I'd love to get some input on this from others, as I still can't figure out what to do on my own. And I need to decide in the next few months. Hoping that some of you might be able to sway me to one side or the other, and get me off the fence.

I'm having a difficult time deciding if I should work locally (within my state borders) as a technician, or nationally/worldwide on tours.

Touring
Touring... There are some pretty sweet benefits to this. For starters, I'd be PAID to travel the country/world. Depending on what company I start on, I'd be making about 23k-40k annually. So having a solid job with awesome pay would be sweet. I wouldn't have to pay for a house/rent, or food for that matter. Just my state income tax, and that's it.

However, this still leaves some things to be desired.

Local
Staying local would be harder in my state. We don't have as many shows as, say, Nevada. And the movie industry was recently scared off because of our dumbshit governor (not getting into that here though). I'd have to pay rent and food. I'd be an independent contractor, so I'd need a few different kinds of insurance. Occasionally I'll get shows that pay me several thousand for a single weekend (Detroit Auto Show is a prime example, a good buddy of mine came back with 2k from one weekend). Generally, the budget would be much tighter and I won't be traveling out of state.

However, staying here means I can properly pursue some personal goals that I feel are very important. I can work mixed jobs to get by if I need to, that's not a big deal to me. I don't mind doing a little extra work.

Each side offers an experience that I can't get anywhere else. Each side requires a good chunk of my attention while I'm still young. Help me choose a direction.

Personally, I'd travel. However, if you have stuff at home you want to pursue then you should probably do that. It sounds like you're pretty passionate about whatever it is, even if you're not telling us.
Good luck, with which ever one you chose.

I agree with >>2, basically. If you really feel like you want to follow up on some opportunities at home then I suggest you go for it. However, I suggest you weigh up some pros and cons of each option before you reach a final decision.

For example, if you're touring, you'd have to think about how you're going to reach certain destination points, and when you're in a different country, you'd have to consider their customs. Although there is a lot of pay, such an opportunity will provide its own challenges.

Consult some more people about it and try to gather as much information as possible for your options.

Just do whatever you think is more comfortable, and good luck with that.

Hope that helps somewhat. :)

My votes for touring! I know some people that used to do tech/lighting work for bands and they had a blast. It'll open up a lot of opportunities to meet new people, visit new places and getting paid to do it is like the cherry on top. Plus if it doesn't work out, you could always just return home-- no shame in that.

Anyways, that's just my two cents. I wish you luck in your decision!

"However, staying here means I can properly pursue some personal goals that I feel are very important."

It all depends on you man... None of our opinions will change what you think. Personally, I say tour, you'll probably regret not traveling while you have the chance... But its up to you to weigh your options, is traveling, having fun, partying, and having a secure job more important than your goals? Or vice versa... In any case, good luck bro! Try to make the best out of whatever decision you make, no regrets~

Personally, I'd travel, but it depends on how important to you these personal goals are :/.

Thanks for your input so far, guys. I'm still a bit on the fence, though, so I'm definitely still open to hearing more opinions with reasons why you chose one side or the other.

I do feel I could clarify on those personal goals a bit, though I'd rather keep specific details to a minimum. They are important to me, very much so, as I base a lot of what I do around their eventual success. I'm having a hard time deciding whether or not I should pursue them immediately or move on to something else, then come back. I guess I feel like I may miss my opportunity entirely if I choose to tour. But at the same time, I really want to go out and see the world while doing something awesome.

I have been speaking with several people that are both contacts and good friends, asking around so that I can get a better feel for my job options. They're looking plentiful whichever way I go, it really just comes down to those personal things.

Should I experience the world first, or take my goals head-first? Touring is always an option, but I'd have to fail completely at those goals to ever want to go back to touring as an option.

Choices, choices...

Why choose?

I find it ridiculous how people establish boundaries for themselves. If you can't decide, then don't. Just do both. You can travel until your heart is content, then move back home, buy a house, and build your life from there. It doesn't have to be one or the other.

Or, you can do the opposite, though it seems harder. If you have personal goals, you may want to finish them first. You know, so you won't worry about it constantly when on tour. It's better to travel with 'no strings attached', so you can really focus on the things you're doing.

Hell, there are even more options for you to consider. You might want to move to California, where a lot of films are made annually. You could even settle down somewhere else. You're not even in college yet, so I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. Majority of your future's decisions are influenced by college (or so I've heard), so you might want to wait a while. Don't restrict yourself, though. Explore other options and when you want to choose, do so.

Just rid your head of the silly notion that you can't do anything you want. Remember, it's your life and as cliche as it may be, "You only live once." Either way, you're doing what you want and making money at the same time.

If u love money like i do and get a swee pay go 4 travel

Personally, I'd travel. I'd LOVE to be able to get out and see the world like you've got the chance to, and get PAID for it! Sure, you'd be away from home and your family a lot, but as far as you stated here, you don't have a girlfriend/wife or any kids, so that shouldn't be a problem.
On top of that, you get to see all the different cultures of the world if you choose to tour, try a bunch of different foods, meet a bunch of new people, and probably make a heck of a lot more friends. The negatives though, I'm not sure about. It's a bit past 8 am here, and I'm still waking up, so I only see the positives~