Per Diem Split Calculator
Split a tour per diem across band, crew, driver, merch, and guest roles using full days, partial days, travel days, covered meal deductions, role multipliers, and currency conversion.
Use case: Load a named touring scenario, then revise day counts, rates, role multipliers, covered meals, and FX rate for the settlement packet or tour manager worksheet.
Enter the number of people in each role bucket. A multiplier of 1.00 receives the base rate; 0.50 receives half; 1.25 receives a premium role allowance.
| Role Bucket | People | Multiplier | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlining artist or band members | Core performers receiving daily road allowance. | |||
| Supporting musicians or openers | Hired players, support acts, or feature performers. | |||
| Tour manager and production lead | TM, PM, production coordinator, or road lead. | |||
| FOH, monitor, and lighting crew | Audio, lights, video, RF, playback, and systems crew. | |||
| Backline, stage, and guitar techs | Instrument techs, stage techs, drum techs, and loaders. | |||
| Driver, runner, or transport crew | Van driver, bus relief, runner, airport shuttle, or courier. | |||
| Merch, VIP, and hospitality staff | Merch seller, VIP check-in, hospitality runner, or guest desk. | |||
| Guests, trainees, or non-working party | Non-working party members or approved reduced-rate travelers. |
Per Diem Split Breakdown
| Role Bucket | People | Effective Rate | Per Person | Role Total | Home Total |
|---|
100% of entered daily rate.
Uses the partial day percent.
Uses the travel day percent.
Scales each role allocation.
| Day Class | Typical Allowance | Tour Use | Audit Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full show or work day | 100% of full rate | Show day, full rehearsal, long production call | Usually counts even when venue catering covers one meal |
| Partial local day | 50% to 85% of full rate | Promo, short load-in, short media call, local pickup | Define cutoff hours before the tour starts |
| Travel day | 35% to 75% of full rate | Airport day, drive day, border day, ferry, train, transfer | Separate from show days for clean settlement notes |
| Covered meal deduction | 10% to 25% per meal | Hotel breakfast, airline meal, promoter catering, buyout overlap | Cap deductions so no role falls below zero |
| Role Type | Common Multiplier | Why It Changes | Planning Cue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headlining artist or band | 1.00 to 1.25 | Core performers may receive standard or premium travel allowance | Keep equal band splits unless contract says otherwise |
| Tour manager or production lead | 1.00 to 1.20 | Advance work, settlement days, and long admin calls | Check whether office days count as full days |
| Audio, lights, backline, and stage techs | 0.90 to 1.10 | Specialty crew may match artist rate on long tours | Group crew by contract class, not friendship group |
| Driver, runner, merch, and hospitality | 0.75 to 1.00 | Some roles work fewer days or use local hire terms | Use hold status for people not yet confirmed |
| Guests, trainees, and non-working party | 0.00 to 0.50 | Reduced or no allowance is common for non-working travelers | Document approval before the run begins |
| Currency | Display Symbol | FX Field Meaning | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD | $ | 1 USD to home currency | US tours, mixed North American routing |
| EUR | € | 1 EUR to home currency | Eurozone club, theater, and festival runs |
| GBP | £ | 1 GBP to home currency | UK promo weeks and headline dates |
| CAD | C$ | 1 CAD to home currency | Canadian support tours and border routing |
| AUD | A$ | 1 AUD to home currency | Australia fly-in or festival circuits |
| JPY | ¥ | 1 JPY to home currency | Japan promo or showcase itineraries |
| Preset | Typical Party | Day Pattern | Split Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club Weekend Van | Band, TM, merch, driver | 3 full, 1 partial, 2 travel | Standard artist rate with reduced guest bucket |
| Indie Support Run | Support band plus small crew | 7 full, 2 partial, 3 travel | Support musicians slightly below headline rate |
| Theater Headline | Band, TM, FOH, LD, backline | 10 full, 3 partial, 4 travel | Manager premium with crew at standard rate |
| Festival Fly-In | Artists, techs, merch, runners | 4 full, 2 partial, 3 travel | Higher travel percentage and hotel meals deducted |
| Orchestra Bus Week | Large ensemble and production lead | 6 full, 2 partial, 2 travel | Mostly equal split across active performers |
| DJ Weekender | DJ, TM, tech, merch | 2 full, 1 partial, 2 travel | Small party with role premiums for lead staff |
| Choir Regional Tour | Choir, director, TM, driver | 5 full, 2 partial, 2 travel | Large performer count and reduced guests |
| Production Crew Advance | PM, audio, lights, stage, driver | 5 full, 1 partial, 4 travel | Crew-heavy support policy |
| EU Club Loop | Band, crew, merch, driver | 8 full, 3 partial, 5 travel | EUR payout with FX conversion check |
| UK Promo Dates | Artist, TM, tech, guest | 3 full, 3 partial, 2 travel | GBP payout and partial-day-heavy schedule |
A per diem split calculator is a tool that will help you calculate how much money each person on the tour should recieve for there daily expenses. As the tour managers, we often experience argument regarding the amount of cash that each individual should receive. This is because tour managers doesnt typically establish the rules regarding per diem for the tour before they begin.
