Posted: Mar 1, 2021
Category: Touring
touring live performing learning gideon waxman budget opening bands drum helper mushroomhead lodging stage rules soundcheck
**Guest post written by Gideon Waxman, a London based drummer & music educator. Originally posted on Soundfly's Flypaper.
"Although by no means a long run of shows, my band Familiar Spirit’s 2019 UK summer tour in support of American metal heavyweights Mushroomhead was an utterly insane and eye-opening experience — filled with wonderful people, great venues and an abundance of earth-shattering riffs. Having only formed a year ago, this was an opportunity that my band just couldn’t pass up, and I learned a lot from the experience. Here’s some of what I took away from the tour, and what I think young bands can do to prepare for and seize their own career-opening moments."
View Full ArticlePosted: Nov 9, 2020
Category: Touring
touring marketing relationships with fans newsletters concert promoter have fun local bands sound engineer live recording hudson moore digital tour bus
**Guest post written by Hudson Moore, originally posted on DigitalTourBus.com.
"I’ve been a touring independent artist for 10 years. I’ve booked, advanced, produced, and promoted almost every headline show I’ve ever played. I still have a long way to go, but I’ve been fortunate to play some amazing shows to fans across the US and over the years I’ve picked up a few tried and true tips and strategies that have helped me that will hopefully add value to you as well. So without further ado..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Nov 2, 2020
Category: Touring
show booking lodging touring plan promotion gear practice health be realistic vip tickets free ticket giveaways presell keys to success hudson moore digital tour bus
**Guest post written by Hudson Moore, originally posted on DigitalTourBus.com.
"I’ve been a touring independent artist for 10 years. I’ve booked, advanced, produced, and promoted almost every headline show I’ve ever played. I still have a long way to go, but I’ve been fortunate to play some amazing shows to fans across the US and over the years I’ve picked up a few tried and true tips and strategies that have helped me that will hopefully add value to you as well. So without further ado..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jun 8, 2020
Category: Touring
lodging merch diy touring spotify super fans data tour routing bug hunter
**Guest post written by Bug Hunter, a "thoughtful, self-reflective pop" singer-songwriter out of Seattle.
"It started as a plan to play a couple East Coast shows while attending our old drummer’s wedding in North Carolina. Eventually our radius got so big that we just decided: “Hey, let’s just drive out there and play a show every night along the way”. So we packed up the minivan in Seattle and drove for 15 days, playing 14 shows without any prior experience in the markets we were visiting (save for Seattle and Portland)."
View Full ArticlePosted: Mar 9, 2020
Category: Touring
touring touring tips career goals eat healthy mental health physical health interior decoration beauty tips aromatherapy horticulture charming disaster
**Guest post written by Charming Disaster, a goth-folk duo based in Brooklyn, NY.
"Over the past few years of touring the U.S., we’ve learned a thing or two about maintaining the fabulous lifestyle to which we’re accustomed even while we’re on the road, and we wanted to share some of our time-tested tips with other indie artists...Adding a touch of class to your tour routine is a great way to stay healthy, boost morale, and maintain your delusions of grandeur."
View Full ArticlePosted: Feb 10, 2020
Category: Touring
touring guide touring lords of the trident diy keys to success international touring
**Guest post by Fang from Lords of the Trident, the most METAL band on earth!
"Episode 16 of Words of Fang. Eventually, your band will be faced with the daunting task of touring outside of your home country. Here are some Dos and Don'ts about DIYing your cross-country-conquest!"
View Full ArticlePosted: Jan 13, 2020
Category: Touring
indie on the move show booking booking agents make money touring music business artist collective industry resources consulting diy
**Guest post written by Vinnie Hines, Co-Owner of Artist Collective AKA @ac_vinnie.
"As a music consultant for Artist Collective, I constantly hear the complaints and excuses of artists all around the country about the industry and the idea of ‘touring’...so to start chipping away at the brainwash, let’s knock down these 5 HUGE LIES ABOUT TOURING IN 2020..."
View Full ArticlePosted: May 13, 2019
Category: Touring
show booking press and radio touring touring plan promotion stay connected health be patient please and thank you plan ahead physical health collaboration ellisa sun
**Guest post written by Ellisa Sun, Jazz/Soul musician formerly based in San Francisco currently full-time RVing across the USA.
