« Home | Angels in Different Cultures and Religions » | Big Performance, Big Stage » | Digital Cameras- Which One To Buy? » | Politically Incorrect Weight Loss Tips » | Interview With TVs Mike Nelson » | Web Languages: PHP vs. ASP.NET » | 7 Amazing Christmas Gifts for Bodybuilders » 

Thursday, November 8, 2007 

To Tour Or Not To TourThat Is The Question!

Its every musicians fantasy. The tour bus rolls up to the arena (full of groupies, beer and pizza). Fans are crowded out front hoping to catch a glimpse of Americas hottest band. The group is escorted to their dressing room (full of more groupies, beer and pizza). They enjoy the various pleasures of stardom while roadies set up the stage. Its show time. The artists take the stage. The crowd is screaming. The lights are glaring. The amps are humming. The drummer clicks off the first song and

You wake up in the back of your PT Cruiser. Your bass players elbow is in your ear and the drummers asleep on your foot. Youve eaten nothing for the last week but corn dogs and frozen burritos. This is not the tour you imagined. This is not your Lilith Faire. This is not your Lollapalooza. This is not your Warped Tour. This...sucks.

Every musician dreams of touring. Getting out of their same boring town. Trying their tunes out on new crowds, in new areas, for fresh faces. Bonding on road, writing new tunes in the motel room, free food, free drinks, getting paid, getting laidliving the life.

But the music biz is full of touring horror stories. Bands stuck on the road with no money to come home. Musicians not eating for days. Clubs canceling gigs the night of with no warning. Negative reactions from bar patrons and local bands. The list goes on.

So, how do you make sure that your touring experience is a positive one? What can you, as musicians do, to eliminate potentially negative experiences and create positive ones.

The following are a few tips that add success to your touring experience:

1.) Dont Plan A Tour Because Youre Unhappy At Home---Just as an affair will not fix the problems in a marriage, a tour is not the cure for: problems within the band, problems in the band members lives, or a general malaise for your local scene. A tour is strain and stress and loads of work. You should be excited, and enthusiastic and positive when planning.

2.) Over Prepare Before You Leave---You can never plan too much or take too many precautions. At home is the time to rethink ever scenario and arrange accordingly. Get the van tuned up. Pack extra emergency money. Bring a list of additional clubs in the area in case your gigs fall through. Pack extra strings and sticks. Bring a backup guitar. Pack extra merchandise. Bring emergency food/water. Pack extra batteries and power cords. Bring cell phones.

3.) Be Humble And Thankful---Youre in a strange town and a new club, act like a guest. Nothing ticks off a club owner/promoter whos taken a chance on an unknown band more than out-of-towners swaggering into a club like Paris Hilton in an episode of The Simple Life. No matter how cool you are in your own town, this is unproven ground and your first impression is important. Ask, dont demand. Set up quickly. Play at an appropriate volume. Clean up after yourselves. Be friendly and courteous. Say please and thank you. Unless youre booking in Jerkville USA, this positive attitude could set you well on your way to a repeat booking with better perks and more local support.

4.) Seize Every Opportunity---If youre going to take the time away from work, family, and the buzz youve built in your own music community to head out into the great beyond and conquer unknown landsyou might as well come back with something other than lovely memories and an out-of-state parking ticket. Youre in a new place and the possibilities are endless. Sell CDs. Sell T-shirts. Get new names on your mailing list. Solicit local reviews, interviews, and radio. Introduce yourself to other club owners for future bookings. Find out who books local festivals. Play an impromptu house party after your gig. Make new friends that can street team for you next time. Think of something I havent even written here and do it!

Dont Expect To Conquer The World In One Tour---Rome wasnt built in a day and neither will your touring empire be. Have fun. Enjoy each trip and using it as a building block to make each tour to that particular place better and more elaborate. Play your cards right, and after a few trips you may be making terrific money, have secured lodging (either new friends let you crash or a club pays for a motel), get food and drinks comped, and guaranteed press and radio coverage.

In short, touring can be the best thing that ever happened to your band if you work hard, play it smart, and follow through correctly. But no matter how much you love to tour, always remember to keep your foot in the door locally. Its the great work that you do at home that makes other clubs excited about you bringing your show to their town.

