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 recent 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: 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 30, 2020
Category: Live Performance
live streaming touring twitter youtube stageit spotify call-to-action instagram persistence house shows gigging paypal craigslist facebook live the legit musician teach fiverr venmo soundbetter
**Guest post written by Scott Aumann, originally featured on The Legit Musician blog.
"I wanted to come up with a few ideas for you if you are dealing with lost revenue from a gig being cancelled. I also wanted to make this post more universal than just for this latest pandemic. My hope is that you can use these ideas for a cancelled gig under any circumstances."
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 21, 2020
Category: Show Booking
show booking make money touring cold pitching press kits press value posters advance the show follow up the legit musician tour routing tom jordan
**Guest post written by Tom Jordan, originally featured on The Legit Musician blog.
"You can make [booking shows] easier on yourself by using some effective strategies that help me book 200 shows a year. I pay my bills exclusively with music, and I’ll tell you how...If you’re prepared up front, you’ll avoid a lot of frustration. Preparation is important and makes a HUGE difference in outcomes."
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: Oct 14, 2019
Category: The Musician Business
music venues booking agents record labels managers touring music business national acts promoters opening bands music business after dark jeff lysyczyn
**Guest post by Jeff Lysyczyn, music industry veteran, educator, and creator of Music Business After Dark.
"Episode 2 of Music Business After Dark, a series of informative vlogs by music industry veteran and educator Jeff Lysyczyn."
View Full ArticlePosted: Sep 3, 2019
Category: The Musician Business
merch make money touring live performances spotify career goals cd's booking agents tour routing jake shane second job cost of living
**Guest post written by Jake Shane, an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who resides in Spain. He makes his living as an independent artist by touring around Europe. His fourth album will be released in October, 2019.
"A recent article by Larry Fitzmaurice titled “17 Indie Artists on Their Oddest Odd Jobs That Pay the Bills When Music Doesn’t” is by turns comforting and deflating to the indie musician...Contrastingly to me, none of those artists makes their living exclusively from music, and many of them actually lose money touring. So, what does this mean for musicians in general, and me specifically? Well, a variety of things, but I’ll limit myself to three important factors..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Aug 5, 2019
Category: Health
touring live performances health eat healthy plan ahead mental health emotional health physical health electraland radio
**Guest post written by Electra (The Rock-n-Roll Health Chick), an Integrative Health and Nutrition Consultant and Coach, specializing in the health of musicians.
"No one likes a hypocrite, and I want to feel great as well. I’ve been having the lemon and salt water in the mornings and more fruits and veggies. That leads us to the second most important change you can make to think and feel your best...EAT WELL."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jul 29, 2019
Category: Health
touring keys to success eat healthy mental health treat yourself physical health exercise electraland radio hydrate coconut water
**Guest post written by Electra (The Rock-n-Roll Health Chick), an Integrative Health and Nutrition Consultant and Coach, specializing in the health of musicians.
"Even when you’re a rock god, your mental and physical health can go either way. We all need a little help sometimes. So, I’m going to share the Top Three valuable and doable actions that will help you think and feel your best while you’re on the road, playing a gig, practicing in your room or just watching your favorite band. If you don’t take care of your body and mind, you won’t be able to think, write, perform or live well."
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 25, 2019
Category: Marketing
touring promotion marketing relationships with fans newsletters dozmia create scarcity target geographically drip campaigns a/b testing excitement fomo
**Guest post written by Nicholas Rubright, founder and editor at Dozmia, and lead guitarist for the band Days Gone By.
"with email marketing, you have direct contact to some of your most passionate fans...While [touring] can be a great way to gain exposure to a new audience, if you want to develop good relationships with the venues you're performing in, it’s also important that you get your existing fans to come out to the show...With these things in mind, how do you leverage your email list to get people to come to your show?"
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: Mar 5, 2018
Category: Show Booking
booking agents diy live performances megaphone agency music career show booking touring
**Guest post written by Jordan Gates, of Megaphone Agency.
"In the early days, a lot of bands book their own shows until it becomes necessary to seek out an agent or when an agent finds them. For serious artists, hiring a booking agent can be a big step in launching their music career to the next level. If you are wondering when you should get a booking agent, here are some things to consider..."
Posted: 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 30, 2017
Category: The Musician Business
american family insurance dream vault gear insurance music pro insurance my gear vault the guitar vaults the legit musician touring
**Guest post written by Scott Aumann, originally featured on The Legit Musician blog.
Posted: 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.
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.