How Do Professional Bands Get Ready To Go On Tour?

It’s such an exciting experience for professional bands to get to a place where they’re able to go on tour. This means that it’s no longer a local garage band that only friends and family come to hear. Now, there are people in other states who want to hear the live version of the music. Not only is it a huge compliment, it’s also a huge accomplishment. Now, in order to adequately prepare for a multi-city tour, there are a few components to consider.

Take an Overview of the Money

This is one of the most important steps. Sit down with the whole band and have an honest conversation about the money. In order for the tour to be a worthwhile endeavor from a financial perspective, you all need to guarantee profitability. Knowing this, set the ticket prices at a rate that will cover the venue, transportation and additional fees. Create merchandise to sell on tour as it’s known to be a major income generator. On top of all of that, each band member should be able to receive a fair share of the profits to live off of.

Secure and Confirm the Dates

Go through all of the tour dates and make sure that each venue is booked and confirmed. The last thing you want to do is drive to a city, set up shop and find out that there was a glitch in the booking information. Make sure to send each venue the band rider in advance. It’s also wise to draft a contract as well.

Hire the Necessary Personnel

A multi-city tour is no easy feat. Even though you might have experienced and resourceful band members who understand the details of tour management, it’s still a good idea to hire a band/tour manager. In addition to making sure each band member arrives safely to the venue, the musical equipment and tour luggage needs to arrive as well. Typically, it’s a lot to move from city to city. Hire an experienced driver who’s had medium rigid truck training so that they know how to handle themselves on the road. This is an incredibly important part of the process.

Pack Efficiently

Consider how many days the tour will be and pack accordingly. Take a look at how many band members and personnel are traveling together. Then, make a decision regarding how many suitcases each person can bring for the journey. Efficient packing will allow everyone to be as comfortable and prepared as possible.

When it’s the first tour, things might seem a little uncertain and overwhelming. However, as time goes on, you’ll be able to gain a better understanding of how to manage it all. Before long, your professional band will be able go on tour and operate like a well-oiled machine.

How Do Professional Bands Get Ready To Go On Tour?