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Once again we return to our So You Want My Job ^[3] series, in which we interview men who are employed in desirable jobs and ask them about the reality of their work and for advice on how men can live their dream.

Today we feature another one of those jobs that can really make a man jealous: the touring guitar tech. Jason Stoltzfus travels with bands and keeps their guitars in tip-top shape. Thanks Jason for taking the time to answer these questions. Now, let’s rock!

1. Tell us a little about yourself (Where are you from? How old are you? Where did you go to school? Describe your job and how long you’ve been at it, ect).

I’m 22 years old and originally from Sarasota, Florida. I’ve been working as a touring guitar tech for almost 2 years now.

As far as school goes, I attended a local community college for a year or so before deciding to move to Nashville, TN for a few months to just hang out, and ended up getting plugged into a great group of people and decided to stick around for awhile.

My job mainly consists of taking care of the artists’ guitars, amps and pedal boards. I set everything up upon arrival at the venue and make sure the pedals, amps, etc. are all in working order as well as change strings on most of the guitars daily. I have 14 guitars out on my current tour, so I group off the string changes so that I only have 2 or 3 guitars to do each day. I normally give each guitar a full set-up and action/intonation adjustment each time it gets new strings. In most cases they aren’t too far out of whack, but I check just to be sure.

During the show I tune up guitars for two players on stage and make changes as is called for by the set list that night. On this tour, I make around 25-30 changes in a 75 minute set between those two guys, meaning they each play a different guitar in a different tuning on almost every song. It makes for a fun evening but definitely requires me to be on my toes.

2. Why did you want to become a touring guitar tech? When did you know it was what you wanted to do?

Truthfully, I sort of fell into the job. I’ve been playing guitar since I was 15, and always had a strong interest in all things guitar, but I didn’t realize people made a living doing what I now do. The first road gig I ever had was more of just being a general roadie, selling merchandise, helping drive the van, and loading in and out in addition to some minor guitar specific stuff. At first I thought it would be fun to do for a short while, but then realized that it could potentially transition into a full time career.

As I moved on to different gigs within the following year, there was more being required of me in the guitar department and less elsewhere on the tour. So I gradually acquired the specific skill set needed to do the job and ultimately fell into being a full-time guitar tech. It was during that transition that I realized it was definitely what I wanted to do, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to do it full-time ever since.

3. How does a man go from enjoying playing and fiddling with guitars to making a career out of it? How did you find your way into the field and into your position?

I think that transition is one that either comes slowly or all at once. It starts with knowing someone who can give you an opportunity and then making the most of that opportunity. In my case, I was given a general touring opportunity and just tried to soak up every bit of information possible. I think being teachable and willing to learn the ins and outs is a huge part of finding success in this profession because there is always something new happening.

There are schools and courses that train you to be a certified Luthier, which are the majority of the repair shop folks. Those guys can pretty much build a guitar from the ground up, and so major repairs (like a crack in an acoustic top or a broken neck) I leave to them. Those classes are offered all over the country, and that is certainly a good way to start getting your hands dirty in the guitar repair scene.

As far as a touring gig goes, it really can happen by just knowing the right person and having enough general knowledge of gear and how it works and is set-up to get an entry level position. It’s from there that you’ll fall into a specific role on a tour and begin to meet more people who can help you climb the ladder.

4. How competitive is it to land a job as a touring guitar tech? What gives a guy an edge when he’s trying to get hired?

The industry is pretty competitive, especially as the level of touring increases. In some cases a band or artist will have “their guy” that they have had touring with them from the start, and in other cases it’s just a random placing on a tour that ends up working out well and will lead to the band/artist hiring that tech again on another tour.

There are definite legends in my direct line of work though. Certain individuals who have been touring with iconic acts for 15-20 years, and have attained all the knowledge in the world when it comes to being a touring tech. Those “A List” guys will get every call for every big tour in hopes that they’re not already out with someone else, but more times than not they’re already busy on another gig. I’ve had the opportunity to be around a few of those guys and soak up any knowledge or advice that they could send my way, and it’s been neat to hear what they have to say to a young guy fairly new in the profession like myself.

When it comes to hiring, the more notable the artists you’ve worked with in the past, the better the chances are that you’ll get hired. Your personal reputation is a big part of getting hired onto a tour as well. It’s a very small industry where everyone knows everyone, so if you can build a good reputation for being easy to work with and ultimately as a guy who can get the job done and do it well, you can stay as busy as you’d like. That’s the ultimate goal, to be answering the phone and taking time off when you want it, instead of default time off due to not having a gig.

5. You live on a tour bus almost the entire year. What’s that like? How does that affect your dating and social life?

Living on a bus is a really unique experience. It’s a little crazy sometimes, going to bed in one city and then waking up the next morning in a completely different city and state, but it’s definitely a lot of fun. Our bus has all the amenities of home, and when you spend weeks on it at a time, it definitely becomes home.