Sheena Metal is a radio host, producer, promoter, music supervisor, consultant, columnist, journalist and musician. Her syndicated radio program, Music Highway Radio, airs on over 700 affiliates to more than 126 million listeners. Her musicians assistance program, Music Highway, boasts over 10,000 members. She currently promotes numerous live shows weekly in the Los Angeles Area, where she resides. For more info: http://www.sheena-metal.com..Shoes
2gb 99 Ipod Nano
Home
Dodge Hemi Sport
Tuxedo Shirt White
School
Catalytic Fragrance Lamp
0 Points
Faucet Wholesale
Free Retro Clipart
Flat Earth Society
Make Up For Acne Scar
Farming Tools
Yasmin Boland
Gas
1 Extended Filter Mobil Oil Performance
Weei Sports Radio Boston
Lamp
Carpet Shampooer Rental
Breakfast Chicago Restaurant
Accident Lawyer Dc
Real Estate Investment Club Nj
02 Sim Card
Buy Pave Diamond Earrings
Trenton Times New Jersey Obituary
Free Ringtones Via Sms
Cheap Child Health Insurance
1 Dollar Store
Hotel Near Anaheim
Paris Casino Las Vegas
Gold And Diamond Chandaleir Earrings
Texas Hiking Vacation
10 Gallon Gas Can
18300 Sofa Chaise
Bird Feeder Wood
1 1 2 Diabetes Type
Alternative Career Health
Restaurant Discount For Rain Forest Cafe
Whistle Blowers Act
Hillcrest Nursing And Rehabilitation Center
Mpg Cutter
Sea Anemones And Clown Fish
Business Company Finance Uk
Hotel London Luxury
How To Be Healthy Vegetarianism
Camera Compare Digital Kodak
Construction Company In Houston Texas
Fitness Exercise
Celebrity Dress Fashion Game Up
Caterpillar Construction Machine Model Toy
Catholic High Lake School
Louis Vuiton Wallet
John Edwards Psychic Ticket
80 Case Ipod
Ceiling Globe Lamp
Back Acne Remedy
1 Discount Vitamin
Power Psychic Super
Maps Of Europe
Best Holiday Living Recipe Southern
Margaret Hill Mccarter
203k Rehabilitation Loan Agreement Fha
1192 Pet Supply Wholesale
Birthday Flower Minnesota Send
100 Mtv Music Top Video
Chocolate Cookie Crinkle Powdered Sugar
Equity Home Loan Online Quote
Upload Music Video For Myspace
Gardening Grasses Groundcovers Lawn Organic Rodales Successful
The Sweet Life
Art Cartoon Japanese
1 Affordable Health Insurance Plan
Michigan Mesothelioma Lawyers
10 Christmas Gift Top Worst
Black Suede Knee High Boot
0 Car Deal Finance
International Links
World Flat
Lavorazione Plastica
Mara Lake
Cash No Refinance Seasoning
Condominiums Elburn
Chocolate Martini Ingredient
Sailing Icon
Butterfly Baby Shower Invitation
Air Hockey Sears Table
Kelly Kay
0 Lux Camera
Chopstick Rests
Weight Loss On The Green Tea Diet
L38
Honeymoon Sailing Vacation
Money Cash
Chaise Lounge Outdoor Wood
What A Wonderful World James Morrison
0 Lux Camera
Crib Download Mtv Overdrive
Eye Eyeglass Frame Glasses
Dance Free Hip Hop Instruction
1 800 Directory
Credit Loan
Schwinn 113 Exercise Bike
Face Sweating
Free Nokia Phone Ringtone
Buy Baby Item
Kid Chaise Lounge
07 Camaro
Paint Vinyl Siding
Air Bag Jacks
Fracture Healing Pelvic Stress Time
What To Feed Crickets
Dog Eye Injuries
14 Day Detox
Chicago Ticket Broker
10 Best Forbes Live Magazine Place Top Work
Inflatable Soldier Toy
Mother Earth Magazine
Gas Light Village
Free Web Registration
The Hobbit Cheats
100 Celebrity Hot Top
Jews For Jesus Houston Area
Renting A Home
Aston Maui Lu Resort
Karastan Carpet
Biker Seats
Obituary
Criminal Dictionary
River Raid
Building Toy Construction
Alain Ant Farm
Baseball Jordan League Michael Minor Team
Insurance Automobile
Boat Ebay Fishing Freshwater Sale
Remodeling Chicago
Last Minute Holiday
Burning Fireplace Gas In
Concentra Medical Center Atlanta
Ontario Doberman Breeders
Bird Watching Book
1 2006 American Holiday January
1 3 Bird Book Iguana Night Play Rose Sweet Tattoo Youth
Arlington National Cementary
Design In Machine Embroidery Magazine
Teacher Training In The Uk
Dkny Perfume Woman
1 800 Dial A Mattress
Diet Food Healthy Menu
Todays Mortage Rates
Cute Dessert Thanksgiving
L30
American Garden North Rock Society
Air Cheap Line Spiritg Ticket
The Travel Of Jesus Christ
Kelly Blue Book Commercial Truck
Cheap Apartment In Orlando Fl
