Tips & Advice for Young Bands Going Out on Tour

Going out on tour for the first time can be a very exciting time for any band. The thrill of hitting the road and playing shows out of the area can be quite overwhelming. This excitement can often become a distraction to reality. Through this article, I hope to educate young bands on the proper measures to be taken for touring.

#1. Touring is expensive. Plan to go out on tour for no longer than 2 to 3 weeks at a time. Don't expect to get paid for every show. Save enough money prior to the tour, to cover gas, food, and housing expenses.

#2. Being a young band makes booking a tour very difficult. Nobody knows who you are except for the local scene. Getting shows out of your area, especially out of state, can be quite the task. Don't plan on traveling across the world. Stay within 5 to 10 hours from home at the most. Plot out a route and contact bands from different cities along your route. The best bet is to do show trades. Talk to bands about jumping on a show in their area, and in return provide them with a spot on one of yours. Another way of getting shows is to contact as many clubs as possible. See if your band can fill any available slots. Some clubs also allow bands to rent the stage for a night. Get as much information as you can, and contact bands in that area about getting a show set up. If a club can't provide help for a certain date, ask them if they can direct you to another club that possibly could. Every suggestion helps.

#3. Setting up a tour takes time. Plan a tour at least 2 to 3 months in advance. Give your band time to absorb everything that will be taking place. Promote the tour as much as possible. Most clubs will hand out flyers the week of your show, if you provide them. Make sure to print out directions from venue to venue, and keep a map in the band's vehicle. Don't expect everything to go smoothly. This will be a learning experience for future tours. Be patient and stay focused on the friendships within the band. If things progress and opportunities arise, you'll be spending a lot of time with your band mates. Remember to always have fun and stay true to the music.

Letters to the President live @ The Hungarian Club

Credit: Ashley Pierce

Copyright: Ashley Pierce