The Holy Grail for all aspiring bands… the indie tour! Heading out on the road for the first time can be daunting, so in this post we will give you some useful tips on booking a tour and making sure it’s successful.
Start small by getting support gigs
Forget about headlining your own tour to start with – If your band is new, the chances are that you won’t have any kind of following. Begin by doing some support slots with a more established band that’s similar to yours.
As an original band, these are unlikely to pay very well, but you should push to have your legitimate expenses covered (such as fuel) and, if you can, get a modest rider of refreshments.
The best way of doing this is by meeting bands in person. Get out to the gigs of bands you’d like to support and network with them – make sure you show them you’re serious.
This might cost some money, but it’s a great way to strike up a good working relationship. Offer to swap EP’s or albums, exchange business cards and follow up online with Facebook or email.
Produce some merchandise
As previously stated, you won’t be getting paid very much from these initial shows. That said, it is possible to increase your income significantly by making and selling some merchandise at these gigs.
There is all sorts of different ideas – classics like T-shirts, hoodies, badges and posters will always be a relatively safe bet, but some bands have been experimenting with other forms of merch like guestlist bundles and limited edition vinyl releases.
Keep costs down
This sounds like an obvious thing to say but whatever you can do to reduce costs on a trip will be beneficial. Expenses can easily mount up, so whether it’s borrowing a van instead of hiring one or making sandwiches for the journey it will help.
Every penny you save will go into your pocket, making it easier to afford accommodation (unless you can find a way to stay with friends).
Get listed with a reputable booking agency
A booking agent will make sure that you get the best possible fees from promoters and will also have lots of contacts for getting new gigs and tours.
Be careful when it comes to signing contracts and always have any prospective deals looked over by professionals.
Make a record to promote
In order to make a tour worthwhile, you need to have something to promote. Typically, a new EP or Album will have a supporting tour, with a single (and possibly B-side) released from the record.
If you can afford to get physical CDs replicated or duplicated, the sales revenue you can earn from these will help make touring more financially viable.
If you’re on a multiple-band line up, consider the house/borrowed back line
If you’re playing a support slot or multi-band line up shows, there may be an option to use borrowed or house kit. If your tour budget is tight, you may be able to do this at some shows to cut down on transport costs.
Hire a TM
A tour manager will help sort out hotel and accommodation, liaise with promoters and venues, arrange gear hire, deal with money and payments, look after your food, drinks and generally deal with any problems that may arise on the road.
If you have the budget, It can be very useful to have a tour manager!
Book gigs early
You should be finalising all of the details of your tour very far in advance. This leaves time for adequate promotion and allows the venue to get the word out.
Booking early will also give you the chance to get cheaper deals on the equipment, transport and accommodation.
Always use contracts
As your touring experience grows, and your following expands, you’ll start to see better ticket splits, bigger fees and more money.
Unfortunately, there are some people out there that can become a little blinded in the face of larger amounts of cash.
A contract protects you and your band from these people and makes sure that your hard earned money gets paid to you!
The musicians’ union should be able to help with some basic concert contract layouts, and legal advice (should the worst happen).
You can also check out this LMM blog on contracts for musicians.
Plan every detail
Always assume that anything that can go wrong, probably will (or at least might). Plan for every eventuality you can and you will probably be ok.
Think about where you will stay, how you will travel, where you will eat, who will drive, who will do sound, who will do lighting and visuals, how long it takes to drive from venue to venue etc.
Every bit of planning will save you money and make your tour more successful.
Don’t take risks
If you don’t have a driver, be careful on especially long journeys. It’s a big ask to get someone to load in, play a show, load out and then drive for home again.
Don’t take risks and remember that no journey is so important it is worth your life.
Remember to take spares
Going on the road, you can’t always guarantee to be near a musical supplies shop. Take spare strings, drum skins and anything else you think might go wrong. This includes spare instruments (where applicable).
Bring tools (instrument specific and otherwise)
While obvious tools such as string winders and cutters will come in handy, other (more general) tools like screwdrivers and pliers should also be packed for touring…. You never know when they are going to come in handy!
Use social media promotion
One way of attracting fans to shows that may not be in your hometown is to use targeted social media posts.
Sites such as Facebook will allow you to set specific locations for your posts to be promoted in.
“Gig swap” with other bands
Naturally, bands are going to have more of an ability to book shows in their home town. If you are new to touring, offer to use your contacts to book a gig for a band you like, in return for them booking you one in their hometown.
If they have a bigger ability to draw a crowd than you, you can always be the support act.
Do you have any top tips for successful touring? Share them in the comments below… For more information on promoting your band, check out this LMM blog.
