Jeri Goldstein

Whether you are on a tour or simply doing a single date, the day of the show is filled with last minute details begging for attention. Dealing with the final logistics of each performance date has the potential of creating a day fraught with frustrations or one which runs like clockwork leaving you calm and in control. I opt for the second. In order for you to experience that sense of control, here is a template of suggestions to help you plan your day-of-show and keep on top of the details.Any show day might include travel if you hadn’t scheduled an overnight drive or arrival the previous night. I will…

There is nothing more satisfying for a touring musician than to arrive at the venue and everything is in order. All of the requested equipment is set up and ready for a sound check, the publicity has been done, posters are hanging in the window and there is someone to meet you as you load in. Was it an accident that this occurred? Not likely, probably all can be attributed to good planning and someone spending some time advancing the date. The term means to call ahead to the venue and all other associated contacts prior to the play date and confirm all the necessary arrangements with the appropriate personnel.If you have…

You've done everything possible to fill each day with bookings, and yet you still end up with one day, between gigs. You don't have to drive and you don't have to play. Depending on how long you've been on the road, you might want to simply sleep or catch up on emails or write a new song. If however you have done a brilliant job of planning and this day off is no accident, a great deal of business can be accomplished. Here are some ideas to help you pass your next off-day more productively.The Media:Having an extra day in the town where there is an upcoming gig affords you…

Acts looking to expand their audience beyond their known markets need to be open to new options. One such idea is swapping audiences with another musician or band. The idea is perfectly suited to acts that have a strong following in their own market. Here's how it works.First, find an artist in a new market where you would like to expand, whose work you like and with whom you think you would be compatible. Second, make sure the artist selected has a strong following in the desired market. You are attempting to break a new market, and it only makes sense to do this with an artist who can sell…

You've chosen your touring market and selected the right venue, and now it has been a week, maybe two and the club booker is keeping you dangling. You know you could do well in this venue, and you really think it will work. You are so ready to play at this club, yet the Booker won't make a commitment. Time marches on, booking opportunities slip away, adequate promotion time dwindles, and still you wait. How long is too long to wait for a gig commitment?This is a challenging question that must be tackled each time you book a tour. Becoming emotionally attached and overly invested in landing a gig at…

In Part 1 of "Developing A Home Base," we examined the benefits of building a solid home base foundation before venturing out to tour beyond your local area. Now, I'd like to help you determine just how much of a home base you have already developed and what you might do to build upon some of your successes.First, it is important to take a realistic look at your current position within your community or wherever you have decided to call your home base. I've provided a questionnaire below to help you do just that. Once you complete the questionnaire, you will have a concrete assessment of your current situation and…

There is a great advantage to concentrating the majority of your development in your hometown as you plan for future tours to new territories. I have always been a believer in starting your career in a central place, like your hometown or a town nearby that would be conducive to your career development. Then, expand outward systematically from that central point. I picture a stone dropped into a pool of water—ripples cascade outward from the center where the stone landed. This approach helps you build your fan base and business skills in a step-by-step strategic manner. Let's examine some of the benefits of developing a home base of support. Build…

Maximize Your Opening Act Slot with these 7 tips. Summer time is touring time for most of the major recording artists. That means it may be the perfect time to be an opener for a well known act. If you’ve landed an opening act slot for either a single date or are lucky enough to be the support act for an entire tour, then here are 7 tips to help you maximize your opening act slot. These 7 tips will help you sell more CDs, endear yourself to the main act and their crew and win over a new audience. Make a great impression on the venue’s booking people and…

Do you struggle to become more news worthy? What is news worthy to you—may just not be news worthy to the editor, the program director, or the producer. They are looking for items that will interest the largest segment of their readers, listeners or viewers. Or they are looking for items that will interest an important niche segment of their customers. So you must begin viewing your communications to the media from their perspective. Here’s an example that may be near and dear to you, a CD release. This is of course great news to you and something that is very important to your career. But, to the media, it…