"200 days ago, my partner Ken and I left our home base in Oakland, CA to spend one year full-time RVing and playing as many shows as we can to build an audience, learn about the industry, and hopefully earn enough money to survive...the following 10 Things I’ve Learned are more focused towards DIY Musicians like myself..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Apr 15, 2019
Category: Touring
touring lodging stay connected persistence house shows have fun save money get creative follow up exercise ellisa sun
**Guest post written by Ellisa Sun, Jazz/Soul musician formerly based in San Francisco currently full-time RVing across the USA.
"100 days ago, me (Ellisa Sun) and my partner Ken Michienzi decided to leave our homes in Oakland, CA, purchase a used 30-foot Winnebago, and hit the road to play shows throughout the USA. Here’s what we’ve learned so far..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Mar 18, 2019
Category: Touring
touring create videos sleep mental health content songbones adventure camp muse
**Guest post written by Michelle McAfee, founder of Songbones, a small magazine/podcast for grassroots singer-songwriters..
"In September, I toured the southwest with another singer-songwriter for two weeks. We decided to do this tour differently. To weave other passions into the fabric of our days on the road. This didn’t necessarily make the tour easier, but it certainly made it an adventure! One that I will always remember."
View Full ArticlePosted: Feb 4, 2019
Category: Touring
touring plan touring strategy touring tips gear be prepared physical health thieves & lovers aaa weather
**Guest post written by Brandon Stoner of Thieves & Lovers.
"Winter is in full swing and it’s been a particularly brutal one due to the polar vortex that swept across the United States this past week...I wanted to write an article with some tips for touring during winter, as I’ve done so numerous times both as a performer and as a part of a tour crew and wanted to share some of the things I’ve learned along the way."
Posted: Dec 17, 2018
Category: Touring
touring gear vehicle mental health emotional health thieves & lovers laundry aaa weather logistics power inverter gym membership breakfast
**Guest post written by Brandon Stoner of Thieves & Lovers.
"24-Hour Gym Membership, Hotel Breakfast, Show Logistics, Power Inverter, Weather Woes, Rules of the Road, Tune Your Vehicle, AAA, Poor Man's Laundromat, Gear Conscious, Always Have Toilet Paper..."
Posted: Jul 16, 2018
Category: Touring
diy touring networking touring tips ask fans friend support emotional health andrew tufano
**Guest post written by Andrew Tufano, Nashville based Acoustic Pop Singer-Songwriter.
"In most professions, emotional health is largely neglected. When you’re a touring musician, it can feel taboo to even admit to yourself that you’re lonely or that you need help, nevermind telling others...Here’s some of what I learned about relationships and self-care during my time on the road."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jun 4, 2018
Category: Touring
andrew tufano exercise food grocery stores physical health planet fitness touring
**Guest post written by Andrew Tufano, Nashville based Acoustic Pop Singer-Songwriter.
"Not many musicians return from a tour in better shape than when they left. There’s nothing wrong with putting on a few pounds over a two or three week tour, but if you’re looking to have the energy to tour full time, diligent self-care is the secret. Here are some of my strategies to not completely ravage your body while on the road."
View Full ArticlePosted: Nov 20, 2017
Category: Touring
andrew tufano buy in bulk convenience delegate responsibilities health live performances make money merch networking practice touring
**Guest post written by Andrew Tufano, Nashville based Acoustic Pop Singer-Songwriter.
"When you’re strapped for cash on the road, it can be a relief to have a bandmate in the passenger seat, lifting your spirits and holding things together. At the same time, splitting $42 in tips and then going out to drink every night can make turning a profit feel like a luxury you can’t afford. Here are some of the pros and cons to touring alone versus with your friends."
View Full ArticlePosted: Oct 23, 2017
Category: Touring
bookkeeping expenses finances gigging make money merch royalties taxes touring andrew tufano
**Guest post written by Andrew Tufano, Nashville based Acoustic Pop Singer-Songwriter.
"I’ve made $44,917.42 in revenue in the past 18 months exclusively as an independent touring musician without a fan base. Over that time I played 249 shows, taught 91 lessons, and did other musical jobs for cash. There’s nothing particularly glamorous about my financials, but enough people have asked me to help them through theirs that I thought I’d publish my strategies. Here are some tips to keep your finances in order so you can tour profitably." View Full Article
Posted: Oct 10, 2017
Category: Touring
andrew tufano be efficient diy essentials gear merch music equipment touring touring tips
**Guest post written by Andrew Tufano, Nashville based Acoustic Pop Singer-Songwriter.
"When you’re touring full-time, every cubic inch in the back of your van counts. You can’t be a hoarder and tour efficiently, but fitting your daily necessities into a suitcase-shaped hole isn’t easy. Here are some strategies I learned on the road to help you consolidate your life into your car so you can comfortably tour for a living."