Being gone that much certainly has its effect on my social life, but I’ve been blessed with a great group of friends that understand what I do for a living and keep me in the loop even when I’m gone. A lot of my friends do touring stuff too for other artists, and we’ll go weeks and sometimes months without seeing each-other. But thanks to outlets like Facebook and Twitter and iChat we stay connected really well. It’s been a big help having friends who do what I do for a living in the sense that they understand 100% what it’s like to be gone and work on a tour for a living. Whenever we’re all home at the same time we have a blast catching up and sharing road stories; it’s a definite blessing to have that level of understanding within my friends.

6. Do any roadies have wives or kids? Or is it a strictly single man’s profession?

Yeah, lots of guys are married and have kids. I’m one of maybe 3 or 4 single guys on my current gig. I think it varies from gig to gig on how many guys are married; sometimes everyone is and sometimes it’s just one or two.

I’m one of the youngest guys out on my current level of touring, so in most cases I’m one of the only single guys. I think it’s good to have that balance though; it’s cool to see how the married guys handle being gone from their families for long periods of time and stuff. It’s something I’m glad I don’t have to deal with now but something I will deal with someday for sure.

7. What kind of relationship do roadies have with the musicians that they tour with?

In most cases, it’s a pretty good relationship between band and crew. I mean the crew takes care of the band members/artists and their gear, so there’s a trust factor that’s always there that sort of sets the tone for the relationship and interaction.

It also depends on the size of the tour you’re working. On the big arena tours, there are some days the crew will only see the band/artist during sound check and then later when they walk on to play the show. But then on a little bit smaller tour there might be lots of interaction. On the tours I’ve worked, there’s been lots of interaction between crew and band. On days off we’ll go play basketball or golf and grab dinner or something, and most nights after the show everyone will hang out. It really just varies.

The “hang” is a big part of getting hired as well. If you’re easy to be around and a good hang then you’ll be kept around. When you’re out on the road for long stretches you become pretty much family with everyone you tour with, so it’s key to surround yourself and staff a tour with good individuals. The better the people, the better the time spent on the road.

8. What is the best part of the job?

I would have to say the best part is the travel. I love traveling, and this job allows me to see the country and world. I’ve been to all 50 states, Mexico, and Canada in the short year and a half I’ve been touring. That’s a really unique opportunity, to get paid to see the world and play shows in the meantime. There are a lot of great perks about the job, but that’s the best.

9. What is the worst part of the job?

Being away from my family is numero uno. We’re so busy that I rarely have time to fly home to Florida and see my family. Every now and then we’ll have a show that will take me down there, but other than that, I don’t see them more than once every 4-6 months.

A distant second place in the “worst part of the job” department would be the lack of sleep I sometimes get. As crew guys, we’re the first ones in the venue in the morning, and then the last ones out after the show.

Depending on what time we play our set at night and what time we have to load in the next morning, we might only get a couple hours of sleep between cities. In most cases, we get plenty and don’t have to be in the venue the next day late morning/early afternoon, but there are always the rare times we have a super early load in after a real late show.

I don’t find many parts of the job that I don’t enjoy or that I would consider “the worst part,” but not seeing my family, or if we have a real long travel day, that would have to take the cake.

10. What is the biggest misconception people have about the job?

I think the biggest misconception is that people don’t realize that in most cases it’s a really good career for an individual. I know that in my personal situation, I’ll meet a lot of folks that will say, “Oh what a great opportunity while you’re young,” after I tell them what I do for a living. Yes it is a great opportunity, but I also make a really good living and will be able to do so for a very long time, just so long as I continue to prove that I am a dependable person and can do my job well.

Like I said previously, I’m one of the youngest guys out there that do what I do on the level that I do it at, so I’m trying to take advantage of this time and stay ahead of the game. It’s a chance to set a great tone for my future in this industry.

11. Any other advice, tips, or anecdotes you’d like to share?

Being a guitar tech is a really cool job that has afforded me the opportunity to meet a lot of great people, and see a lot of amazing places. There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think, “Wow, I travel and take care of guitars for a living.”

I know that one day I’ll have a family and kids and might not be able to tour as much as I’d like to, so I try to live completely in the moment and soak up all the great things I’m able to do and places I’m being taken. I take lots of pictures and archive them along with their appropriate stories on a blog that I can always revisit for a quick reminder of how much fun it really is when I start to feel burnt out.

Anyone who is interested in touring and working on a touring crew should know that the opportunities are few and far between, so if you get one take it and make the most of it. Being on the go for 8 months out of the year isn’t for everyone, but if it is for you, then get ready and enjoy the ride. It’s only as much fun as you make it!