You’re Not Unprofessional. You’re Just Not Abusable.

In the touring world, being “professional” often just means being easy to exploit.

Recently, a fellow crew member got fired mid-tour for asking for basic things:

• To be fed.

• To know where they could shower.

• To have show attendance numbers (a necessity for merch).

• To legally declare merch at a border crossing.

What happened?

• Ignored.

• Gaslit.

• Blamed for someone else’s negligence.

• Then fired… with a bonus DM calling them “unprofessional.”

Let’s break this down.

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THE RED FLAGS YOU SHOULD NEVER IGNORE

1. Last-minute logistics.

• If you’re getting your flight 6 hours before departure, they’re either disorganized or testing boundaries. Neither is okay.

2. No show counts.

• If the TM won’t tell you attendance numbers, it’s not just shady — it’s sabotage. You can’t do your job without them.

3. Verbal promises. No contract.

• If the offer is “you’ll get hotels and catering sometimes,” you’re probably not getting either. And good luck chasing it.

4. Shitty working conditions sold as “tour life.”

• No food. No showers. No transport. And they spin it like you’re soft if you complain? That’s not touring. That’s abuse.

5. You speak up → you’re the problem.

• If asking for a raise or reporting unsafe conditions gets you fired, they were always looking for a reason to drop you.

6. Gaslighting after the fact.

• “You needed too much help,” “You didn’t know AtVenu,” “You were difficult” — if none of this came up until you were let go, it’s not feedback. It’s cover-up.

THE TAKEAWAY

• Silence is never the price of professionalism.

• Doing your job right should not make you a threat.

• Asking for food, hygiene, and safety doesn’t make you “difficult.”

It makes you functional.

What they actually mean is:

“You’re not unprofessional. You’re just not abusable.”

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Get things in writing.

If they “promise” hotels, catering, pay — write it down. Confirm in email. If they ghost or get vague, there’s your sign.

Track everything.

Counts, hours, receipts, conversations. Protect yourself. You never know when they’ll try to flip the script.

Ask early. Ask clearly.

If they act weird about basic logistics (like border declarations), assume the worst and cover your own ass.

Don’t stay silent to stay hired.

If your presence depends on keeping your mouth shut, it’s not a job — it’s a trap.

Backchannel wisely.

Build alliances. Half the time, someone already knows what’s really going on.

This industry doesn’t need more “team players” who suffer in silence.

It needs more people who do the job right, stand their ground, and refuse to be dumped on. If that gets you labeled “unprofessional”? Good. Wear it like armor.