View Full ArticlePosted: Aug 21, 2017
Category: Touring
aris take expert conversations make money marketing plan promotion show booking touring
**Guest post written by Ari Herstand, the author of How To Make It in the New Music Business.
"I’ve made a ton of mistakes and got screwed over by talent buyers, promoters and club owners more times than I’d like to admit. I learned everything the hard way and it took me years to figure out how to actually book a successful, money making tour. The biggest thing you want to remember when thinking about setting up a tour is: do not book a tour just to go on tour..." View Full Article
Posted: Jul 17, 2017
Category: Touring
be polite career goals eat healthy enjoy yourself mental health personal hygiene touring touring plan zing instruments
**Guest post written by Zac Green of Zing Instruments.
"Not many people are willing to admit this, but the hardest challenge of being in a successful band is not killing each other when you’re stuck in close proximity for a long period of time. If you’ve got your first tour coming up, or you’re looking for a way to make the next one better than the PTSD-inducing nightmare from last time, read on for the 5 golden rules of touring with your band..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Apr 3, 2017
Category: Touring
corina corina emotional health enjoy yourself mental health quiet time sleep stay connected touring treat yourself
**Guest post written by Corina Corina, NYC based Singer, Songwriter, Blogger.
"I have a love/hate relationship with touring. For all the incredible memories I have from years on the road, it was also stressful, exhausting and emotionally taxing. I've read hundreds of DIY music blogs about touring that emphasize the importance of self care but only begin to scratch the surface...Here are a few things I’ve learned in between downward facing dog and gas station coffee..."
View Full ArticlePosted: May 2, 2016
Category: Touring
couchsurfing.com ezekiel morphis gear marketing plan merch original material plan ahead show booking social media touring touring strategy vehicle web presence
**Guest Post by Ezekiel Morphis, San Diego based Americana/Folk Singer-Songwriter.
"If you just started playing music last week, this article will aid you further down the road as long as you stay committed and work on your music first. If you are like me — two EPs completed, well practiced, working on an album, playing for a handful of years, don’t mind smelling like beer and shame for days on end and still want to know how to tour DIY — then this is the article for you."
View Full ArticlePosted: Feb 1, 2016
Category: Touring
draw fearsome folk joshua powell live performances local bands make money show booking touring
**Guest post written by Joshua Powell, singer-songwriter, DIY musician, and frontman for Joshua Powell and the Great Train Robbery, as featured in his blog Fearsome Folk.
"I’ve been on and off the road with my band for over three years now, and it’s been entirely DIY, grassroots, self-booked. We’ve learned a lot along the way, but I’ve discovered one secret to touring as the single most valuable principle to make sure your tours are worth the trouble. Never play a show without booking 1-3 other bands as local support..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Aug 10, 2015
Category: Touring
diet eat healthy fan support make money music business promotion the paisley fields touring touring strategy
**Guest post written by James Wilson, lead singer and songwriter for Brooklyn based alt-country band The Paisley Fields.
"Do... 1. Eat Healthy and Exercise. 2. Drink lots of water. 3. Treat everyone with respect. 4. Get your $$$$.... Don't 1. Have a bad attitude. 2. Leave before the other bands have finished their set...."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jan 20, 2015
Category: Touring
fan engagement house shows live performances make money pyragraph shannon curtis
**Guest post written by Shannon Curtis, an independent songwriter, singer, performer, recording artist, and author, as featured on Pyragraph.
"Then we discovered this awesome phenomenon of house concerts: they’re viral..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Sep 29, 2014
Category: Touring
diy eva alexiou-reo fata booking agency indie show booking tour booking
**Q&A with Eva Alexiou-Reo of FATA Booking Agency.
This is a great question! I feel that a band should take on a booking agent after they have booked a few tours themselves or if they have a high demand by fans to be in national markets. Since an agent's job is to find and route live engagements, then it should be during a time when there is something going on in those markets...
View Full Article