Check Out Chase Butler’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chase Butler. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I moved to Nashville, TN in January 2015 at 19 years old. I was going to school at MTSU when I got my first tour management opportunity for an artist in town. I held a ton of odd jobs while pursuing my tour management opportunities; cashier at a sporting goods store sold concessions at The Grand Ole Opry, and hired as an account manager for a social media marketing start-up. 

I worked as a Tour Manager for multiple new artists; Andy Velo, Kasey Tyndall, Hannah Dasher, Lainey Wilson, Jobe Fortner. When touring with these new artists, we opened for artists such as Cody Johnson, The SteelWoods, Whiskey Myers, Craig Morgan, Justin Moore, and more. 

I took a tour manger opportunity with new artist Kasey Tyndall as she started on the Parmalee tour in 2017. Three months later, I got the call to become Assistant Tour Manager for Parmalee based off my performance on the previous tour. Eight months later, I was promoted to Tour Manager for Parmalee. During my time with Parmalee, I also worked on their management team at Deep South Entertainment. 

In 2019 I made the transition to Tour Manager for Tyler Braden, a longtime friend in town, after he signed his record deal with Warner Music Nashville. Tyler and I have lived together for years and the plan was to always work together. After joining the Tyler Braden team, we started the Granger Smith tour before getting shutdown due to COVID. When touring came back, we began headlining shows and was picked up for a few Brantley Gilbert shows. 

We are currently direct support on the Brantley Gilbert arena tour. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. Even today the road is still not always the smoothest. 

My entire family is back in Mobile, Alabama so the everyday struggle of missing my parents, sister, nephew, grandparents is always a challenge. 

For all touring personnel – if you don’t have shows, you don’t get paid. The biggest struggle is not being in control of your own schedule. You place your trust, and essentially your finances, in the hands of the artist, management, booking agents, etc. 

The road is one of the most rewarding places and can also be one of the loneliest places. One day, you can play to an arena crowd of 10,000 people and the next, you play a dive bar with 40 people. It’s all about the ride and growing with every show you play. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Tour Manager and most of my friends and colleagues know me as a Tour Manager. 

In 2022 I’ll be stepping into an artist manager role and also acting as an independent booking agent while I continue my tour management career. 

I take pride in the fact that new artists look to me for road and touring advice. I’ve been in just about every situation, with every type of band, stage, travel you can imagine. Just because management and booking agents book you a tour, doesn’t mean that it’ll be an easy experience. New artists are often excited to see dates on the calendar but do not consider routing, travel, and possible issues on the road. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Podcasts: Everything But The Show 

Notes From The Road 

Promoter 101 

Behind The Talent 

The Tour Life Podcast 

Signal To Noise 

TipSee Music Happy Hour 

Shameless Plug: January 2022 I will be starting a podcast with some of my best friends. It will be called The Crew Bus Podcast; a podcast dedicated to crew members who hold different job titles within the touring world. 

Books: 

I love any type of music history or music business-related books. 

And Party Everyday – The Inside Story of Casablanca Records 

Artist Management For The Music Business 

The Agency: William Morris and the History of Show Business 

Contact Info:

• Email: iamchasebutler@gmail.com
• Instagram: @iamchasebutler
• Facebook: @iamchasebutler
• Other: @iamchasebutler

Image Credits
Risa T Photography
Austin Friedline
Nicole Murphy