Kumar, for those of you who don't know, is the Dum Dums tour manager. He runs the show while the band are on the road and he's is in charge, of everyone and everything....the band, the crew, the lot. So with all this responsibility, you'd think he's way too busy for us to inteview him? Think again!

Kumar has managed to take time out from his busy schedule at a recent Dum Dums show to talk with us about just what it is he does.....

So, how long have you been doing this job?

I have been doing this for about 7 years professionally. I've been in a touring band (the Sugar Plums) for 10 years and learnt a lot about being on the road from this. I think I've been involved with the Dum Dums since their 3rd ever gig - so that must be over 3 years now...

What does the production side of your job entail?

It involves the technical side of putting on a show. This basically means making sure the P.A and lights work to the standard that our engineers need and that the rest of the crew have everything that they need to do their jobs properly. It also involves booking crew, transport, equipment etc. On top of this I have to calculate the logistics, like making a daily schedule to ensure everything technical gets done on time!!

What does the management side require?

Tour management in its precise form involves all the planning. This includes everything from planning budgets and being in charge of the purse strings to presenting the final accounts. It involves representing the bands best interests and making sure everything is as it should be for them. The tour manager is the interface between the band and the rest of the world when on the road and the person that makes sure that the plan happens.

To do the job, what are the main skills you need?

Patience and a good temper!

What are the main differences for you, between doing a smaller club tour (like the recent Dum Dums headline tour) and a big arena/stadium tour (like the Robbie Williams / Bon Jovi tour)?

Budgets! On a smaller club tour everything is on a smaller scale and it's physically more work for all the band and crew. Everything is more difficult - from loading in the equipment, to the size of the stage. On an arena tour there are a lot more people around to help - everything is constant as well....the stage is exactly the same size every night as is the time that the band play etc... On a positive side - from a performance and audience reaction - it's a much better buzz doing the smaller gigs - the audience jump around and the atmosphere is electric.

Who employs you?

Fruit Pie Music Ltd employs me and all the crew. I am managing director of Fruit Pie Music and the Dum Dums employ Fruit Pie Music for the services it provides - I suppose we are appointed by the band's management.

Are you involved in setting up the budget for the tour?

Yes - it's my responsibility to provide an initial budget, which will be negotiated between management, record company and myself until we reach an approved and agreed working budget. I then have to impliment that budget on tour.

Do you have any creative input into the shows?

In to the presentation of the show - yes.....but I encourage team work and try and impliment any/all ideas that band/crew/management/record company suggest....

You must end up pretty close to the acts you work with, as you spend weeks on end with them?

Is this a question or a statement? Either way it's true....I am lucky enough to consider the acts I work with as my mates outside the touring environment.

What interesting/bizarre locations or venues have you visited on tour?

I enjoyed touring in Scandanavia when we travelled by ship between Finland, Sweden and Estonia on the Tallin sea. It was -15c in the sun and the sea was completely frozen…it was a combination of serene, spooky, scary and exciting, but all round wicked fun!

I have also done a gig on new years eve, on top of a mountain in the Alps in Meribelle. Getting there we got caught in a white-out blizzard on a very steep, mountain road with hairpin turns and sheer drops into oblivion…. The heater broke, the windscreen wipers broke and the exhaust blew a hole, which blew diesel fumes inside! We had to open the windows to breathe - it was cold! My hair froze to the window I was leaning against....

At one point we started skidding uncontrollably towards a lorry on the other side of the road, which we narrowly avoided!

Despite the cold one of the tyres bizarely burst into flames...which we tried putting out with snow. Strangely enough we all became ill. About four feet of snow fell in about two hours parked cars began to disappear and we really thought we were going to freeze to death. It took us about 15 hours to travel 3 miles! I have never been so scared in all of my life......ahh the memories!

Is your job a stressful one?

Yes!!!

What are the best & worst things about the job?

Best thing: It's what I enjoy doing......I love to see a good plan come together and a wicked band playing live every night.

Worst thing: Dealing with seemingly insolvable problems....telling people off and guest lists....yuk!

A big thanks to Kumar for taking time out to do this interview!