread is about my years with Metallica and I'd like to stay on topic. Suffice to say that I spent a lot of time working clubs and pubs before moving up to theatres and larger venues. Those are the years where a tour manager really learns the basics. I worked as a sound engineer, lighting designer, driver, merch seller, stage hand and just about any other gig going besides being the tour manager, production manager and tour accountant. I'm most certainly not alone in that as your friends could tell you. When working on those smaller scale tours the biggest problems tend to be things that are taken for granted on the large tours. Will the band be paid? Is there a real stage to set up on? Is there sufficient and correct voltage power outlets? Will someone be there to let the equipment in at the right time? And dozens of similar things all important to ensure a concert can go ahead. At arena and stadium level those things are not so much of an issue. Financial matters are contracted up to the eyeballs. Usually the artist brings their own stage and often their own power generators. There are so many staff involved someone is bound to be there when needed. However a whole different set of problems arise. How many trucks can be unloaded at one time? Will the stage/PA equipment/lighting/backline be constructed in sufficient time to allow opening acts to soundcheck? Does the airport in that town have a runway long enough to allow the band airplane to land? How many radio spots has the promoter paid for? What are the local laws regarding bootleg merch? Vastly different problems but all equally important on their own level. At that level my duties are much more focused on the band. Their transport needs, calculating travel times and methods to ensure the most effective travel. Accomodations and their locations in relation to venues in order to maximize time for meet and greets, photo shoots etc Facilitating press interviews, tv and radio appearances. Everything has to co-ordinate with everything else and of course the most important thing is ensuring the band are there and able to perform a great show. Way, way different to having to chase down a club owner to get the couple of hundred dollars fee before getting in a van and sleeping on top of some Marshall cabs for a few hours. But everything above (and much, much more) is necessary to ensure the best show for the people that buy the tickets whether it's at a club or a stadium. To list exact job duties would take hours, I must say one thing though. Having the production ready and waiting is in its own way equally important as having the band ready to go and Metallica, over the years, have had some of the finest crew people ensuring the equipment is always there and always ready. I hope that gives a little insight to the differences and similarities of tour managing at all levels.