Meet Music Travel Consultants Tour Director Michelle Hartfield
MTC Tour Directors orchestrate magic through logistics and tour planning to ensure that each trip runs flawlessly. That way, directors. chaperones and students can relax and simply enjoy the trip! Music Travel Consultants Tour Director Michelle Hartfield’s contagious positive attitude, kindness and attention to every detail allow her to create the “BEST DAY EVER!” for the students and staff, each day of the trip!
Michelle Hartfield and her husband Allen have been married for 10 years and live in the small community of Purvis, MS with their three boys; James, Brandon, and Colton. For the past 19 years, Michelle has worked full time for an independent telephone company, but she finds time to tour direct with Music Travel during her leave times….and she loves every minute of it!
Michelle’s love of travel started at an early age. Her family always vacationed in the summers, but when her grandparents took 10 year old Michelle to Washington, D.C., the rest was history! Michelle loves learning about new places and exploring them with her groups.
“Michelle came to MTC with real-world group travel experience, having planned performance trips for the Purvis H.S. Choir (Alabama) for more than 10 years. She is very detail-oriented with an outgoing, friend-to-all personality, making her a perfect fit [for] a Music Travel Consultants Tour Director. It wasn’t a surprise that she hit the ground running when she joined our team.”
Michelle was gracious enough to share some answers about her experiences with MTC:
How long have you been a Tour Director for Music Travel Consultants?
Michelle Hartfield: I’ve been a Tour Director with MTC for 2 1/2 years.
Do you have any background in music/music education?
Michelle Hartfield: I play piano and sing and was in show choir and drama in high school, but I do not have a formal education in music.
How did you get started tour directing?
Michelle Hartfield: My kids were members of the Purvis HS Show Choir, and we toured New York City in March 2014 with Music Travel Consultants. MTC’s Jeff Buchanan came down to our school in 2017 to discuss an upcoming trip in March 2018. He mentioned the need for tour directors, and I became extremely curious. That led to me to speak with MTC’s Rick Campbell, and now, here I am!
How many trips have you tour directed?
Michelle Hartfield: Eight!
What is the hardest part of being a successful MTC Tour Director?
Michelle Hartfield: I would say it’s trying to make sure everyone is getting the most out of the trip and is happy. One of my favorite sayings is, “BEST DAY EVER!” I want every day on a MTC trip to be the traveler’s ‘Best Day Ever’!
What is the largest group you have tour directed?
Michelle Hartfield: My largest group was 358, and I was one of four Tour Directors on that trip. My largest solo group was 185 [people].
Is there something you wish travelers knew before a trip departs?
Michelle Hartfield: A 60 second NYC bus load and unload. I had the best time with my bus in NYC telling them they had to unload and load in 60 seconds, so the bus could move along (and not get ticketed!) I made a game out of it by standing by the door with my timer going! The kids loved it and the bus driver appreciated the quick exit!
What’s your proudest moment or a time when you being there made a difference/impact?
Michelle Hartfield: It’s a proud moment when the director walks up and says, “We need a selfie together!” It means I’ve done my job and made a good impression.
What are your favorite places to travel/visit with and without groups?
Michelle Hartfield: New York City and Disney are definitely my favorite places to travel. Whether it’s with a group or with family and friends, you can never go wrong with either choice.
What does it take to be a successful MTC Tour Director?
Michelle Hartfield: It takes organizational skills, a positive attitude, extensive communication and Google!
What are the benefits for a music director of having an MTC Tour Director at her/his side?
Michelle Hartfield: The director can just sit back and enjoy the trip. All of the logistics are handled by the [MTC] staff and Tour Director.
Any advice or things you want to share with groups considering performance travel?
Michelle Hartfield: Decide where you wish to visit and give MTC a call. I’ve had many directors and parents tell me how great it is that they don’t have to do anything except enjoy the trip. I’ve helped plan trips for my sons’ groups prior to MTC, and sometimes it was extremely overwhelming.
Do you think you have what it takes to wear the cape and be an MTC Tour Director like Michelle Hartfield?
Contact Music Travel Consultants to start planning your trip.
