The CMA Touring Mentorship Program gives early-career touring professionals access to experienced professionals in their desired fields. Throughout the program, mentees meet with their mentors monthly over 6 months and discuss best practices in their role, trends in the industry, and receive real-world experience through shadowing and projects. The program begins with a kick-off for mentees and mentors to meet and set the rest of their program meetings, and the program ends with a celebration of their work and a chance to share what they’ve learned. In 2026, the program runs from April to October and includes 7 tracks:
- Tour Management
- Production Management
- Band Leader/Musician
- Front of House (FOH) Engineering
- Monitor Engineering
- Lighting Direction/Design
- Touring 101 (Introductory Track)
Applications for both mentors and mentees are open now until March 2, 2026. Pairings will be made on area of interest, experience, and compatibility.
Mentees should have less than five years of experience in their career field or field of interest and be able to commit to meeting with their mentor for at least two hours per month for a six-month period. Mentees must be CMA Members.
Mentors must have five or more years of experience in the live entertainment industry or field of interest and must be able to commit to meeting with their mentor for at least two hours per month for a six-month period. Mentors must also be CMA Members.
The 2026 cohort will begin in April and end in October.
Late March – Mentors and mentees notified of pairing
April 21 – Mandatory Mentorship Kickoff Session (3pm)
May – Meeting 2*
June – Meeting 3*
July – Meeting 4*
August – Meeting 5*
September – Meeting 6*
October (date TBD) – Mentorship Closing Celebration and Mixer
*Exact mentorship meeting dates to be agreed upon by mentor/mentee pair
Mentorship Program Content
Each mentor has developed a curriculum and topics of discussion for the 6 planned meetings. The mentor/mentee pair will customize pieces of it based on the interest and experience level of the mentee.
The pair will also decide what type of project or scenario would be a valuable exercise for the mentor and mentee to work together on over the term of the mentorship.