By George Pirounakis
If there’s one rule that applies across every corner of this industry – from the guy tuning guitars backstage to the merch seller drowning in beer spills and broken card readers- it’s this:
Stop trying to be the star. Be the MVP.
We throw this word around: MVP. “Most Valuable Player”. In the sports world, it’s the person who makes the biggest difference. Not the flashiest. Not the loudest. The one who shows up, delivers, supports the team – and wins.
Yet somehow, in the music industry, we confuse value with volume. The more someone talks, posts, brags, or throws around titles like “tour manager” or “production assistant to the assistant’s assistant”, the less they usually do. The real MVPs? You rarely hear them. Because they’re too busy keeping everything from falling apart.
This applies across the board.
CREW
Your job is not to be a rockstar. That position is already filled by the people on stage. You’re here to make the show happen, not make it about you. Want to know the best FOH tech I’ve ever worked with? He didn’t wear 20 lanyards or give TED Talks about his gear. He made the band sound huge and didn’t need a round of applause for doing his job.
MERCH
It’s not about being “cool” behind the table. It’s about moving units, tracking inventory, getting the band paid, and handling chaos without throwing a tantrum. MVP merch people solve problems with duct tape, square readers, and spreadsheets—not complaints or drama.
ARTISTS
Being a band doesn’t make you royalty. If your drummer’s a mess, your tech’s lazy, or your singer’s too stoned to catch the bus, you’re not “punk,” you’re unprofessional. The bands that last? They build crews they trust, treat them well, and operate like a unit—not a dysfunctional high school.
PRODUCTION
You’re here to facilitate, not dominate. The best production managers create clarity and kill confusion. They don’t scream about petty shit or create 45-person WhatsApp groups no one checks.
PROMOTERS
Do your damn job. Promote. Communicate. Pay fairly. Respect riders. Don’t be the reason a band leaves your city and never comes back. You’re not doing them a favor—they’re filling your venue and giving your bar life.
LABELS, MANAGERS, AGENTS
Your value isn’t in how many artists you collect like Pokémon. It’s in how well you handle the ones you have. Make deals that are sustainable. Give guidance that isn’t stolen from a blog. Be present, not predatory.
And here’s the universal truth:
The whole operation runs smoother when everyone shuts up about their title and focuses on their function.
Every time someone lets ego take the wheel, we all pay. Merch gets delayed. Soundchecks go long. Schedules fall apart. Tension rises. Sales drop. Energy dies.
All because someone needed to “prove” their importance instead of just doing their job like an adult.
The MVP doesn’t play for applause. They play to win.
And when everyone plays to win—together—the tour works. The show runs. The fans go home happy. The band gets paid. The crew survives. The promoter books again. Everyone wins.
So the next time you’re tempted to play the diva, ask yourself: do I want to be the centre of attention, or do I want to be the reas on this whole thing works?
Because those are rarely the same thing.
- George Pirounakis is a merchandise and tour manager based in Thessaloniki, Greece. He is co-founder of OneTwoSix Hardcore Clothing. He is currently on tour with Agnostic Front.