Booking a tour........

[WES1280]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone has anytips on booking a tour. my band is getting ready to complete a cd of about 6-8 songs. We have a van and a trailer, and we are going to have some shirts made.

We arent looking to do a US tour yet. Just like a week and a half - to two week southern US tour.

How do you book a tour and get people to the shows who have never heard of you before? anyone have any experience or tips on touring o your own????Any help would be appreciated.

[Soggie Muffin]

there's a book called "all area access" by Marc Davison

it's about how to manage yourself and has TONS of great stuff about touring. I highly reccomend it. if your serious it'll help loads.

[WES1280]

Do you know where i can find this book? I looked on ebay with no results.

[Soggie Muffin]

well... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0793581346/103-7671910-9963065?v=glance

maybe?

[SKEETER]

If you are in a city, it may behoove you to look in the phone book for agents. Beleive it or not, there are agenices in most major towns that handle professional acts, if your band has a good stage demeaner, and is doing music that is going to be popular, a agent will likely jump on the chance to represent you. It has been my experience that the music scene in most places is sewed up by professionals, and you have to be "in the loop" to get booked. The easiest way to do that is to be affiliated with someone that books acts. Sure, they make money from you, but they also kno0w exactly how much they can make from you, so you are likley to make more per gig with an agent than without.

[Pick_Master]

A tour that sounds awesome
where you planing to go?

[ForReal]

If you want to be DIY about it you find out some bands in cities you'll be passing through and see if they want to play a show with you (It's good to give them some of your music so they can be sure you don't suck). They'll get the rest organized.


It's best to do ahead of time.

[Lazy Bee]

Very very tuff stuff you're wanting to do. But you have the right idea for sure. Touring to promote your original music. Merchandise to maximize your efforts. Skeeter is spot on, find an agent who can sell your band. Some agents represent entertainers only, some are byers for the venue. Agents allmost allways have to wear both hats. His long term interest is in satisfying the venue. That's not necassarily a bad thing. You want the band and the venue to match. A manager is allways in your corner.
Back to the hard part. Without air play or at least a serious buzz about your band in that area, it can be extremely difficult to get out of town gigs. Club owners need you to draw a crowd, hard to do as an unknown. Or the club may have a built in crowd (the place is that hot) and he'll take a chance on a new act. Question is can you make new fans on the spot. That's what the club owner wants. A band that will make his clientel want them back.
You may need to consider a hot cover playlist as well as your original stuff. Follow your agents advice on that. Your originals may be great but sometimes people need to hear them a few times to know that. So your goal should be to get rebooked so people hear your stuff again and again.
Have you got a local buzz? Most club owners want references or some idea of what your band is capable of. Your best bet may be to build out from your home base. If you're smash somewhere, chances are you can take that on the road. Good Luck!!!

[Snake]

Hey Wes1280, nice fugazi quote. Off the topic of tours, have you seen the ad where Nike has used the cover of a Minor Threat Album and reworked it for it's own use. Apparently dischord are really angry. Just though Wes1280 might be interested.

[genereaux]

An agents a good step to take, but if your up for the challenge, doing the first one yourself will give you some valuable insight to the industry.

Talk to touring bands that play through the same clubs (in your town) that you frequently play. Find out where they've played regionally before your town and where their supposed to play afterwards. If you can, find out who they booked with (at the various clubs) as well. And making friends with out of town bands can be helpful with a place to stay while your out on the road.
Once you have a bunch of possible venues and contact info for those venues buyers, start lighting up the phones. You'll need stacks of press kits (band pic/bio/reviews etc.) and/or CDs. The buyers will ask you to (ideally, if not ask them if you can) send 'em what you got. Ater you've sent that stuff out, call 'em all again and do a follow up. If you already have a timeline set, give the buyers a window; "we'll be up around your area from the 9th to 13th of July (for example), do you need and act for any of those dates. Yeah, you'll wind up playing a bunch of first and second slot gigs on three and four band shows, but your playing.

It takes a lot of 'doin' but you can get it done.


sean

[Lazy Bee]

Excellent advice.