The per diem split calculator will remove the guesswork around how much money each individual should receive. First, you must understand how to enter the different types of days into the split calculator. For instance, you enter full day for days during which the individuals is participating in rehearsals or shows.
How to Split Per Diem Money on Tour
On the other hand, partial days are entered for instances in which there are short promotional call or half load-ins. In addition to these days, travel days are entered into a separate column because the type of work that individuals put in on a travel day is different than performance days. Additionally, all members of the band generally agree that the rate for travel days should be more lower than for full days.
Thus, the split calculator can be used to determine whether 50% of the rate for travel days can be used to provide meal for the members without leading to further arguments regarding finances. The role multipliers can also be entered into the split calculator. For example, the individual who is performing the role of tour manager may have more responsibility than the individuals with the role of merchandise seller.
Thus, the tour manager should receive a higher rate for their days than the merchandiser. An individual with a role as a guest or a trainee likely has fewer responsibilities than a full member of the band, so they will receive a lower rate. The split calculator allows people to see these roles and the levels of responsibility so that the calculated figure reflect the verbal agreements between the individuals.
Another feature of the split calculator is the ability to convert the currency. This is helpful for instances in which the tour include countries that have different currencies from the home country of the band. In this case, all members of the band should use a single exchange rate from the start of the split calculator until the end of the tour.
The split calculator can keep this exchange rate constant while it calculate the total split per diem for each individual in the band. This is crucial because currently, individuals often argue regarding the different exchange rates that each individual remembers for each day of the tour. Another issue that the split calculator address is the deductions for meals that are included in the per diem calculation.
As with other aspect of the split calculator, the split calculator can help bands keep track of how many meal the promoter provided and what percentage of the rate for per diem is taken up by those meals. This will allow the bands to see if the percentage for meal deductions is fair or if it removes too much money from the allowance for travel days. This ability to calculate meals will help bands to avoid arguments regarding meal allowance.
Finally, split calculators include reference tables to show the common types of tour that occur. For example, a club weekend tour may have three full days of performances, one partial day, and two travel days. A theater may have more days of performances but will have more staff performing the same show.
Additionally, festivals will have more travel percentages and meal deduction because catering is often provided. These presets will allow bands and tour managers to establish a starting point for the split rather than having to start from a blank page. The per diem split calculator is also helpful for situations in which the number of individuals change during the performance.
For example, if a new act join the tour, the split calculator can be adjusted to calculate the new figure for each individual. If the number of travel days is adjusted to partial days, the split calculator can be adjusted again to provide the new per person rate for the tour. Thus, the split calculator will ensure that any changes to the number of individuals or types of days will be immediately reflected in the split calculator.
To avoid the problems caused by the lack of split calculator rules during the planning stage, the rules for per diem should of been written before the first show of the tour begins. The split calculator can reflect the agreement of the band members regarding the number of full days, partial days, and meal deductions that will be used during the band’s tour. Furthermore, placing the split calculator in the same document as the list of role for each individual in the band will allow the split calculator to show the accurate figures for the band members when they must provide the split sheet to there accountant at the end of the bands tour.
