Rebecca Cole – Musician & Tour Manager
Episode description
Rebecca Cole is a musician and tour manager. She's worked as a roadie for many years, but started playing music with her first band The Minders in the mid-90s and recently toured the world as the keyboard player in Pavement. Rebecca is a delight to speak with and I really enjoyed this conversation about finding room for luxuries on any income, how moving to another city helped her buy a home, the pros & cons of pinching every penny as a tour manager, and more.
Rebecca's question for me: I have a collection of low dollar IRAs from jobs I held, short term or part time. What should I do with them?
Key takeaways:
- Rebecca joined her first band, The Minders, after moving to Denver and connecting with members of the Elephant 6 music collective.
- Rebecca moved into crew work (merch seller, assistant tour manager) to support her musical lifestyle. She was drawn to it as a job that allowed flexibility, travel, and self-employment—prioritizing control over her time to continue playing music.
- Encouraged by colleague Dave Burton, Rebecca gradually transitioned into tour managing, gaining early experience with The Head and the Heart and eventually stepping up with Neutral Milk Hotel.
- Initially hesitant to pursue tour management, Rebecca now embraces the role, striving to make tours better through her experience and leadership. She emphasizes comfort and morale on the road, even if it means spending a bit more.
- She now balances being a touring musician (playing with Pavement and Pedro the Lion) and a tour manager, often shifting roles depending on opportunities. Rebecca describes choosing between financial stability and meaningful musical opportunities, such as turning down a lucrative tour management gig to play keys with Pedro the Lion.
Links:
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Rebecca's Insta
The Minders Wiki, Bandcamp, & Insta
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