There\u2019s no use hitting the road until you can consistently create unforgettable moments for an audience of strangers. Don\u2019t leave \u201cinspiration\u201d up to chance. Make your arrangements, banter, and movement as captivating as possible. And remember, your live set can differ from the recordings!<\/p>\n

Make an Irresistible Merch Offer<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ticket sales, a bar percentage, tips, or a cover charge might not be enough on early tours. So always have one or two items for sale that fans need to take home with them. The more tour-specific and urgent the merch offer feels, the better.<\/p>\n

Start In Your Region<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Lean on local connections to hit the nearest cities. The same way you\u2019d ask your neighbor to borrow some milk, not a stranger two states away.<\/p>\n

Seek Out\u00a0Gig Swaps<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

It all comes down to favors. Trade opening slots with out-of-town acts. This is one of the most timeless and effective ways to start touring.<\/p>\n

Build Slowly<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t travel too far from home until you\u2019ve proven you can be profitable on the way. Start with a long-weekend. Then add one more city with each tour.<\/p>\n

Be Selective<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Only play cities you suspect you\u2019ll return to within 6-12 months. Otherwise you risk that audience going cold on you.<\/p>\n

Streamline Your Lineup and Gear<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Reduce as many costs as you can without hurting the quality of your show. Do you NEED four keyboards if one controller and a computer does the trick? Is your duo just as capable as your quintet?<\/p>\n

Limit Luxuries<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Can you crash on a couch instead of a hotel? Can you eat trail mix instead of sushi? The secret to touring on a budget is\u2026 the budget.<\/p>\n

Run Ads<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Create a marketing funnel to intro your music to geo-targeted audiences. Then run followup ads to sell tickets or drive event engagement. If you can work directly with the promoter or venue to get quick access to ticket sales and customer data, that can be a big benefit.<\/p>\n

Promote Every Date<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Do everything you can: posts, posters, DMs, calls, press, blog outreach, record stores, college and comunity radio. Because your music is depending on it.<\/p>\n

Supplement with Social<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Not every event has to be IRL. So explore livestreams, AMAs, and other ways to connect with fans you can\u2019t meet in-person. Once you have a sufficient livestream or social audience in a particular town, it might be worth adding it to your tour itinerary.<\/p>\n

Repurpose Your Efforts<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Every show is a chance to capture photo and video content that helps you re-engage attendees afterwards. Don\u2019t drive a thousand miles, play an incredible concert, and have nothing else to show for it.<\/p>\n

Make a Followup Plan<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Get fan emails. Meet everyone at the merch table. Be professional with venue staff. Befriend other acts on the bill. Then be sure to reconnect with those people so every tour can build upon the last.<\/p>\n

Do a \u201cTour Sprint Review\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Meet with your bandmates, your family, or your team after every tour to assess what you can do better each time.<\/p>\n

---

\n

Touring isn\u2019t easy. But it\u2019s doable.<\/p>\n

By taking the right steps, it can also be a profitable way to make lasting connections with your fans.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Hypebot) —\u00a0Touring requires a lot of planning and preparation, especially if you want to make a profit. This guide can help make your tour more than possible. by\u00a0Chris Robley\u00a0from the\u00a0ReverbNation Blog Touring is hard. That\u2019s always been true, whether you\u2019re Taylor Swift or a brand new band with very few fans. But given\u00a0the challenges of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":95218,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stc_notifier_status":"sent","_stc_notifier_sent_time":"2024-01-18 13:32:47","_stc_notifier_request":false,"_stc_notifier_prevent":false,"_stc_subscriber_keywords":"","_stc_subscriber_search_areas":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[51,22,54],"tags":[12111,1989,569],"class_list":["post-145058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-industry_news","category-touring-news","tag-indie","tag-diy","tag-tour"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n