The Standard: Your Online Presence Is Part of Your Resume

Let’s clear something up.

If you think hiring managers aren’t looking at your social media, you’re wrong.

When I was a production manager and a tour manager, I absolutely checked.

Not because I was bored.
Not because I was trying to play internet detective.

Because when you hire someone for a tour, you’re not just hiring their skill set.

You’re hiring their attitude.
Their temperament.
Their judgment.

And social media is a pretty honest mirror.

Yes, We Look

You send a résumé. It looks solid.

Before I forward your name to management, what’s the next logical step?

Google.

Instagram.
Facebook.
LinkedIn.

Thirty seconds tells me a lot.

Are you professional?
Are you constantly complaining?
Are you publicly trashing artists?
Are you arguing politics in comment sections like it’s your second job?
Are you disrespectful to people who disagree with you?

Because here’s the hard truth:

If you do it online, you’ll probably do it on the road.

And I’m not bringing that energy onto a bus or into a production office.

This Industry Is Smaller Than You Think

Touring feels big.

It’s not.

Everyone knows someone who knows someone. Screenshots travel. Stories travel faster.

If you’re out there:

• Shit-talking artists
• Mocking crew
• Being racist or sexist
• Posting arrogant “I’m smarter than everyone” commentary
• Ranting aggressively about politics
• Dragging venues
• Dragging promoters

You’re building a reputation.

And it might not be the one you think.

When I saw that behavior, it was simple.

Not hired.

Not because I’m fragile. Not because I can’t handle different opinions.

Because I don’t hire volatility.

“But That’s My Personal Page”

Cool.

And when you’re on tour, is that your “personal mouth”?

There’s no such thing as a clean separation anymore.

If your profile is public, it’s professional.

If it’s private but full of screenshots and drama that leak, it’s professional.

If your name is attached to it, it’s professional.

This business runs on trust.

Managers want crew who won’t embarrass the artist.
Artists want crew who won’t screenshot backstage moments.
Production teams want people who don’t create HR nightmares.

If your online presence suggests you thrive on chaos, you’re a liability.

And liabilities don’t get hired.

It’s Not About Being Vanilla

Let’s be clear.

You do not have to be bland.

You do not have to hide your personality.

You do not have to pretend you’re not human.

But there’s a difference between personality and poison.

There’s a difference between humor and hostility.

There’s a difference between confidence and arrogance.

If your feed is 80% negativity, sarcasm aimed at tearing people down, or constant outrage… that tells me something about how you move through the world.

Touring is stressful enough.

I don’t need to add gasoline.

Artists Pay Attention Too

Here’s another thing people forget.

It’s not just production managers looking.

Artists look.

Management looks.

Labels look.

You might think your sarcastic rant about “dumb pop artists” is funny.

If you’re applying to work for a pop artist, that’s not funny.

It’s disqualifying.

You’d be shocked how often people sabotage themselves publicly and then wonder why they never get called.

What A Professional Online Presence Actually Looks Like

It’s not complicated.

You don’t need a branding agency.

You need awareness.

Ask yourself:

• Would I be comfortable with an artist reading this?
• Would I be comfortable with management screenshotting this?
• Does this make me look stable, respectful, and competent?

Post your work.
Post your passion.
Post your wins.
Share gratitude.

If you need to vent, call a friend. Don’t hit “post.”

Reputation Is Compounded Interest

Careers in this business are long.

The people who work consistently for decades aren’t always the flashiest.

They’re steady.

They’re trusted.

They’re low-drama.

Your online presence either reinforces that… or undermines it.

Every post is either building equity or eroding it.

There’s no neutral.

The Bottom Line

When I was hiring, I looked at social media.

Every time.

If someone showed consistent patterns of being rude, disrespectful, racist, sexist, arrogant, negative, or publicly trash-talking artists or crew?

They weren’t hired.

Not debated.
Not “maybe if they interview well.”
Not “let’s give them a shot.”

Not hired.

Because talent without judgment is a liability.

And I don’t bring liabilities on the road.

This industry is built on trust. You’re in close quarters. High stress. Long days. Thin margins. The last thing any artist, manager, or production team needs is someone who can’t control their ego or their keyboard.

You don’t get paid just for your skill.

You get paid because you’re safe to work with.

If your online presence makes people question that, you’ve already lost ground before the first phone call.

You want bigger tours?
Bigger rooms?
Longer runs?

Act like someone who belongs there — onstage, backstage, and online.

Because whether you like it or not, your reputation is always working.

The question is:

Is it working for you… or against you?