Artists, Managers and Tour Managers

This section provides guidance for Artists and their representatives such as Artist Management and Tour Managers in the context of live music events. It should be read alongside the Guidance on Resources for the Live Music Sector.

Artists may have responsibilities relating to their own safety, the safety of those they work with (such as band members or touring staff), and their audiences.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a duty of care to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the safety of people they direct or influence. This includes preventing sexual harassment.

As a Performing Artist, you may be considered a PCBU in relation to:

  • People you engage to work with you, including session musicians

  • Members of your band or group, particularly where you manage the business

  • Touring personnel while on tour

  • Others working on or attending an event, where you have sufficient influence or control

Artist Managers may also be PCBUs in relation to the Artist’s business and their own management activities.

Working with others on an event and overlapping duties

Under law, PCBUs have a duty of care in relation to areas they control or influence. Live music events typically involve multiple PCBUs working together with overlapping responsibilities.

Promoters and Venues generally have the greatest level of control and often engage others such as production vendors, crew, and security.

As an Artist or touring party, you will usually be working within a health and safety framework set by the Promoter and/or Venue. It is important to:

  • Understand what measures are in place to manage sexual harassment

  • Ask questions where needed

  • Seek appropriate commitments through your artist rider

Use the Show Checklist – Artist to guide discussions ahead of an event or tour. You may also refer to the guidance for promoters and venues to understand expected practices.

Where you or your team have the capacity, you may take a more active role in preventing sexual harassment. The Artist Safety Measures resource provides a range of practical actions that can be applied:

  • At individual shows

  • Across a tour

  • Within your own touring party

Some measures will require coordination with promoters and venues and should be agreed in advance. Where broader implementation is not possible (e.g. multi-act events), these measures can still be applied within your own team.

Even when working within a Promoter or Venue framework, you retain responsibility for managing risks within your own area of control or influence.

This may include:

  • Your band or group

  • Touring personnel

  • Any equipment or services you provide

  • Aspects of an event or tour where you have influence

For example:

  • A Tour Manager may manage risks within the touring party, including ensuring safe practices during post-show activities.

  • An Artist or Artist Manager may need to respond to concerns involving band members or reports of behaviour affecting others.

Artists, Managers, Booking Agents, and Tour managers all have responsibilities under HSWA where they exercise control or influence over people or activities.

You can also play a part in preventing sexual harm across your business and workplace generally, using the Foundational Resources and Other Resources included below. 

Foundational Resources

In addition to planning for specific events or tours, artists and their representatives can implement safety measures across their wider work.

WorkSafe guidance recommends that all PCBUs have a clear policy for preventing and responding to sexual harassment.

A Code of Conduct can help set expectations for behaviour, support conversations about appropriate conduct, and reinforce a commitment to respectful working environments.

A health and safety briefing with your band or touring party can also be used to:

  • Reinforce that sexual harassment is not tolerated

  • Explain what to do if concerns arise

  • Clarify reporting processes

These tools can be used by artists and representatives of any size, including sole traders and small teams. Further information and downloadable templates are available here:

  • Sexual Harassment Policy

  • Code of Conduct

  • Health and Safety Briefing

  • Training