Jen Ochej

Tour Manager (freelance) & Touring Educator (@jenochej)

A moment in your career when you really backed yourself.

“Deciding to stop being afraid of being seen as "cringe" or "full of myself", and lean into sharing my knowledge and experience as a Tour Manager online via my Instagram, has been such a huge growth experience for me.

It's something I'd thought about doing for a long time, after receiving countless DMs and emails asking me to explain how touring works, and I'm proud of finally deciding to back myself and go for it.

It's been so fun and rewarding, and I'm really excited about all the plans and ideas I have to build and grow from here.

This is just the beginning! ”

One thing you’re proud of in your career.

“I'm really proud of the connections I've made with fans.

Because tour managers and crew are so busy behind the scenes, there can be a real disconnect from the people who are actually attending the show we're working so hard to put on.

But I've always seen it as a priority to meet and connect with fans and make sure I'm tapped in to what they're experiencing before, during, and after our shows, and to this day I'll still regularly receive messages from fans of artists I've long stopped touring with, telling me how much they valued me as a TM.

I think that's really special.”

Name another woman in music who inspires you, and why.

“I get to connect with so many incredible people through my Instagram, and someone I've been inspired by lately on there is Grace Irwin (@gracejirwin).

She's a young, up-and-coming Tour Manager based in Nashville and I love seeing her document her journey and all the ways she's working towards her goal of a career in live music.

I hope we get to meet in person someday, but until then I'll be cheering her on online!”