Deciding Between International vs National Tours

Making the decision to become a musical artist is one that could change the course of your life. You could go from working a stable job to becoming a rockstar whose life is characterized by bright lights, raving fans, and humongous stages. At some point in your career as a musician, you may need to think about whether you want to tour nationally or internationally.

While life on the road can be tedious for some, getting the chance to explore and perform in countries you’ve never been to before can be a fulfilling experience. On the other hand, touring nationally can create an opportunity for you to build a local fanbase and develop a deeper connection with your home country.

Each option has its pros and cons, so you’ll have to weigh out both to see which you’d prefer. To help you make an informed decision, this article will explore the pros and cons of international versus national tours. You’ll also find tips on what to do to prepare for either.

Set a Budget

The first thing to take into consideration when deciding to tour nationally or internationally is your tour budget. Touring internationally is likely to be far more expensive considering the cost of travel, accommodation, and transportation. You’ll also need to think about whether you’re going to rent equipment every time you need to perform or take your personal equipment along with you. Find out the cost for each option and factor it into your budget.

Other items to include in your budget are food and shopping for items like clothing and toiletries. Putting aside money for public liability insurance, which will cover you in case someone is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your performance, is important as well. Lastly, have money put inside of an emergency fund in case unforeseen circumstances arise.

Do Enough Preparation

Whether you decide to travel nationally or internationally, you’re going to have to prepare for the tour before leaving. Seeing as you’re going to be on the road for a couple of months, you want to be sure when you come back, everything is intact. Start by preparing your home for your departure, which could mean doing a deep cleanse and turning off all appliances. If you have pets, you want to make sure they have somewhere to stay. Your options would include hiring a professional pet sitter, finding a house sitter, or asking friends and family.

You’ll also want to think about what’s going to happen to your mail and how you can ensure you’ve got access to it. A solution to this could be to set up a virtual mailbox. If you’ve never heard of it before, they ensure all letters and packages are sent to you no matter where you are.

If you have a car, decide whether you’re going to bring it along with you on tour or leave it behind. If you decide you don’t want to take it on tour, you could leave it parked in front of your home and have a neighbor check on it every so often. Keeping it with someone you trust means that they may be able to help you keep up with maintenance while you’re away,

Sort Out Paperwork

A con of choosing to travel internationally is that you’re going to have to do a great deal of research. You need to know what the laws of the countries you’ll be touring in are, especially when it comes to performing. Aside from this, you’ve also got to find out if you need a visa, what type you need if so, and what the requirements are. For instance, if you decide to perform in New Zealand, you’d need an eTA, which is an electronic visa that is easier to obtain than an average visa and valid for up to two years. 

Aside from getting visa information, you may also need a work permit in some destinations. Every country has its own rules, but some factors that will determine whether or not you need one are how much you’ll be making and how long your tour will last. For instance, if you’re a non-U.S. citizen and want to perform at the notorious Coachella festival, you’d need a work visa.

To be on the safe side, get invitation letters from the venues or promoters that are organizing the event to show that you have specifically been invited to perform at that event and you’re of good merit. If you wanted to attend the SXSW which is an annual film, music, and media festival that takes place in Austin, Texas, it’s advised that you get a P visa and invitation to perform at the event to show your eligibility. This should help prove you’re there for the right reasons just in case you run into any issues.

Explore Your Nation

As mentioned above, a pro of touring locally is that you’ll be able to connect with your home country on a more intimate level. As a budding star, it can be a nice feeling knowing that at the incipient stages of your career, you performed in the city you’re from and neighboring locations.

Another pro is that you can build your fanbase locally before branching out and getting international fans on board. If you happen to be patriotic or sentimental, this is something that could help you stay grounded and give you a sense of belonging as an artist.

Performing nationally also means that you’d get to see and perform at national parks in your own country. It may also be more cost-effective than seeing international parks which have similar sights but cost much more. Similarly, by touring nationally, you’re more likely to connect with the audience because you’re familiar with the culture. When performing internationally, however, it’s unfamiliar territory, so you may be nervous about how these crowds are going to respond to your music. You should know that some countries are said to be more open to new artists than others. Countries such as Germany, Switzerland and Norway, for instance, are known for being warm and receptive to new artists, especially because they’re hospitable and value the arts. Whatever the case, be open to getting different responses from crowds internationally then you may get nationally.

Being an artist can take you along a special path as you get to share your talent and gift with the world. However, it isn’t common that you’ll become an overnight success, so it’s important that you enjoy the journey. Whether you decide to just tour nationally or expand internationally, know that it’s all part of the magic that is being an artist.

Deciding Between International vs National Tours