Top 10 Do's and Don'ts for Touring Bands
February 17, 2014
Allie Nickel in Artist Development, Tips, Touring, Touring and Gigging, Trent Reznor, booking a tour, martin atkins, tour tips, travel

 

 I was clueless to the fact that Mr.Atkins was OH so much more than just the drummer of Nine Inch Nails until a dear friend educated me on the brilliance of this man. He also travels and does seminars for bands, in addition to founding Pigface, the Damage Manual, and Murder Inc, as well as contributing Ministry, and thats just the tip of his powerful resume iceburg. We took the cliff notes from what is now one of our favorite books, “Tour:Smart” by Martin Atkins and decided to spoon-feed you the best of it. For more info on the book and on Atkins, click here.

Congratulations!

 You have an album or two under your belt, a group of fans that come to all of your shows,  your creative thought processes have combined, and the stars are all in alignment.  KILLER.

Don’t forget- there’s still a long road ahead of you.  You are just one band out of a million other bands.  If you want your band and music to stand out from the crowd and make a lasting impression in peoples’ minds, there are a few dos and don’ts of the music industry to understand and follow. These industry practices and tidbits of advice come directly from some of the masters/experts in the field.  They had to learn these lessons the hard way, but at least they learned! With that being said, here is our top-ten list for taking it to the next level if your band decides to tour:

10)  Avoid big cities
9)  Don’t rush to get a bus.
8)  Don’t be in a hurry to play to no one
7)  Protect your equipment.

When loading/unloading equipment, setting up, or leaving your vehicle, there are certain things you can do to protect your gear and vehicle from being stolen.  First and foremost, lock the doors!  Make sure that all band members have a copy of the van key.  If possible, back your vehicle against the wall of a building in a way that prevents someone from opening the main door and getting to your equipment.

6)  Get a street team, and respect them.
5)  Make sure your merch booth is located in an optimal place at venues.
4)  Hire a merch person that you can trust.
3)  Give a good interview
2)  Learn Excel and make a budget
1) “Practice for catastrophe, and you will always triumph”

thanks for reading!

-Asperity records staff

Asperity Records is a progressive record label working to revolutionize fan access to music, and to empower bands with financial stability, freedom, and independence. For more information visit our website

 

 

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