Government Free Health Insurance
Vegetarian Dinner Recipe
19 Century French Chaise Lounge Day Bed
Footwear
Crystal Lenox Shepherd
Book Daylight Living Octopussy
Warfare Prayer
Finding Inner Peace
Hiking Holiday Vancouver
Suburban Stove
Scrapbooking For 50th Wedding Anniversary
Bed And Breakfast In Berlin Ohio
Bag Bed Set
Hockey Ice Table Top
Chaise Lounge Free Plan
Snowboard Boot Size
1 Drug Store Online
Investments
Home Library Design
De Royer
Baby Phat Gift Set
Banks In Nigeria
007 Spy Software Download
Childrens Outdoor Toys
Control Episode Mtv Parental
Heating Oil Cost
Bed Child In Wetting
Toddler Activity Idea
Washington Mutual Mortgage Calculator
Motorcycle Boot Womans
1 Fishing Ice Person Shelter
Business Distance Learning Mba Week
1 2 Beach Laguna Season
Pc Tools
London Theater Tickets
Total Gym 14000
Monitor Texas
Texas High School
Pool
Usopen Tennis
Beach Condo Florida New Rental Smyrna
Make Own Word Search
Ny Cheesecake Recipe
Mary Potter
100 All Natural Skin Care Product
1 Can Gallon Gas
Black Adult
Sports In Italy
Forex
Bellevue Cosmetic Laser Surgery
Crazy Person
Edm Machine
Diet Fiber Gram High
1 34 Bus School Toy
1 Camera Canon Digital Powershot Pro
P24
Skincare
A Inside Basketball Hoop
Illinois In Mortgage Refinancing
Employment Standards
Based Business Car Finance Home New Rate
Entertainment Form Free Law
Center Mustafa Shopping Singapore
Apply Race Track Gasoline Credit Card
Football
Bar Floor Plan Restaurant
Greeting Cards Mothers Day
Detox Drug Pass Test Without
Coppell Youth Soccer
Condo Dolce Las Vegas
Beach City Panama Rental Vacation
Ballroom Latin Dance
1 Engine Mobil Oil
Deluxe Inclusive Mexico Vacation
Best Hotel In Toronto Western
Chair Dining Modern
100 Carpet Moment Red
2006 Accommodation Bed Breakfast Character Guide Guide Leading New New Zealand Zealands
Hockey
New Jersey New Construction
Christian Anime
1 Cream Ice Team Volume
Lcd Lcd Plasma Plasma Television Television Vs Vs
Jewelry
Furniture Garden Oak Outdoor
Currency Option Option System Trading Trading
The Living Daylight Movie
W21
Babcock And Brown
Il Mulino
0 Car Financing
Fish Market San Diego
California Junior College Baseball
1 800 Directory Number Phone
Skincare
08 Dyson
Nvidia Msi
Jobs For Felons In California
Wedding Party In The Pool
Hotel In Tucson Az
Los Angeles Motorcycle Lawyers
Bird Flying Picture
Hoovers Austin
Free Karaoke Cdg
004 Qualia
1 Anniversary Gift Idea Wedding Year
Florida Online Continuing Education Mortgage Broker
What Is Financing
Downloading Engine Free Music
11000 Ed Magic Sing
Mineral Springs Sycamore
Silk Bowling Shirt
Bjs Brew Pub
Directins Driving
White House Sheet Music
Birthday Party Supply Wholesale
Christmas Kid Singing Song
02 X3
Celebrity Male Ticklish
2008 Barbour President Win
Snowing Love
Warranty Wizard
Center Destruction Trade World
Biological Cause Of Depression
Child Entertainment Atlanta
Repair Sanyo Tv
Fila Tennis Shoes
07 Gmc New Truck
Basketball Coaching Aids
Wedding Photographers
W11
Eureka Party Tent
Buy Share Time We
Flat Panel Televisions Cyberhome
P16
06 Crystal Ice
Banking Commerce Consumer Online
Womens Rain Boot Size 11
Quad Motor Bike
0 Finance On New Cars
100 America Best Place Retire
Bed Bath N Table
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory Trailer
Missouri Mesothelioma Lawyers
Residence Inn San Antonio
Chicago Style Magazine
Celebrity
1 Harpie Lady
10 Beautiful Magazine Most People People Top
Champion Athletic Clothing
Glasses Sun Video
Major Employers
Celebrity As Baby
X Xbox Live Arcade Game
California Estate Investment Loan Real
2005 Evisu Jeans Wholesale
Basketball
Christian Dance Schools
10 Gold Jewelry Karat Ring Tanzanite White
Directed Plan Retirement Self
Kitchen Remodeling Dallas
Computer Training For Farmers
Christmas Craft Easy Pattern
Burn Free X Xbox Game
Mozilla Sea Monkey
3a High School Football
Kids And Teens Sports And Hobbies Crafts
Percolator Coffee Filter
2008 Crown Ford Vic
Virus Clean
W31
Accent Pillow
Wholesale
1099 Independent Contractor Agreement
Detox Foot Spa Uk
Air Travel With Infant
Honeymoon In Thailand