Articles

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…

Wouldn't it be great to have multiple gigs in one town. Just think of what that would do to your bottom line and travel expenses. I thought I’d share some ideas on how to do just that by turning one gig in one town into multiple gigs in one town. Let’s say you know of a venue in town you would either like to play or you already have a gig there. Start with a little research about the town. Check the local websites for the town and the chamber of commerce to get some idea of what else is in the town. Look for schools, colleges, businesses and organizations.…

Buskers do it! How about you? If you are serious about you performing career, you can take the necessary steps to make sure it is a success. That’s exactly what singers/songwriters Coco and Lafe did when they took to the streets of Boston to begin their performing careers as buskers or street performers. Armed with a guitar, a sound system, a bucket full of original songs, their rescue beagle Lila and an Excel spreadsheet, they headed out each day, testing street corners, squares, parks, markets, malls, and subway stops. At the end of each day, they entered extensive notes into their spreadsheet. They tracked: Their income in tips CDs sales…