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”Music is probably the only real magic I have encountered in my life. There's not some trick involved with it. It's pure and it's real. It moves, it heals, it communicates and does all these incredible things.” -Tom Petty
From Crew to Crew Merch
Hi! My name is Erika Pursiainen and I ❤ music.
The best feeling in the world for me is to go to concerts. Hearing my favorite music, seeing talented musicians play, and enjoying it all with likeminded people makes me feel alive and fills me with pure euphoria.
After working in sales and communications for non-profit organizations and small and medium-sized companies for years, I decided it was time to move on and change careers. I wrote my Master’s Thesis on concert live streaming and graduated as an MBA. At the beginning of 2018, I sold everything I owned, packed my bags, and moved to Los Angeles to study music business and become a tour manager. It took me over three decades to realize that my passion for music could be turned into a career. Better late than never, right?
A tour bug bit me while I was on tour with Chisu back in Finland and I decided to pursue the dream of touring professionally. I wanted to be part of creating those special concert experiences I love so dearly. Since then, I’ve been working as a merchandise manager for multiple other artists, gotten into artist management, and after 5.5 months of studies in Los Angeles, embarked on my first tour as a tour manager. Working as a tour manager confirmed that I had the passion and right skillset for the job.
Since then, I’ve tour managed more shows and added new skills to my live music production portfolio. I stage managed Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles’ summer concert series in 2019 and have continued working at their other shows outside of the series. I also launched my own merchandising company From Crew to Crew Merch to fully utilize my merch and business experience. Now, an academic certificate in music business in my back pocket, the roads are open, and I’m riding them with a wide grin on my face!
In my blog, I write about both my professional and personal life. Beyond my career in music, I play the drums, I listen to heavy metal and hard rock, I’m a vegan, and I love animals. I’m developing my own app Rockstage Pass.
Hop on and join me in the City of Angels, on the road, and in my universe! ❤
About Erika’s Rock Universe
Erika’s Rock Universe is the website and blog of Tour Manager, Stage Manager, and Merchandise Manager Erika Pursiainen. The website showcases stories from live music professionals and offers touring and merchandising services. You can read more about Erika under About Me.
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